Is it possible to narrate the story of a life without a bit of invention?

Abstract

This report shares the experience of literary reading in an 8th-grade class during the first semester of 2024 at Paineira Escola Waldorf. The chosen book was "The Dark Child" by Camara Laye. Considered a pioneer of African literature, Laye shares his childhood memories up to the point he is accepted into a European university. To support the reflections presented in this experiential report, we draw on studies about experience, memoir genre, and literature reading, referencing Jorge Larrosa (2011); Bakhtin (2016); Alfredo Bosi (1994); Marisa Lajolo (2006); and Rildo Cosson (2006). Additionally, we examine the role of intersectionality in the educational context, supported by the works of Vera Candau (2013), in which education is defended as a powerful tool for combating racism and other forms of discrimination.