Play Book Tag discussion

A powerful sequel in Maya Angelou's serial autobiography spans from 1944 to 1948. Maya is a very young adult, adult mostly to being a single teenage mom trying to figure out who she is and how to make her way in the world. Maya is fierce, persistent and keeps getting up again in this difficult period. She has her degree but as a young black woman, she is very limited in her options for work. She starts cooking in small diner like restaurants but decides to spread her wings and travel but unfortunately bad choices often force the next move rather than being planned. It is a bit heart breaking as she tries to find love with a series of men already taken by another women. It leads her to make choices that one wouldn't expect. Throughout is her love for her baby but interesting that it seems so normal to just leave her child to live elsewhere and visit as available.

This chapter of Maya's life is difficult with pimps, prostitutes and drugs. I love how she shows her vulnerabilities and bad choices and doesn't try to sugarcoat any of it. She was young and trying to survive with her baby. The writing is beautiful as well.