DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki. 2002. DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 0688131565

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Danitra Brown share with readers her summer at her aunt’s house in the country and her best friend Zuri’s summer at home in the city. Zuri and Danitra share events in their lives by corresponding with each other through poems and letters.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN is a delightful series of letters and poems told in very simple free verse form by two best friends, Danitra and Zuri. In the poem “Big Plans,” Danitra Brown’s advice to her best friend Zuri Jackson is to enjoy her summer of freedom, She says, ”surrender to summer; to raspberry ices and pink lemonade and walks on the beach…never a lick of homework to spoil one afternoon.” Danitra is excited about leaving. Zuri is upset that Danitra is happy about leaving her. In the poem “ The Bad Good-bye,” Zuri says, “ And now that she is on her way, she has the nerve to call and say which station she is leaving from, as though expecting me to come. ‘I have better things to do,’ I blurt. The phone is silent. Danitra’s hurt. But why am I supposed to care when my Supposed-to-be best friend is leaving me. And loving it?” After getting over her anger, Zuri decides to begin her summer. While outside playing, Zuri encounters Nina. They play handball together. Zuri says, “I wonder why I’d never noticed Nina before. Maybe the summer wouldn’t be such a bore.”
Through letters, the girls make up and share their life with each other. For example, Danitra writes Zuri, “I wish that you were here. I camped out my first night in my aunt’s yard.” This is a warm story about friends being separated and welcoming each other home as best friends.

Floyd Cooper’s oil wash paintings are filled with soft pastels against a vibrant backdrop. Cooper’s illustrations are remarkable! His exuberant paintings are a complement to the lively poems in this splendid book of poetry. Floyd Cooper’s illustrations are so life-like that each painting gives the eye an appearance of Photography. Each page is filled with color and images of carefree youth. For example, “First Night’s” illustrations are exquisite and detailed. Floyd’s use of bright yellow, teal, lavender, and dark brown depicts tone and mood for this piece.

My students enjoyed reading this book of poetry. They could relate to Danitra and Zuri’s relationship. Many students shared their thoughts about their summer without their friends. My class could understand Zuri's and Danitra's emotions. They discussed why Zuri is unkind to Danitra, before she leaves for the country. They know Zuri really isn't mad at Danitra for leaving her. One student said, "Zuri is sad because she is going to miss Danitra."

This is a perfect book to read to students at the beginning of the school year and before the close of the school year.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Texas Bluebonnet Book 2004-2005
BOOKLIST: “. . .told in simple free verse with big, joyful oil-wash paintings. . .The surprise is in the details: On one page Zuri writes to Danitra about a hip-swinging, head-bobbling, foot-stomping block party, and the bouncy painting shows Cooper at his best. Just as vital are the words and pictures of Danitra swinging in the country garden. Kids will see that both friends travel far and welcome each other home.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Zuri describes in verse the summer that she and her best friend Danitra are separated in DANITRA BROWN LEAVES TOWN by NIKKI Grimes, a follow-up to MEET DANITRA BROWN. Floyd Cooper’s luminescent pastels chronicle the long days and Zuri’s many moods.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Grades 3-5- -Grimes and Cooper return with another story told through poems about Danitra Brown and Zuri Jackson. This time, the friends exchange letters all summer long while Danitra is visiting relatives. Zuri starts out felling angry and disappointed that Danitra is leaving her behind and doesn’t seem to care, but eventually both girls make new friends while they look forward to being together again. Some vignettes may leave readers with perplexing questions; for example, Danitra describes a stubborn dragonfly that she’s sure would like to eat her, but the accompanying image depicts her smiling at it benignly. All in all, however, Cooper’s photo-realist artwork in soft hues against glowing backdrops is a lovely complement to the girls’ many moods.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Allow students to create a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Zuri and Danitra.
*Students are to write in their journals about a friend they had to leave behind, due to summer vacation.
*Other book written by Nikki Grimes:
Grimes, Nikki. JAZMIN’S NOTEBOOK. ISBN 9780141307022.
Grimes, Nikki. MEET DANITRA BROWN. Ill. By Floyd Cooper. ISBN 9780688154714.
Grimes, Nikki. BRONX MASQUERADE. ISBN 9780142501894.
*For further information on Nikki Grimes visit her web site at: http://www.nikkigrimes.com