A Suitcase of Seaweed

Claremont Stone Center Recognition of Merit Award Winner

Citation:

A Suitcase of Seaweed and other poems by Janet S. Wong.  (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1996).  42p. Poetry Junior Book.

Summary:

A collection of poems representing the multiple facets of growing up multicultural within America.

Critique:

a.         Wong’s introduction before each cultural section of poems helps the reader make personal connections regardless of ethnicity.

b.         Separating the cultural poetry references – Korean, Chinese, and American – helps Wong compartmentalize her poems while making familial connections anyone can relate to.  The poems are simple yet telling about Wong’s childhood memories.

c.         “Our family / is a quilt / of odd remnants/ patched together/ in a strange/ pattern,/ threads fraying,/ fabric wearing then--/ but made to keep/ its warmth/ even in bitter / cold” (p.42) is easily related to regardless of ethnicity or culture and explains Wong’s heritage and family connections in one simple, easy to read poem.  

Curriculum Connection:  

A Suitcase of Seaweed is a book of poetry that would be a nice addition to a middle school English classroom that is studying the various styles of poetry and how feelings and memories can be conveyed in a few simple words.