A Grimes Book is ALWAYS a Perfect Choice

Gravey's Choice is a beautiful book. And as my post title says, any book from Nikki Grimes.  This brilliant work, written in tanka  addresses young Garey (named for Marcus Garvey and I think it is cool that it is brought up in the book because I don't know if kids learn about Garvey in school) is coming of age, deciding who he is and how to be who he is in light of who is dad is, who is mom is, who his friends are.  Fantastic book. 

Keep It Between the Lines

was a great song.  Between the Lines was a great book.  I can't even describe how good except to point out that the author is Nikki Grimes.  So  yeah, you know it is going to be excellent.  It was one of those books for which I found myself replaying and replaying some chapters just to make sure I "got it all."  Great stuff.

Nikki Grimes

Love her. 
Love all of her books.
Loved A Girl Named Mister. 
What a portrait of God's love and grace and kindness and people who try their best to live the way in in which He calls us. 
Thank you, Ms. Grimes. 

A Tale of Two Young Men

Anything that Nikki Grimes writes is going to be "Christian."

Even if it isn't cataloged as such, or published by Zondervan or the like.

That's because (I think- I mean, I don't know her and I haven't read anything about her faith) she is a Christian.

Being a Christian is in all that Christians do, right?  Like being Jewish is in all that Jews do, or being Hindi is in all that Hindus do.

This was the first Christian-labeled Nikki Grimes book I have read and I loved it just as much as I have loved her other books.

Christian or not, writing about God or not writing about God, Grimes is an incredible writer. Just so gifted and insightful and fresh and- blessed.

This is the story of two boys who grown into young men.  Two men of faith.  One you know, Ishmael of the Bible.  And one you don't know, but will love as soon as you meet him, Sam, whose father has fallen in love with another woman, has divorced Sam's mother and is marrying this new woman.

The parallels between Ishmael and Sam are clear.  Sam's father's new wife is white.  Ishmael's mother, Hagar, is black.  They both become old step-brothers.  They both feel (and are) left by their fathers.  And they both have amazing faith in their Father.  But very real faith, one that questions Him, and the great thing we know is, God is okay with that!

Fantastic book.

Dreamers

Nikki Grimes is one of my most favorite authors.  Words with Wings was a wonderful book, written in poetry, from the POV of a young girl who lets words take her away.
I was talking recently with a kindred spirit, a friend who, even more than I, appreciates the power and wonder of words.  She does incredible work with middle schoolers, especially boys and believes in the empowering power of words.
Words with Wings is a book that these middle school boys probably wouldn't like!  But boy, this book is for anyone who has been called a daydreamer, for anyone who can appreciate and fall in love with words.  

Masquerade

I don't know why, but I don't like the word masquerade.  I did like the book Bronx Masquerade very much though.  I love Nikki Grimes and so I am always opening one of her books with the expectation that I will love it.  And I always do.  This book is another multi-POV story.  Eighteen students in an urban school, a class in which the teacher has started a poetry unit.  On Fridays the students are invited to share their original work with the class.
Each chapter is first a student sharing their thoughts and that is followed by their poem.  Excellent and realistic.  As always.  

Shine Like a Dyamonde

The Dyamonde Daniel books are pretty awesome.  I really love Nikki Grimes, so I am not surprised that I love this seres.  Now I must say, I am super sad that it doesn't seem that there are any more coming.  I really hope that there will be more!  Dyamonde would be a great friend to Alvin, Roscoe, Keena, Ty and Billy that's for sure!  Dyamonde is a love, caring, third-grader and I was sucked in right from the first book.  Great, great series.

I don't want to visit that planet again.

Planet Middle School is by Nikki Grimes, the author of The Road to Paris, which I loved, loved, loved. I was excited to see this book, written in verse on the shelf at the library. As I read this book about Joy, who is starting to change from little girl to young teen, I was reminded how very hard it is to do that and how I would never, ever want to do that again. Poor Joy, a total Tom Boy, loves basketball and hanging with her best friend, a guy. She doesn't notice the boys in "that way" yet...but then things start to change all of a sudden. Her body is changing and she is noticing the boys in "that way" now. Great book, very quick read and will really make you thankful if you're out of it. And a great book if you are headed into or if you are in the middle of it and having a hard time. It gets better!

My Heart Goes Drifting Down the Dusty, Dixie Road

taking my mind, back in time. L.A. lights burn like hell, once you know, you left Heaven waiting down the Dixie Road. This is a great song, and back in the day, I thought Lee Greenwood was SUCH a hottie!
Um. That has nothing to do with anything, huh?
The Road to Paris sounds like an exotic, foreign book but it actually takes place in the Good Ole U.S. of A. It is another book dealing with foster care! This one shows the good and the bad together. Paris and her older brother Malcolm are placed into the foster care system after their mother makes a series of totally horrible choices like drinking too much and hooking up with men who don't want the hassle of children. Their first foster home is awful. Though Malcolm tries to protect his little sister, there isn't much he can do to protect her or himself from the beatings and other cruelties they experience. They are placed in new homes, but separated. Malcolm must go to a group home and Paris goes to the Lincoln family. The Lincolns are really loving and caring yet Paris is naturally cautious. The book deals with Paris' relationship with her birth mother and her foster parents, and the prejudice she experiences being a biracial child. I love Grimes' description of Paris' church and Easter Sunday and especially the way the Paris "keeps God in her pocket" so that she knows she is never alone. I laughed out loud at the description of Dr. Stein, the shrink that Paris is made to see because she's in the foster care system. The way she scams him is hilarious and a commentary on psychiatry that I really appreciated. A sweet story full of heartbreak and hope.