This thought-provoking companion novel to the Coretta Scott King Award-winning Bronx Masquerade shows the capacity poetry has to express ideas and feelings, and reminds one and all that the greatest common denominator is the human heart.
"These complex students use poetry to find their truest voices and write their own stories."-School Library Journal
"Aptly describes inner-city problems, from police discrimination to gangs, but the teens are the focal point of the novel."-Booklist
Words Rock Classroom!
That's a headline Darrian Lopez might write after spending time in Mr. Ward's class, known for its open-mic poetry readings. Darrian's there hoping to hone his writing skills so that someday he can report for the New York Times. As the students start telling their stories, Darrian observes that despite their differences, they're all just trying to do their best in a world full of challenges, be it from their family dynamics, an unfair judicial system, or their own personal demons.
Autorentext
Nikki Grimes (nikkigrimes.com) received the Coretta Scott King Award for Bronx Masquerade, and has also received five Coretta Scott King Honors. She has written more than fifty books, including The Road to Paris, Jazmin's Notebook, the Dyamonde Daniel series, and the New York Times bestseller Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope. She lives in Corona, California.
Klappentext
This thought-provoking companion to Nikki Grimes' Coretta Scott King Award-winning Bronx Masquerade shows the capacity poetry has to express ideas and feelings, and connect us with ourselves and others. Darrian dreams of writing for the New York Times. To hone his skills and learn more about the power of words, he enrolls in Mr. Ward's class, known for its open-mic poetry readings and boys vs. girls poetry slam. Everyone in class has something important to say, and in sharing their poetry, they learn that they all face challenges and have a story to tell-whether it's about health problems, aging out of foster care, being bullied for religious beliefs, or having to take on too much responsibility because of an addicted parent. As Darrian and his classmates get to know one another through poetry, they bond over the shared experiences and truth that emerge from their writing, despite their private struggles and outward differences.