Between the Lines

November 20, 2017
Grimes adroitly orchestrates a chorus of emotional teenage voices in this thought-provoking companion to the Coretta Scott King Award–winning Bronx Masquerade (2001). A summer has passed since the events of the previous book, and English teacher Mr. Ward has a new crop of culturally diverse students learning the art of poetry. Junior Darrian Lopez, who wants to be a newspaperman someday, is eager to uncover the backgrounds of his classmates. Grimes uses him as a kind of conductor, introducing readers to (and reflecting on the situations of) students whose stories unfold through snippets of conversation, inner monologues, and the poems they compose. Among them are foster child Jenesis, who faces an uncertain future once she turns 18; angry Marcel, whose father has been unjustly incarcerated; and overworked Freddie, caretaker for her alcoholic mother and six-year old niece. While underscoring the difficulties these teens face, Grimes’s economical writing provides glimmers of hope, showing how forming bonds of trust and finding the courage to speak one’s truth can help ease emotional pain and bring salvation. Ages 12–up.

December 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Darrian Lopez eats, sleeps, and breathes the life of a star reporter. His dreams of writing the real stories of black and brown people are surpassed only by his dream of writing for the New York Times. Darrian decides to join a poetry class after having a conversation about journalism with the school librarian. He initially joins the class to become a better observer and reporter. He believes the students in the class will provide excellent material for his budding reporter's mind. Darrian's opinion of and appreciation for poetic expression grows as he gets to know his classmates through their verses. These complex students use poetry to find their truest voices and write their own stories. This is the companion novel to the award-winning book Bronx Masquerade. Darrian is a reliable narrator and operates as the glue that ties all the other narratives together. Each character occupies his or her own space and no one character or voice monopolizes the story. The narratives of immigrants, foster children, families effected by incarceration, and teens taxed with familial burdens are thoroughly explored in a thought-provoking way. The poems and voices are a perfect blend of the many facets of American teens' lives. VERDICT An excellent companion book that lends itself easily to a teacher's poetry unit, this is great choice for school and public libraries.-Desiree Thomas, Worthington Library, OH

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2017
A new group of students join Mr. Ward's poetry class in the companion novel to Bronx Masquerade (2003).A group of black, white, Asian, and Latinx high school students in Mr. Ward's class practice the art of poetry in preparation for a weekly open-mike reading each Friday. Through poetry, the students navigate their concerns and fears about themselves, their families, and their futures. As they prepare for the class's culminating event--a poetry slam competition--the students bond and grow more comfortable revealing themselves through their poems. Each student's story is introduced and explored in rotating first-person chapters. There's brown (not black) Puerto Rican Darrian, an aspiring journalist who lost his mother to cancer; 16-year-old Jenesis, a blue-eyed, blonde, black girl who worries what will happen when she ages out of the foster-care system at 18; Chinese-American Li, who hides her love of poetry from her parents; African-American Marcel, whose father wasn't the same when he returned home from prison; and several others. Unfortunately, the characters' personal struggles remain largely static throughout the novel, and there's no overarching plot or compelling conflict among them. Much of the dialogue feels forced and doesn't ring true as the voices of present-day teens; aside from a few poignant moments, the students' poetry tends to be heavy-handed. Although it may not satisfy as a novel, its characters will no doubt resonate with teen readers who share their struggles and aspirations. (Fiction. 12-16)

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2017
Grades 7-10 Told in nine voices and interspersed with poetry, Grimes stuns in this companion novel to The Bronx Masquerade (2002). The next iteration of teens in Mr. Ward's class are learning how to write poetry, rhyme, and flow, all the while opening up to each other about their various struggles: Jenesis is in foster care. Kyle has a heart condition. Darrian lost his mom to cancer. Marcel's father recently got out of jail. Freddie has to take care of her niece because her sister is a drug addict. Li's parents don't understand her love for poetry and want her to study hard and go to Yale. Valentina's parents are immigrants, and she struggles with how they are treated in America. Grimes aptly describes inner-city problems, from police discrimination to gangs, but the teens are the focal point of the novel. Although each character has an after school special problem, Grimes excels at making the students multidimensional and complex. This diverse cast's strong inner conflict will enhance any bookshelf.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)