Poet, author, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou (1928-2014) tackles social and philosophical issues in her writing, including existential questions concerning race in America. Her series of seven autobiographies, which includes I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, remains her best-known work. Angelou lived an eclectic life, having worked as a fry cook, a singer, and as a correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. As such, issues of equality, justice, and courage underlie her most prominent novels and poetry. Angelou frequently drew on her own life experiences when writing, adding authenticity and credibility to her as an author.

Angelou showcases this vulnerability in Letter to My Daughter, recounting many personal and at times traumatic memories. The reader witnesses her growth as Angelou takes us from her birth in St. Louis, Missouri, through her life in Stamps, Arkansas, and all over the world, from Morocco to Paris. Letter also serves as a meditation in which Angelou reflects on the lessons that have shaped and continue to shape her. Her voice is wise, knowledgeable, and intentional, but Angelou also provides some room for creative interpretation, so the reader may use her work at their own discretion.