Book Review: Uptown

 

Written by: Bryan Collier
Published by: Henry Holt and Company, 2000
ISBN: 978-0-8050-5721-8

Plot Summary

Uptown is a love song written to the Harlem neighborhood. In it, Collier describes important mainstays of the neighborhood, including landmarks such as the Apollo theater and brownstones, cultural institutions like jazz and chicken and waffles, and regular sightings, such as girls in yellow dresses going to church. Each of these aspects of the area is illustrated using a combination of collage and watercolor that brings them to life.

Critical Analysis

Although a young boy is portrayed as the narrator of the story, one can argue that the main character is the neighborhood of Harlem itself. It is surprising to learn that Collier was raised in Maryland and moved to New York City as an adult, as the narrative is so convincingly written to convey the voice of someone who has lived in Harlem for his entire life. His love for the neighborhood is apparent through the words and pictures.

The collage style of the illustrations adds a richness to them and allows them to include small details that pull in the text as well. Collier describes the brownstones as looking like they're made of chocolate. In inspecting the accompanying image, one finds that the brownstones in the photo are actually constructed of chocolate bars. This small detail captures the type of language and imagery that would be used by an actual child and creates an image that is both immediately identifiable as a row of brownstones and is made from chocolate bars. No detail is too small, as the flowers in the window boxes are small images of real flowers.

125th Street is widely known as the "Main Street" of Harlem. Much of the neighborhood's population would conduct their business there and the busy nature of the picture conveys that message. In looking at it, you can imagine how it feels to be there in a crowd on the weekend. The inclusion of certain textures and fabrics helps to represent the culture of the neighborhood. The shoppers are shown wearing bright fabrics that represent their Black heritage and carrying what looks like Djembe drums, which are originally from West Africa and can be seen being played regularly around Harlem. The text says "the vibe is always jumping as people bounce to their own rhythms", which likely includes both the drumming as well as the hum of the busy crowds. Only two shop signs can be read on the page. One is for a wig shop, which would be a major central shop in any Black-centric neighborhood. The other is for the Apollo Theater.

The Apollo also warrants its own page. It is on the U.S. National Registry of Historic Places and is a New York landmark. Millions of people visit it each year to watch famous African American performers. This is one of the defining venues of Harlem and its sign dominates the image, much like the Apollo dominates the street. The yellow page behind the text seems to represent the bright lights present at the theater.

While including aspects of Harlem that represent the neighborhood as a whole, Collier is also able to include subtle differences to show that the citizens of Harlem are not a cultural monolith. He includes jazz music, the Djembe drums, and the Boys Choir of Harlem. This shows that there is not just one type of music that represents Harlem- that its residents are a rich and diverse group that enjoy all different styles of music. However, there are also experiences that are universal based on the traditions of the neighborhood- the illumination of the streetlights symbolizes that it's time for children to return home.

Uptown fits the important theme of school and community in African American literature. It allows children to see themselves as a member of a community and an important part of a shared experience.

Throughout the book, the reader finds themselves immersed in Harlem. You can close your eyes and imagine the sights and sounds of the neighborhood and get a small taste of what it is like to live there. Collier uses so many different examples of what Harlem is throughout the book. But, in the end, he describes it in just one simple word: home.

Awards Won

2001- Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner

2001- Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Winner

Review Excerpt

From Kirkus Reviews, published June 1, 2000

"Collier debuts with a set of dazzling paint-and-photo collages paired to a child’s tribute to his Harlem neighborhood. From his window the young narrator sees “Uptown” in the Metro North commuter train crawling caterpillar-like over the river; sisters in matching dresses parading to church; weekend shoppers on 125th Street; jazz; Van Der Zee photographs; playground basketball; chicken and waffles served any time of day. (“At first it seems like a weird combination, but it works.”) This complex, many-layered vibe is made almost tangible by the kaleidoscopic illustrations." 

Connections

Have students use the book as a model to create their own book about their city or neighborhood, including text and illustrations about their favorite aspects of the place. 

Show students examples of Van Der Zee photographs. Teach them about James Van Der Lee and his importance to the Harlem Renaissance and contributions to Black art and culture.