52 pages • 1 hour read
Nikki GrimesBronx Masquerade
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes portrays the lives of high school students in Mr. Ward’s English class as they navigate personal challenges and form connections. The class explores Harlem Renaissance writers and holds Open Mike Fridays, where students express themselves through poems. These poems address family dynamics, identity, romantic love, social issues, and the transformative power of the arts. The book includes domestic violence, sexual assault, and drug-related death.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes has been praised for its engaging narrative, diverse characters, and its ability to capture the complexities of teenage life through poetry. Readers appreciate the realistic portrayal of personal struggles and the use of multiple perspectives. Criticisms include some characters feeling underdeveloped and a plot that can be predictable. Overall, it's a compelling read for young adults.
Who Should Read Bronx Masquerade?
A reader who would enjoy Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes is likely a teen or young adult who appreciates stories about diverse urban experiences and self-discovery. Fans of The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo or Monster by Walter Dean Myers may also find this book compelling for its poignant exploration of identity and personal expression.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
HL670LBook Details
Realistic Fiction
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
African American Literature
Values/Ideas: Literature
Identity: Race
Self Discovery
Education