Bronx Masquerade - by Nikki Grimes (Paperback)

About the Book

Using the structure of a poetry slam, Grimes' Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel is a powerful exploration of self, an homage to spoken-word poetry, and an intriguing look into the lives of 18 urban teens. Now available in a new package and format..

Book Synopsis

A CORETTA SCOTT KING AWARD WINNER - A heartfelt exploration of adolescence, this novel celebrates the essence of poetry and the unifying strength of sharing one's voice.

"Rich and complex."--Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will enjoy the lively, smart voices that talk bravely, about real issues and secret fears. A fantastic choice."--Booklist

Behind every voice is a story waiting to be told.

When Wesley Boone writes a poem for his high school English class, some of his classmates clamor to read their poems aloud too. Soon they're having weekly poetry sessions and, one by one, the eighteen students are opening up and taking on the risky challenge of self-revelation.

There's Lupe, desperate to have a baby so she will feel loved.
Raynard, hiding a secret behind his silence.
Porscha, needing an outlet for her anger after her mother OD's.
Janelle, struggling to come to terms with her body image.

Through the poetry they share and narratives in which they reveal their most intimate thoughts, eighteen teenagers show what lies beneath the skin, behind the eyes, beyond the masquerade.

Review Quotes

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

"Funny and painful, awkward and abstract, the poems talk about race, abuse, parental love, neglect, death, and body image. Most of all, they try to reveal the individuals beyond the stereotypes. . . . Readers will enjoy the lively, smart voices that talk bravely about real issues and secret fears. A fantastic choice."--Booklist

"All of the [students], 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. Rich and complex."--Kirkus

"Grimes's creative, contemporary premise will hook teens, and the poems may even inspire readers to try a few of their own."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Nikki Grimes is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of dozens of children's and young adult books as well as a poet and journalist.

Among the many accolades she has received are the Golden Dolphin Award (2005), the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children (2006), the Coretta Scott King Award (2003) for Bronx Masquerade, and the Horace Mann Upstanders Award (2011) for Almost Zero: A Dyamonde Daniel Book. Additionally, her book Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope (illustrated by Bryan Collier) was a New York Times bestseller, and she was acknowledged as an NAACP Image Award Finalist in 1993 for her book Malcolm X: a Force for Change. Her books Meet Danitra Brown (illustrated by Floyd Cooper), Jazmin's Notebook, Talkin' About Bessie (illustrated by E.B. Lewis), Dark Sons, The Road to Paris, and Words with Wings were each awarded Coretta Scott King Honors.