Grimes, Nikki. Bronx Masquerade. New York: Dial Books. 2002. ISBN 9780142501894
AWARDS:
2003 Coretta Scott King Author Award
ALA Notable Book
SUMMARY: This story is told through the eyes of high school students in Mr. Ward’s English class. The students come from broken and lower class homes. Most students are raging about some issue in their lives, as well as worried about their ability to fit in with their peers. Mr. Ward starts “Open Mike” Fridays, where students can get up and read poems they have written. Releasing their true feelings through poetry, these students divert their anger through words and begin to bond as a class. The barriers each student had built to protect themselves are slowly peeled away and they realize that their first impressions of each other are not accurate.
The “Open Mike” Fridays become so popular that a reporter comes to the school and writes a report about the great things going on in Mr. Ward’s English class. As the end of school approaches, the class is allowed to perform their poetry in front of the whole school. The whole class has gone from mere acquaintances into a tight knit family, supporting each other. They perform for the school, and Mr. Ward’s class becomes one of the most sought after classes in the whole school.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS: An inspirational and enlightening read for junior high through high school readers. It is refreshing to read about minority and economically challenged students where the whole book is positive. There were no bad characters, there was no fighting, there was no drug dealing, there were just students who were encouraged to succeed and feel good about themselves.
The setting is a Bronx high school with the story told through the eyes of students in a high school English class. The main character, Tyrone, is well developed. We see his insights about his own life and his impressions of the other students he gets to know through their poetry. We meet the other characters, but they only have small chapters coupled with their poetry. Most students will be able to relate to at least one character is this book.
Each student has a less than perfect life and feels a need fit in with their peers. They have little control over their situations, but gain power through their own words in their poetry. They began to see that they can be successful and their futures are bright. They begin to bond as a group and seek control over their anger and loneliness.
I would recommend it for any teenage student, and especially reluctant readers. The poetry mixed with the stories of the individual students is a good mix and an easy read.
REVIEWS:
Publisher’s Weekly Review:
“When a high school teacher in the Bronx begins to host open-mike poetry in his classroom on Fridays, his students find a forum to express their identity issues and forge unexpected connections with one another. Grimes's (Jazmin's Notebook) creative, contemporary premise will hook teens, and the poems may even inspire readers to try a few of their own. The poetic forms range from lyrics penned by aspiring rapper Tyrone to the concrete poem of a budding Puerto Rican painter Raul (titled "Zorro" and formed as the letter "Z"). Ultimately, though, there may be too many characters for the audience to penetrate deeply. The students in Mr. Ward's English class experience everything from dyslexia and low self-esteem to teenage motherhood and physical abuse. The narrators trade off quickly, offering only a glimpse into their lives. Not even Tyrone, who breaks in after each student's poem to offer some commentary, comes fully to life. The students' poems, however, provide some lasting images (e.g., overweight Janelle, who is teased for her "thick casing," writes, "I am coconut,/ and the heart of me/ is sweeter/ than you know"). Any one of these students could likely dominate a novel of his or her own, they simply get too little time to hold the floor here. Ages 12-up.”
School Library Journal Review:
“Gr 8 Up-A flowing, rhythmic portrait of the diversity and individuality of teen characters in a classroom in Anywhere, U.S.A. Each teen's story is told by combining his or her poetry with snippets of narration. Readers meet Tyrone, an aspiring songwriter who sees no use for school; Lupe, who thinks that becoming a mother would give her the love she lacks in her life; and Janelle, who is struggling with her body image. As their stories unfold and intertwine with those of their classmates, readers are able to observe changes in them and watch the group evolve into a more cohesive unit. Grimes's style is reminiscent of Mel Glenn's poetry novels, but by telling these stories in both poetry and narration, the author adds a new twist. Competent and reluctant readers alike will recognize and empathize with these teens. As always, Grimes gives young people exactly what they're looking for-real characters who show them they are not alone.”
RESOURCES:
Grimes, Nikki. Bronx Masquerade. New York: Dial Books. 2002.
Nikki Grimes website.
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