Bibliography
Book:
Myers, Walter Dean. 2003. blues journey. Ill. by Christopher Myers. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823416135
Audio download:
Meyers, Walter Dean. blues journey. Narrarated by Richard Allen. Live Oak Media. 2008. AUD 0459605099 audible.com
Plot Summary
Walter Dean Meyers and son, Christopher Meyers have teamed up to write and illustrate a book that illustrated the African experience in American by helping readers understand the history and creation of “the blues”. Meyers introduces readers to this unique genre of music by explaining what the blues is. He also includes a timeline illustrating the music starting with the end of slavery through the 1960’s. In addition, he created a very useful glossary of words and phrases that help to clarify the lyrical poetry.
Critical Analysis
Meyers has created a wonderful book all about “the blues”. In the introduction, he states, “When art from two cultures comes together, the result is often an exciting new experience. Such is the case with the blues. Two elements of African music form the basis for all blues: the singing form of a “call and response,” and the pentatonic, or “blues” scale. In African music, the lead singer makes a statement or “call” and the chorus responds. In the blues, the first two lines represent the call: Going on a journey, looking for my supposed-to-be; Going on a journey, looking for my supposed-to-be; The blues singer then responds to his/her own call: I’m riding that blues highway, and lord, it’s riding me.” The introduction, timeline and glossary help readers understand the development of the blues.
Throughout the book, readers become aware of the pain of being taken from their home and put on a slave ship to American, the joy of loving someone deeply, the horror of lynching, the hard choices that people must make and many other life situations that African American people have dealt with. Each of these poems let readers glimpse into this rich culture.
Christopher Meyers created the artwork using blue ink, white paint and brown paper bags. Textured paint along with stamps and deep blue create illustrations that grab the reader’s attention. The images are a perfect blend of sadness and happiness.
As I read this book, I found that I had difficulty “hearing” the lyrics. I did a little research and found that audible.com had a download available. I purchased the audio book and am very happy that I did. Narrarated by Richard Allen, this audio book is a must when sharing this picture book. This soulful, dramatic musical accompaniment expresses the poems in a dynamic way. The language and dialect become real and listeners will feel the pain along with the joy of each of these poems. Throughout the performance, readers will want to sway and dance with the blues sound.
Although this is a picture book, it is one that would be better shared with older readers. Many of the phrases are of the horrors of being hurt by racism. For example, “strange fruit hanging” is a poem written about the lynching of a man, Willie. “Blackbirds fly” is a phrase used for escaping misery (and most likely slavery) and Parchman’s is a harsh prison in Mississippi. These are all images that would be difficult for anyone but are better understood by older readers.
Review Excerpts
Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2003)
In this collection of original poems, Myers's blues extend themselves to themes of racism, loneliness, slavery, and just plain hard luck. Christopher Myers's illustrations are impressively composed and imaginatively varied in design. You'll have to make up the tunes, but Myers père et fils are so deeply immersed in the rhythms and idioms of the blues that the music will seem to come right out of you in response.
Connections
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2004 Honor Book United States
Author's website:
Find great video interviews about Walter Dean Meyers and Christopher Meyers at this site:
http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/myersc
