"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," by Maya Angelou
Angelou鈥檚 first memoir chronicles her troubled Deprssion-era childhood as she and her older brother, Bailey, bounce between their parents鈥� and their grandmother鈥檚 homes. This account of what it was to be young, female, and black in America 鈥� complete with racist slurs and blunt sexual descriptions 鈥� was revolutionary when published in 1969. Angelou鈥檚 narration of her own book is gently lyrical, strong, and nothing short of stirring. Grade: A+
(Read by Maya Angelou, Random House Audio, 10 hours and 12 minutes, unabridged version available only as download from audible.com)
