Heavy

Kiese Laymon begins his memoir by repeating the words, “I wanted to write a lie.” What is Laymon’s intention with this book, and what is the tension between what he wanted to write and what he actually creates? Consider the following questions as you develop your ideas:

• What truth (or truths) does Laymon explore, despite his initial reluctance?
• What role does Laymon’s relationship with his mother, his community, and his body play in this exploration?
• How can Heavy offer a unique perspective about the purpose and meaning of memoir as a genre?

Teaching Suggestion: Consider emphasizing the introductory section, “Been,” and the closing section, “Bend.” You may encourage students to use the intro and closing as a framework for considering the discussion question, and you may prompt students to use examples from the main body of the text to support their thoughts.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced learners and students who would benefit from close reading, consider amending the prompt to include a rhetorical analysis task. Students might read the introductory and closing sections, then answer the following questions: How does Laymon’s use of language persuade his intended audience? What literary devices does he use to convey meaning? What is the author’s purpose for using each device? Asking students to slow down and analyze how the author composed the opening and closing to his memoir could help them better understand the power of rhetoric, as well as the way the rhetorical situation (i.