Masquerade

When I first picked up the book Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes I thought to myself "I'm either going to love it or hate it." I sat and read it in one afternoon! I loved the way that Grimes took a different approach in getting the message across to teens that we really don't know what is going on in a person's life just be outward appearances. Grimes does a wonderful job in connecting all of the characters together with the poems that they have to write for English class. There is so much more going on beneath the surface of these characters and they come to realize that the grass is not greener on the other side for all of their classmates. Grimes chose an interesting title too. All of the characters are playing a part, putting up a front or a masquerade so that no one will really get to know them or any of the pain that they have been hiding I will be very interested in looking up some of her other writings as well.