Hands for Language
Hands for Language is a groundbreaking poetry collection that expands the dialogue around literary representation. At its core, the collection is a bildungsroman in verse that encompasses postcolonial and diasporic themes. Written by the author at the age of fifteen, Hands for Language is intended to take readers on a journey through the eyes of a young girl of color living in America. She explores themes of transnationalism, migration, language, family, and culture. Organized into four sections, Hands for Language mirrors her path to self-discovery and understanding. The collection is a commentary on the interaction between historical and modern conceptions of ethnicity, gender, and cultural identity.
"As a child, I never had the opportunity to read a book or poem about a person who was truly like me, trapped by the duality of culture. It wasn't until adolescence that I discovered the underappreciated realm of diasporic writing. This poetry collection is a retelling of my childhood as a daughter of immigrants, and I hope to help other young people of color to embrace their cultural identity through this work."
More About Hands for Language by Uma Menon
Overview
Hands for Language is a groundbreaking poetry collection that expands the dialogue around literary representation. At its core, the collection is a bildungsroman in verse that encompasses postcolonial and diasporic themes. Written by the author at the age of fifteen, Hands for Language is intended to take readers on a journey through the eyes of a young girl of color living in America. She explores themes of transnationalism, migration, language, family, and culture. Organized into four sections, Hands for Language mirrors her path to self-discovery and understanding. The collection is a commentary on the interaction between historical and modern conceptions of ethnicity, gender, and cultural identity.
"As a child, I never had the opportunity to read a book or poem about a person who was truly like me, trapped by the duality of culture. It wasn't until adolescence that I discovered the underappreciated realm of diasporic writing. This poetry collection is a retelling of my childhood as a daughter of immigrants, and I hope to help other young people of color to embrace their cultural identity through this work."
