offinherownmind's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent representation in this novel, honestly one of the best. I love the idea of how the one class was able to bring together a variety of backgrounds and bring them together to know they don't have to face life alone.
sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
I received this through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The sequel to Bronx Masquerade kicks off with Darrian, a fledgling newspaper reporter, who is trying to develop his skills. Darrian heard about Mr. Ward's class and his poetry slams. Darrian decides to give the class a try. This novel is told through multiple perspectives and lends many voices. Characters are well-developed and their lives are fully explored through this novel in verse. Characters must deal with parental alcoholism, the foster system and what it means to age out of it, the effects of drug issues within communities and families, and balancing their own issues while also seeing past their preconceived notions of others.
The sequel to Bronx Masquerade kicks off with Darrian, a fledgling newspaper reporter, who is trying to develop his skills. Darrian heard about Mr. Ward's class and his poetry slams. Darrian decides to give the class a try. This novel is told through multiple perspectives and lends many voices. Characters are well-developed and their lives are fully explored through this novel in verse. Characters must deal with parental alcoholism, the foster system and what it means to age out of it, the effects of drug issues within communities and families, and balancing their own issues while also seeing past their preconceived notions of others.
reading_the_fine_print's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is quick read with multiple points of view, styles, and offers a wide variety of lessons to be learned. This is the book you offer to a non reader with hopes of turning them.
andersonh92's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the different perspectives, all coming together and forming a connection through poetry! Reading the companion novel next!
jackelz's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
“We live in the same city, go to the same school, but each of us has a different story. What we have in common is trying to figure out how to tell it.”
This was a follow-up to Bronx Masquerade, but can be read as a stand-alone. This one had half the amount of characters, but still packed a heavy punch. The author handles all of the characters and their stories with grace, and you can’t help but root for them all to succeed. The bonds of friendship formed are truly special, too.
Poetry is such a powerful outlet, and I’m glad I’ve been reading more of it lately.
———
Rep: 9 high school kids living in the Bronx: Latinx, Black, White, Asian
CW: alcoholism, mentions of drug use, prejudice, racism, racial profiling, loss of a parent
———
Characters:
Darrian Lopez - Puerto Rican, loves the newspaper, wants to work for The New York Times, lives with his father, lost his mother to cancer
Tyrone Bittings - makes a special (re)appearance
Li Cheng - Chinese-American, honors student, parents want a strong and smart all American girl
Jenesis Whyte - Black girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, foster child in her 13th placement, terrified of being homeless when she ages out of the system
Marcel Dixon - labeled a “troubled kid”, dad was wrongly arrested for drug charges, and his father hasn’t been the same since
Valentina Alvarez - Argentinian-American, bilingual, feels the pain and prejudice her father faces as an immigrant
Kyle Newton - White, heart condition, fearless, gets treated like glass by parents, skateboards
Angela Marie Bailey - social anxiety, afraid of not being enough
Freddie Houston - girl, mother to her mom (alcoholic) and her niece (because her sister is a drug addict)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Racism, and Death of parent
isweedan's review against another edition
3.0
Contemporary slice of life is not my thing but this was nice.
mswrightwright's review against another edition
5.0
I truly enjoyed this book. Grimes did a wonderful job demonstrating how poetry gives voice, hope, and healing as these teens from different backgrounds become friends through the written and spoke word.
I loved learning about each characters stories and their discovery of limited their own worldview is in respect to the struggle of each other and how they are changed by that knowledge. I loved seeing how they told it through poetry.
I am passing it on to my daughter who writes poems and stories because it is a great read and I think it will help her as a writer.
Favorite quotes:
“Because poetry, more than anything else, will teach you about the power of words.“ —Mr. Winston p. 5
“ A poem that is not true is simply a manipulation of beauty.“ —Li p.109
“ He’s right. If I can put words together in a way that can make somebody tremble inside, or cry, or maybe even clench their fists long enough to feel their anger, then let it go – that’s a good thing, a good tool. I just have to be careful how to use it.” -Darrian p. 105
“ So why am I going crazy, shaving off pieces of myself, trying to fit in? Nobody fits in. We’re all separate pieces stitched together with words and friendship mostly, and somehow, it works. Maybe that’s what being American is about – being different, standing out, but standing together. —Val p.197
I loved learning about each characters stories and their discovery of limited their own worldview is in respect to the struggle of each other and how they are changed by that knowledge. I loved seeing how they told it through poetry.
I am passing it on to my daughter who writes poems and stories because it is a great read and I think it will help her as a writer.
Favorite quotes:
“Because poetry, more than anything else, will teach you about the power of words.“ —Mr. Winston p. 5
“ A poem that is not true is simply a manipulation of beauty.“ —Li p.109
“ He’s right. If I can put words together in a way that can make somebody tremble inside, or cry, or maybe even clench their fists long enough to feel their anger, then let it go – that’s a good thing, a good tool. I just have to be careful how to use it.” -Darrian p. 105
“ So why am I going crazy, shaving off pieces of myself, trying to fit in? Nobody fits in. We’re all separate pieces stitched together with words and friendship mostly, and somehow, it works. Maybe that’s what being American is about – being different, standing out, but standing together. —Val p.197
auntbreesqreads's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to KidLitExchange and the publisher for a chance to read the ARC for free so that I could provide an honest review. As I said when I reviewed Bronx Masquerade, I'm not much of a poetry reader since I have zero internal rhythm but having the context for each made it easier I think. I actually tried reading some of the poems aloud which helped on some poems and not on others. Again, maybe this is a reason to have poetry readings/slams in schools. I think I had one teacher in all of high school even do a topic on poems honestly.
Here are some quotes that are based on the UNCORRECTED text I read:
"Words are powerful but sometimes words have a limit." I feel this so deeply. every time someone I love loses someone they love or a client is getting screwed by some arbitrary law.
"Maybe that's what being an American is about - being different, standing out, but standing together."
Here are some quotes that are based on the UNCORRECTED text I read:
"Words are powerful but sometimes words have a limit." I feel this so deeply. every time someone I love loses someone they love or a client is getting screwed by some arbitrary law.
"Maybe that's what being an American is about - being different, standing out, but standing together."
lizbtc's review against another edition
4.0
A companion to Bronx Masquerade and I have to admit, I don't remember if I read Bronx Masquerade. So, this passes the "stand alone" test.
i listened to the audio, which used multiple narrators for the multiple teens telling their stories. What they have in common? The same high school English teacher, writing poetry and getting ready for a poetry slam.
I enjoy these types of books: different people telling the story, with their different perspectives. There's always one you identify with a bit more than others, one you learn more from than others.
I'll say this is less about poetry and more about connection, communication, and connections -- letting people in. It's about learning about oneself and about people you think you know, but don't.
The two who stuck with me the most: Genesis, a foster child, whose future is uncertain (or, rather, certain: she's by herself and about to age out of the foster system). Marcel, whose family was fractured when his father was arrested on a trumped up charge.
i listened to the audio, which used multiple narrators for the multiple teens telling their stories. What they have in common? The same high school English teacher, writing poetry and getting ready for a poetry slam.
I enjoy these types of books: different people telling the story, with their different perspectives. There's always one you identify with a bit more than others, one you learn more from than others.
I'll say this is less about poetry and more about connection, communication, and connections -- letting people in. It's about learning about oneself and about people you think you know, but don't.
The two who stuck with me the most: Genesis, a foster child, whose future is uncertain (or, rather, certain: she's by herself and about to age out of the foster system). Marcel, whose family was fractured when his father was arrested on a trumped up charge.