Scan barcode
jackelz's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
“We talked about superficial judgments, how people look at you and think they know who you are, what you are, how they put you in a box: jock, china doll, whatever.”
The students in Mr. Ward’s English class are studying the Harlem Renaissance, and have been reading their poems aloud to the class.
Wesley “Bad Boy” Boone and Tyrone Bitting have the most to gain from this poetry project, so they really encourage it to keep going. As the story goes, we get introduced to more characters in the class, learn more about them through their poems, and can even connect them to others. While some characters are fleshed out more than others, they each have their own time to shine as they share their own words. There are so many beautiful layers in this story, and there is more to each character than anyone thought, especially Tyrone who connects them all.
The format of this short book was really cool, with the mix of prose and poetry. I imagine it would be fun to listen to this one on audio.
"Okay. I just wanted to say I'm really glad I got to do this poetry thing because I feel like, even though the people in our class are all different colors and some of you speak a different language and everything, I feel like we connected. I feel like I know you now. You know what I'm saying? I feel like we're not as different as I thought."
———
Rep: 18 high school kids living in the Bronx: 11 Black, 3 Hispanic, 4 white (1 Jewish, 1 Italian), dyslexia
CW: domestic violence, stereotypes, teen pregnancy, loss of a parent, mention of cancer, mention of drug overdose, racism
———
Characters:
Wesley “Bad Boy” Boone - this was his idea, he hates homework but finds the Harlem Renaissance interesting
Tyrone Bitting - wants a future in hip hop, loves the spotlight, his father was murdered, thinks school is a joke
Chankara Troupe - problem solver, not standing for domestic violence like her older sister
Raul Ramirez - artist, Puerto Rican
Diondre Jordan - tall girl but doesn’t want to play basketball, artist
Devon Hope - known as “jump shot” but doesn’t want to be the dumb jock, because he’s actually really smart, can be found hiding in the library
Lupe Algarin - daydreamer, really wants to have a baby so she has someone to love
Gloria Martinez - teen mom, totally sleep deprived
Janelle Battle - Fat girl, crushing on Devon, tutors kids
Leslie Lucas - white, lost her mom to cancer, likes Sheryl Crow
Judianne Alexander - sews her own clothes, thinks she’s ugly because of her blue-black skin
Tanisha Scott - light skinned/biracial, class beauty with good hair but wants to be seen as more
Sterling S. Hughes - known as “preacher” or “goody two shoes” but wants to be a science teacher, plays guitar at church
Amy Moscowitz - Jewish, atheist, white girl, lives with her dad, mostly keeps to herself
Shelia Gamberoni - Italian, wants to be more cultured so she’ll fit in
Steve Ericson - white, theatre kid, wants to be a set designer, has rhymes
Raynard Patterson - dyslexic, plays the saxophone
Porscha Johnson - quick to anger but working on it, bully/bullied, abusive mother and lost her mom to overdose
Bonus: Mai Tren - half Black, half Vietnamese; not in Mr. Ward’s class, maybe we will see him more in the companion book ‘Between the Lines’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, and Cancer
More...