Biography Poetry Book Review — On Wings of Words — Berne and Stadtlander

 On Wings of Words The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson

Written by Jennifer Berne and Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

Bibliography:

Berne, J., & Stadtlander, B. (2020). On wings of words: The extraordinary life of Emily Dickinson. Chronicle Books.

Summary:

On Wings of Words is a biography that tells the life of Emily Dickinson through poetry and that uses actual snippets of Dickinson's own poetry throughout to expand upon the details of her life. The illustrator, Becca Stadtlander, used historically accurate images as references to maintain the portrait of Dickinson's life.

Analysis:

Berne replicates Dickinson's poetic form and style in a way that seamlessly connects with the fragments of her original pieces. The use of dashes as a forced pause in almost all of the poems is very reminiscent of Dickinson's own style, which can be seen side-by-side in the entire book. 

The biography itself focuses more on Emily herself as a personality and at an emotional level rather than strictly providing a timeline of impersonal facts and events. I think this choice was the best move for Berne to make while writing this book. Poetry comes from emotion and often represents the headspace of the person writing it, so it is only fitting that a biography created from poems matches that same energy. 

Stadtlander based the majority of the illustrations on historical references, but her perceptions and interpretations of abstract meaning in Dickinson's writing are really what shines. The butterfly imagery woven throughout the book creates an emotional constant and solidifies a visual metaphor for Dickinson herself and the pieces of herself she left behind — her poetry. 

Excerpt:

She became a bird, a worm, a ghost, a god.

A beggar, a king, a somebody, a nobody.

I'm Nobody!

Who are you?

Are you-Nobody-too?

Then there's a pair of us!

Don't tell! They'd banish us-you know!

How dreary-to be-Somebody!

How public-like a Frog-

To tell your name-the livelong June-

To an admiring Bog!-

Activity Idea:

This book is a great way to introduce another generation to the works of Emily Dickinson. The snippets may spark interest in more of her poetry, so gather more of her writing before delving into On Wings of Words. When you are done discussing this book and Emily Dickinson's life, bring out copies of her other poems for the kids to read through. You could end the activity here as a discussion of her poetry, or you can turn it into a more interactive program. Like Berne, you can have students take snippets of Dickinson's poetry to create their own poems, or have them expand upon them to create their own meaning. For the more visually artistic, let them use Dickinson's poems for inspiration for their own art.