Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grimes, Nikki, 2002, Bronx Masquerade, Hampton-Brown, Carmel, California, ISBN 0803725698

PLOT SUMMARY

When, Mr. Ward, a high-school English teacher in Bronx, New York assigns an essay as a follow up to a unit on Harlem Renaissance,  his student Wesley choses to write a series of poems instead.  Wesley’s poetry becomes the catalyst for Mr. Ward’s weekly Open Mike Fridays.  Mr. Ward’s English class begins using poetry as a forum for self-expression and as a vehicle for dealing with the struggles and pressures associated inner city adolescence.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Nikki Grimes brilliantly intertwines novel with poetic verse.  This heartfelt story is beautifully revealed through the use of 18 culturally diverse students’ voices to convey the hardships and tribulations of inner city teens. The emotion captured through powerful language selection, creates intense imagery to accompany the eloquent yet often gritty subject matter.  These formidable experiences, expressed through poetry leave the reader wanting more.  The brief glimpse into each students’ lives is simply too abrupt. Perhaps Ms. Grimes will write a second verse novel continuing the journey of these 18 teens as they transcend into adulthood.

Bronx Masquerade is sure to spark many great discussions nationwide and maybe even inspiring students to use poetry to express their feelings and opinions about assumptions, prejudices and revelations.  A must read for young adults 12 and up!   (Novel contains mature content which should be approved by parents and/or school.)        

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Kirkus, starred review, "This is almost like a play for 18 voices, as Grimes...moves her narration among a group of high school students in the Bronx. The English teacher, Mr. Ward, accepts a set of poems from Wesley, his response to a month of reading poetry from the Harlem Renaissance. Soon there's an open-mike poetry reading, sponsored by Mr. Ward, every month, and then later, every week. The chapters in the students' voices alternate with the poem read by that student, defiant, shy, and terrified. All of them, black, Latino, white, male, and female, talk about the unease and alienation endemic to their ages, and they do it in fresh and appealing voices...Beyond those capsules are rich and complex teens, and their tentative reaching out to each other increases as though the poems they also find more of themselves

Horn Book, "A poet herself, author Grimes creates a montage of voices whose commonality rests in their sense of isolation and yearning to belong. Whether their poems...are in rap, free verse, or conscious rhyme, these kids surprise one another in part with how much they are alike. In shared pain and need, they all become poets; as readers, we want to believe their individual poetic gifts, even as we hear Grimes's considerable talent behind theirs...the book...succeeds because it makes us want the best for these voices so clearly heard."

School Library Journal, "A flowing, rhythmic portrait of the diversity and individuality of teen characters in a classroom in Anywhere, U.S.A...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...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."

AWARDS: 

2003 Coretta Scott King Author Award
Best Book for Young Adults
Children's Literature Choice
Quick Pick for Young Adult Reluctant Readers
Junior Library Guild Selection
New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
Tayshas High School Reading List (Texas)
Notable Books for a Global Society

 CONNECTIONS

Verbal / Linguistic: Write your own poem for Open Mike Friday.
Logical /Mathematical: Choose any two characters from the book and create a Venn diagram Visual /Spatial: Using any media (from crayons and oils, to charcoal and magazines ) create a self-portrait of one of the characters.
Body/ Kinesthetic:  Either memorize and perform a poem from Bronx Masquerade, a Harlem Renaissance artist, or perform your own poem.
Musical /Rhythmic:  Write a brief compare/contrast essay (even Mr. Ward's students had to write essays) about lyrics and poetry. What makes them similar? How are they different? Which one, do you think, has the most influence and why? Give examples.
Intrapersonal: Write a journal response after Open Mike Friday. Consider the following:
1. What did you learn about someone that you didn't expect?
2. Who surprised you the most? Why?
3. Whose poetry did you most admire? Why?
4. Would you want to do this again? Why or why not? 

Other recommended verse novels for young adult readers:

Hopkins, Ellen, Crank, ISBN 1416995137
Herrara, Juan Felipe, CrashBoomLove, ISBN 0826321143
Smith, Kristen, The Geography of Girlhood, ISNB B005IUW640
Frost, Helen, Keesha's House, ISNB 0374400121