Becoming Emily

January 1, 2019
A normalizing portrait of one of Western literature's most enigmatic poets.Having previously examined the life of Jazz Age poet Edna St. Vincent Millay (A Girl Called Vincent, 2016), Goddu here turns the spotlight on an even larger American literary figure, Emily Dickinson. Known widely for her tight cryptic verses published primarily following her death, Dickinson is often viewed as a sort of "madwoman in the attic," biographers zeroing in on her particular manner of dress and preference, particularly later in life, for staying home and limiting her social interactions. Much of Goddu's account seeks to redeem that portrayal, focusing on exceptional forces throughout Dickinson's life that contributed to her artistry. She makes much of Dickinson's Puritan heritage and education; Dickinson was never at a want for money and, thanks to her father's prominence as a U.S. Congressman, was at the forefront of Amherst intellectual society. The author makes the compelling case that with Dickinson's unique talents--including learning to play piano at age 2--frail health, and proclivity for intense relationships with kin and friends, she had little reason to leave the house. Through Dickinson's love for nature, science, and reading, worlds opened. Archival photographs enhance the telling.With select poems, revealing passages from letters, and a richly detailed narrative, this thorough study is sure to entice middle-grade readers to explore one of the 19th century's greatest poets. (timeline, notes, bibliography) (Biography. 10-14)

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Starred review from March 1, 2019

Gr 5-8-Emily Dickinson may seem like an antithetical heroine for our current cultural landscape. She was a poet who shunned publication. She excelled at the domestic arts and, though highly educated, she preferred to stay close to home. But as Krystyna Poray Goddu reveals in Becoming Emily, Emily lived on her own terms. Astutely, Goddu "chooses to let the poet speak for herself," incorporating 17 poems and many excerpts from Emily's letters. With ballad stanzas and unadorned vocabulary, Emily's poetry is both accessible and thought-provoking. Through Emily's words, readers discover an uncompromising and highly individual commentator on the natural world and 19th century life. Despite the pressure to conform to New England piety, she quietly refused. By staying at home, she used letters to dictate the terms of her friendships. Alongside Emily's artistic growth, Goddu depicts 19th century life: the education of girls (better than you might assume), death (frequent), what people celebrated (not Christmas). In our age of social media, Emily Dickinson's privacy stands out. Paradoxically, Goddu notes that Dickinson's fame results from the posthumous promotion of her work by her friends. Becoming Emily is peppered with pictures of the poet, her manuscripts, the people she loved, and the places she inhabited. For curious readers, Goddu includes a time line, notes identifying the sources of quotations, and a bibliography. VERDICT A compelling portrait of Dickinson and her background, Becoming Emily is indispensable for young feminist history buffs, and for educators seeking a pathway from the poetry of contemporary music to traditional forms of verse.-Katherine Magyarody, Texas A&M University, College Station

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2019
Grades 5-8 Sprightly prose, short chapters, and a concentration on poet Emily Dickinson's early years helps make Goddu's charming biography of the Belle of Amherst a winner for middle-grade readers. Emily is firmly emphasized as a lively member of a close circle of family and friends, giving her an accessibility often overlooked in favor of the reputation as a reclusive spinster she gained in her middle age. Goddu stresses the student and letter writer who adored her friends, her garden, and her dog, and her tendency toward solitude is contextualized, if not dwelt upon. Black-and-white photographs of the people and places in her life add to the warmth, and biographical events, like her father's involvement in bringing a railroad line to Amherst, Massachusetts, are linked to her poems. Goddu clarifies how Emily's poems came to be published after her death, with two factions of family and friends feuding over her manuscripts. Back matter, including a time line and bibliography, anchor Emily's historical importance. An excellent companion for those reading or studying her poetry.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)