Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade (c) 2002 by Nikki Grimes

Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes is an enjoyable, enlightening book that explores the lives of several young people at one school, the students of Mr. Ward, all of whom are doing their best to become smarter, wiser, and better able to face the world around them. The students write poems about themselves and what they observe in the world, and then read them to each other. The poems are sobering, sweet, and eye-opening.

They struggle with things that most young people can relate to, or at least can imagine, and the whole book, a collection of the insights of these young people, is upbeat and hopeful. I recommend this book to anyone who likes poetry, collections of different insights from different characters, and stories that reaffirm that there is good in humanity.