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A review by hollowspine
Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes
3.0
This book alternates in chapters between the different perspectives of students in a poetry writing class. The main character, Darrian, has grown up reading newspapers with his father and has a dream of becoming a writer for the New York Times, especially so that he can write stories that feature more people like him, people of color, people like his dad who work multiple jobs to make sure their families have enough, people who are often all too invisible.
Over the course of the novel Darrian gets to know his classmates through their poetry, and bonding over shared experiences, though what he sees on the outside isn't always what readers discover once we start reading the perspective of that student. Each chapter alternates between one of the characters and ends in a poem, written in that character's style. As the students start to trust each other and the space they've created in the poetry class, they start to reveal aspects of their home lives.
Grimes writes with wisdom and heart and each character represents a realistic situation that will resonate with readers in similar situations. The characters are dealing with parents who are addicts, or are distant or abusive. One character is in the foster care system and not only has never felt like she belonged in any of the homes she's stayed in, but has anxiety about where she'll end up when she turns 18 and has no where to stay and no support. One of the young men misses his dad, even though his dad is at home, but since his dad was falsely arrested he's never been the same.
CHS - Sept. 2018 (1 request)
Over the course of the novel Darrian gets to know his classmates through their poetry, and bonding over shared experiences, though what he sees on the outside isn't always what readers discover once we start reading the perspective of that student. Each chapter alternates between one of the characters and ends in a poem, written in that character's style. As the students start to trust each other and the space they've created in the poetry class, they start to reveal aspects of their home lives.
Grimes writes with wisdom and heart and each character represents a realistic situation that will resonate with readers in similar situations. The characters are dealing with parents who are addicts, or are distant or abusive. One character is in the foster care system and not only has never felt like she belonged in any of the homes she's stayed in, but has anxiety about where she'll end up when she turns 18 and has no where to stay and no support. One of the young men misses his dad, even though his dad is at home, but since his dad was falsely arrested he's never been the same.
CHS - Sept. 2018 (1 request)