Summary: This biography is about a young boy who grew up without a father because at the time his dad was just worried about finding a job. Back in these days it was hard for a black man to find a job and keep one at the same time. His dad wanted to move out of the country and that is what he did, but he moved without his family. Langston grew up and soon moved with his grandmother because his mother could not support him anymore. But that did not mean anything to Langston he still loved his mother just the same as if she was still with him. The one thing he did was never give up on his poetry. He loved to write poems about the things he seen and how things worked to come together as one. When he reunited with his mother again he was working in a hotel. In this hotel a famous poet was there performing and he read some of Hughes poetry along with his. After this performance everyone knew who Langston Hughes was.

Personal Reaction: This book reminds me of myself as a person. To just stick with what you been doing and what you know best. Don’t give up on anything you started no matter what obstacles get in the way.

Classroom Extinctions: 1.) I would ask the class who would be the one person they would write a biography over.
2.) I would have the class write a biography of themselves and switch it with a classmate.
3.) I would have the class read the biography they switched with and tell us about who they read about and what they know about that person.

Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Originally published in 1992, this biography has been updated by the McKissacks who have revisited the life of Langston Hughes. Readers learn about his father's desertion of the family when after studying law and learning that African Americans could not practice in Oklahoma; he went to Mexico where he felt better opportunities existed. Langston and his mother struggled to make ends meet and Langston spent many years with his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas. He learned about great African-American heroes. In the meantime, Langston's father had become fairly wealthy in Mexico and offered to pay for Langston's education at Columbia, but Langston really didn't enjoy college. Harlem and the African-American community were a bigger draw. In 1925 he was "discovered" and the next year he won a prize for his first book of poems. He never stopped writing and died at the age of 65. Even today people are rediscovering and enjoying his poems. This book has a timeline, words to know section, and a list of references that are reasonably current as well as several Internet addresses. There is an index. 2002, Enslow, $14.95. Ages 8 up.

Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature)
Originally published in 1992, this biography has been updated by the McKissacks who have revisited the life of Langston Hughes. Readers learn about his father's desertion of the family when after studying law and learning that African Americans could not practice in Oklahoma; he went to Mexico where he felt better opportunities existed. Langston and his mother struggled to make ends meet and Langston spent many years with his grandmother in Lawrence, Kansas. He learned about great African-American heroes. In the meantime, Langston's father had become fairly wealthy in Mexico and offered to pay for Langston's education at Columbia, but Langston really didn't enjoy college. Harlem and the African-American community were a bigger draw. In 1925 he was "discovered" and the next year he won a prize for his first book of poems. He never stopped writing and died at the age of 65. Even today people are rediscovering and enjoying his poems. This book has a timeline, words to know section, and a list of references that are reasonably current as well as several Internet addresses. There is an index. 2002, Enslow, $14.95. Ages 8 up.
Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2002)
Each simply written title in this series provides an adequate introduction to a notable African American. Black-and-white photos, often poorly reproduced, extend the text. Large type and short sentences make these books suitable for reluctant readers. Each book includes a timeline, a limited updated bibliography, and a list of websites. There are four other spring 2002 books in this series. Glos., ind. [Review covers these titles: Langston Hughes, Madam C. J. Walker, Mary Church Terrell, Ralph J. Bunche.] (Great African Americans series). Category: Nonfiction-Biographies. 2002 (orig. 1992), Enslow, 32pp, $14.95. Ages 5 to 9. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws.

Virginia Bailey (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 2))
The McKissacks have written nearly 100 books about African Americans. Many of their books are award-winners. This interesting biography details the life of Langston Hughes from his birth in Joplin, Missouri, in 1902, to his death in New York City in 1967. Even though he graduated from law school in Oklahoma, Langston's father, James, had to move to Mexico in order to practice law. Black lawyers were not allowed to practice in Oklahoma in the early 1900s. Carrie Hughes with baby Langston went to join James, but the day she arrived, there was an earthquake. She was so frightened she left, and the three of them never lived together as a family again. Details of Carrie's financial difficulties, Langston's living with his grandmother for a time, and Carrie's eventual remarriage to Homer Clarke are related. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where Langston was very happy to attend school with children of many different races. Langston spent some time in Mexico with his father but soon was ready to go home. His father had become a bitter man who said unkind things to people. Eventually, Langston traveled and worked many different jobs but always found time to write. Finally ending up in New York City, he became a published poet and later became known as Harlem's poet during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. The author includes a time line, glossary, a bibliography, and an index. This lively biography of a great American poet will be appreciated for student reports and by anyone interested in biographical information. (Great African Americans. Rev. ed) Nonfiction (818 or biography). Grades 3-6. 2002, Enslow, 32p, $14.95. Ages 8 to 12. ( )