Plot Summary

All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes

Maya Angelou
Guide cover placeholder

All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1986

Book Brief

Maya Angelou

All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1986
Book Details
Pages

209

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Ghana • 1960s

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou is the fifth volume in her autobiographical series, covering 1962 to 1965, when she and her son, Guy, move to Ghana. The narrative follows Angelou as she nurses Guy back to health after a severe car accident, explores her identities as both African and African American, forms new relationships, and contributes to political life and civil rights movements in Ghana. The book includes depictions of serious injury, emotional distress, and individual encounters with racism.

Contemplative

Emotional

Inspirational

Nostalgic

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.5

8,928 ratings

86%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou is praised for its evocative prose and profound cultural insights, recounting her experiences in Ghana with emotional honesty and rich historical context. However, some critics find its narrative structure disjointed. Overall, it is a compelling exploration of identity and belonging, resonating deeply with readers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes?

Readers who enjoy memoirs, African American history, and themes of identity and belonging will appreciate Maya Angelou's All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes. Fans of James Baldwin's Notes of a Native Son or Richard Wright's Black Boy would find this book compelling for its exploration of personal and cultural connections.

4.5

8,928 ratings

86%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

2%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

209

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

Ghana • 1960s

Publication Year

1986

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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