A review by mswrightwright
Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes
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