My Uncle Emily

My Uncle Emily
Jane Yolen

This is a beautiful story from the life of Emily Dickinson, told from the view of her 6-year-old nephew, Gilbert. He begins by explaining that she calls herself "uncle" and that this is a joke in their family. Gilbert is entranced by the words his aunt uses to describe bees and roses. We learn that he loves to spend time with her in her garden, and it seems quite natural that Gilbert has taken on a poetic way of talking that fills this story with descriptive phrases and similies. As he tells about this episode he also ponders what his aunt means by poetry, and readers get a sense of the curiosity and wonder of this young boy. When he punches a boy in the nose who he thinks is making fun of his Uncle Emily, he has more to learn about being impetuous and about telling the truth. This becomes the ripe occasion for the author to bring into the story one of Dickinson's great poems. Tell all the truth...but tell it slant...