Bronx Masquerade

Aspiring rapper Wesley “Bad Boy” Boone starts the book off by admitting “I ain’t particular about doing homework, you understand.” But when the teacher assigns an essay on the Harlem Renaissance to Wesley’s Bronx high school class, Wesley decides to write some poems instead. Why write prose about a poet like Langston Hughes? But then the teacher asks him to read it aloud in front of the class, and it turns out to be surprisingly popular. His classmates, black, white, Hispanic, all want their chance too. So, each Friday becomes “Open Mike” poetry readings in class.

As the students read their poems to the class they reveal parts of themselves that their classmates had never known, and it sparks some friendships that show more previously would have been unlikely. Grimes alternates internal prose monologues by the students with their poems in this Coretta Scott King Author Award winning book. Wesley's homey Tyrone, a very reluctant student and frequent skipper of classes and school, suddenly takes an interest in what’s going down there, and serves as the Greek chorus by commenting on the poems and on his classmates as the story moves through the school year. show less

A classroom in the Bronx is studying the Harlem Renaissance and has to write and read an essay about Langston Hughes. Wesley decides that since Hughes is a poet, he will write and read a poem for class. It’s a huge hit and Open Mike Fridays is born. Wesley’s friend Tyrone is up next and we see his insight into everyone else’s poetry as well. Through 18 different voices, we see the students in all their flaws and beauty and insecurity and hidden selves. It’s wonderful and I’m really glad to find out that a companion novel, Between the Lies, exists so I can check that out as well. I listened to this as a full-cast audiobook recording, and given that the story is told from the first-person perspective of 18 different characters, show more it lends itself really well to the audiobook format. I hope teachers use this book in high school, because I really feel like it would reach out to students today, and perhaps inspire their own Open Mike Fridays. show less

A beautiful rhythm of person and poetry, following the emergence of understanding in a mixed class of high-schoolers in the Bronx. Each of these students--black, white, Puerto Rican, Italian, and all shades in between--believe themselves to be alone, some more than others. Each feels not quite right, or outcasted, or ugly, or worthless. Yet when their English teacher starts to set class time aside for weekly poetry slams, the kids aren't afraid to let themselves out on paper. Through lines and beats, each student finds a means of expression which begins to connect student to student. Suddenly, people aren't feeling as alone. Now, people realize just how wrong their judgements of their classmates have been. Suddenly, they find a show more family...una familia...a place where they are understood, for better or worse. show less

This is such a good story. I wanted it to be true. The story is about a group of kids from the Bronx who are studying the Harlem Renaissance. The English teacher, Mr Ward, starts an open Mic on one day of the month and the students can read their poetry or present their artistic expressions. Through this vehicle, the kids in this class begin to know the other students and learn they have more in common than they have differences. The students learn to have hope for the future. It's a great story. An award winning work (Coretta Scott King Award book in 2002.

Rating: 4.62

Very relevant to the high school/middle school classroom. No over-arching narrative but the poems are lively and engaging. Also, it scores points for depicting young people from a variety of different backgrounds.

Eighteen teenagers from all walks of life use poetry to tell it like it is. In the form of a poetry slam each student in Mr. Ward's class gets an opportunity to share a piece of him or herself. Not all are eager for the spotlight, but the more students stand up and share, the more the others get to thinking this poetry thing isn't such a bad idea.
All of these students pull courage from their classmates and try it on for themselves. One by one they are pulled to the front of the classroom to stand up strong. By doing so they reveal glimpses of lives their classmates knew nothing about.
Mr. Ward's Open Mike class gains momentum when a reporter gets wind of the class and makes a visit.
Best surprise: Grimes features real life poet Pedro show more Pietri. show less

Winner of a Coretta Scott King Award and first published in 2002, this book was reissued in 2017 with a new introduction from Nikki Grimes in preparation for the companion novel Between the Lines. The kids in Mr. Ward's high school English class have nothing in common: different races, religions, backgrounds, interests. Most of them aren't that interested in school, let alone getting to know each other. But then Mr. Ward starts Open Mike Fridays and they begin to reveal, bit by bit through poetry, who they really are. Can it really make a difference in helping them understand other points of view? Yes. Eighteen unique voices (with the strongest voice of Tyrone connecting them) tell their stories through personal accounts for the reader show more and poems for their peers. I'll recommend it to both middle and high school students. It might get some of them to leave their own private "masquerades" and give them courage to show their true selves to the world. show less