Maya AngelouΓÇÖs debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise,as seen on PBSΓÇÖs American Masters. Here is a book as joyous and painfulas mysterious and memorableas childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely childrenthe brute insult of bigotryand the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya AngelouΓÇÖs debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Sent by their mother to live with their devoutself-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern townMaya and her brotherBaileyendure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local ΓÇ£powhitetrash.ΓÇ¥ At eight years old and back at her motherΓÇÖs side in St. LouisMaya is attacked by a man many times her ageΓÇöand has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years laterin San FranciscoMaya learns that love for herselfthe kindness of othersher own strong spiritand the ideas of great authors (ΓÇ£I met and fell in love with William ShakespeareΓÇ¥) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned. Poetic and powerfulI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read. ΓÇ£I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wondersuch a luminous dignity.ΓÇ¥ΓÇöJames Baldwin