Writing empathetically in character (diaries, school reports, letters, police report) to show understanding

The Life And Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah". BBC Sounds. 30 April 2018 . Retrieved 12 February 2023. While living in London, Zephaniah was caught up in the 1980s race riots and experienced racism on a regular basis: [10] I really wanted to like this book. The cover is good and thought provoking and the concept behind it was really interesting. I feel like if it had been executed better this book could have been brilliant. Unfortunately it wasn't. We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me (2022), a biography of Mona Baptiste written by Zephaniah and illustrated by Onyinye Iwu. [65] The Little Book Of Vegan Poems by Benjamin Zephaniah | Waterstones". www.waterstones.com . Retrieved 29 April 2021.

About the contributors

Zephaniah has made minor appearances in several TV programmes in the 1980s and 1990s, including The Bill (1994), The Comic Strip Presents... (1994) and Crucial Tales (1996). [22] Benjamin Zephaniah on fighting the far right: 'If we did nothing we would be killed on the streets' ". The Guardian. 28 February 2016 . Retrieved 29 April 2021.

Like Gangsta Rap, Teacher’s Dead offers an anatomy of violence for today’s youth, revealing its complex causes in ways that trouble the boundaries between criminals and victims. More broadly though, and what characterises all of Zephaniah’s writing to date, is its stress on the redemptive forces of love, laughter, and peace. This was such a powerful middle grade novel. It dealt with some heavy themes, doing them justice though not overcomplicating it for the target audience. I gave this novel a ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars) on Goodreads. Zephaniah says Powell’s death politicised the more conservative elements of his family. His mother and Aunt Claris, Mikey’s mother, had always believed in the decency of the police. But not any more. “Members of the family were always like: ‘You were out late; you must have done something,’ and suddenly it was: ‘Yep, the police are capable of murder!’ One aunt said: ‘We come to dis country, and we tink de police are nice and now we understand!’” He loves impersonating his elders. This book Face written by Benjamin Zephaniah was published in 2004 by Bloomsbury USA, and this year has been given a new cover (as pictured below).I was sent this book from Bloomsbury publishing, so a huge thank you to them for making this post possible. Zephaniah became a vegetarian at age 11, [28] and then became a vegan at the age of 13 [29] [30] when he read poems about "shimmering fish floating in an underwater paradise, and birds flying free in the clear blue sky". [ citation needed]Perry, Kevin (7 March 2006). "Benjamin Zephaniah interview about Naked". London: The Beaver . Retrieved 29 September 2010. I did like his friends from after the accident the Jamaican sisters and Anthony. I thought that they were interesting and unique characters and I would have loved to learn more about them.

Rodger, James (2 May 2018). "Benjamin Zephaniah admits to hitting ex-girlfriend". BirminghamLive . Retrieved 28 April 2021. He writes that his poetry is strongly influenced by the music and poetry of Jamaica and what he calls "street politics". His first performance was in church when he was eleven, and by the age of 15, his poetry was already known among Handsworth's Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities. [8]This book was set in England – or somewhere in an English town which had alot of distinct slang terms. What happens next will change Martin’s life and looks, and show him the true meaning of strength, courage, discrimination and friendship. Layton, Josh (7 January 2018). "Peaky Blinders actor on the real-life character behind TV role". BirminghamLive . Retrieved 28 April 2021.

There was one girlfriend that I had, and I actually hit her a couple of times, and as I got older I really regretted it. It burned my conscience so badly. It really ate at me, you know. And I'm a meditator. It got in the way of my meditation."Collins, Tony (2008) " University honour for Doug Eliis Archived 22 July 2012 at archive.today", Birmingham Mail, 11 July 2008 As an adult reading this I guessed exactly what was going to be the major plot twist in the book by just reading the blurb, but any young human reading this wouldn’t even begin to think that a car crash would be the cause of Martin’s eventual facial deformities. a b c Gregory, Andy (2002), International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002, Europa, p. 562. ISBN 1-85743-161-8.