Ordinary Hazards

Ordinary Hazards (2019) is a memoir in verse by Nikki Grimes. This story offers a glimpse of the author’s difficult childhood, including her exposure to addiction, abuse, and neglect. Grimes highlights her journey through adolescence and how writing and her faith helped her navigate her circumstances. The book explores the themes The Impact of Trauma on Memory, The Role of Emotional Support in Building Resilience, and The Healing Power of Creative Expression.

Nikki Grimes is a celebrated American writer and artist who has written award-winning books for children, including the Coretta Scott King Award–winner Bronx Masquerade and the ALA Notable books What is Goodbye? and Words with Wings. She has been writing verse since she was six years old and has written poetry for both children and adults. Grimes is a recipient of the NCTE Award for Poetry and received the Children’s Literature Legacy Award in 2017 for her “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.” She was further presented with the 2022 Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award (“Biography.” Nikki Grimes).

This guide is based on the 2019 Astra Publishing House Kindle Edition.