The Bronx Masquerade

 Paige Holley

Dr. Ellis

Banned Books

5 February 2024

The Bronx Masquerade

 

In the first half of The Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes students in Mr. Ward’s class find that they have more similarities than differences by listening and sharing their poetry in class on Fridays. Each student faces real world struggles that impact their personality and thought process. Students shared aspects of poverty, body images, fear of failure and more through writing poetry. However, as the novel progress’s readers can see a clear shift in students outlook on their classmates and their futures. The Bronx Masquerade gives readers a valuable lesson regarding expression and gaining confidence through artistic expression. 

 

The sharing of personal feelings, thoughts, and beliefs through poetry has allowed students to feel heard. The confidence they have gained has not only become apparent in their poetry but their actions as well. One student who has shown a lot of growth is Lupe Algarin. Lupe’s character has struggled with parental relationships between her father and mother. Resulting in Lupe having a warped sense of family, she later expresses that she wants to have a baby in hopes of fulfilling her desire for family love. In Lupe’s last poem Imagine she denounces the past and decides to start a new beginning: “…so many years gone by, for tears shed below a crucifix on my wall. I sort it all out, store it under “been there, done that” and open a clean drawer labeled Manana, a place to store adventures I’m still learning to imagine.” (Grimes 150) This was one of my favorite character developments because it sends the message to young readers that love is something that needs to start within. Having someone depend on you, and need you for everything does not equate to love. Although, babies do love their mothers. Children are incredibly time consuming, and expensive. Having a child would have made Lupe’s life extremely difficult given that she is only seventeen. Thankfully, through the second half of the novel Lupe realized that having children can wait, and focusing on college will be much easier and beneficial than being a teenage mother. Lupe’s character became much more comfortable with herself. Tyrone’s chapter after her poem highlights how she has become more determined and certain of herself and actions. 

 

Lupe’s character is not the only one whose ideas for life after high school has changed. College has become a bigger possibility for many of the students. Tyrone’s character was one of the first students to express they did not believe they could make it to or succeed in college. Open Mic Friday has allowed students to realize that they do not have to be a “statistic”. After hearing Diondra’s poem Self-Portrait: A Poem for My Father Tyrone realized that he and his classmates are the future, and that they can go as far as they want. 

 

Although, I do not practically love the writing style Grimes chose for the novel. I enjoy that readers get to see such a wide range of characters with different cultural backgrounds. Out of all the books we have read so far this is probably the banned book that surprises me the most. To me The Bronx Masquerade is a book that gives young readers hope for their future. Sending the message that your current life does not have to define your future, nor do you have to limit your dreams and expectations of yourself based on others’ opinions. If this book is being banned, I am very concerned as to what messages and lessons people want children to learn is school. Each student gained confidence, perspective and hope. All aspects that are lacking in the current education system.  

 

 

 

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