A review by jackelz
Between the Lines by Nikki Grimes

emotional inspiring reflective
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
“We live in the same city, go to the same school, but each of us has a different story. What we have in common is trying to figure out how to tell it.”

This was a follow-up to Bronx Masquerade, but can be read as a stand-alone. This one had half the amount of characters, but still packed a heavy punch. The author handles all of the characters and their stories with grace, and you can’t help but root for them all to succeed. The bonds of friendship formed are truly special, too. 

Poetry is such a powerful outlet, and I’m glad I’ve been reading more of it lately. 

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Rep: 9 high school kids living in the Bronx: Latinx, Black, White, Asian 

CW: alcoholism, mentions of drug use, prejudice, racism, racial profiling, loss of a parent 

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Characters: 

Darrian Lopez - Puerto Rican, loves the newspaper, wants to work for The New York Times, lives with his father, lost his mother to cancer 

Tyrone Bittings - makes a special (re)appearance 

Li Cheng - Chinese-American, honors student, parents want a strong and smart all American girl 

Jenesis Whyte - Black girl with blonde hair and blue eyes, foster child in her 13th placement, terrified of being homeless when she ages out of the system 

Marcel Dixon - labeled a “troubled kid”, dad was wrongly arrested for drug charges, and his father hasn’t been the same since 

Valentina Alvarez - Argentinian-American, bilingual, feels the pain and prejudice her father faces as an immigrant 

Kyle Newton - White, heart condition, fearless, gets treated like glass by parents, skateboards 

Angela Marie Bailey - social anxiety, afraid of not being enough 

Freddie Houston - girl, mother to her mom (alcoholic) and her niece (because her sister is a drug addict) 
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