Here’s a good place to answer one of the most common questions I get about this book: which of the characters am I most like? Of all the characters, I am most like Sterling, whose faith is central to his life. And Gloria, as I was a single mom in college. And Janelle, as I, too, struggled with poor self-image, though unlike Janelle, my problem was being too skinny. Like Amy, I was estranged from my parent. Like Diondra, I struggled to earn my parent’s respect for my art. Like Raul, I enjoyed the support of at least one family member, namely my sister. Like Lupe, I thought having a baby would fill me up emotionally. Like Lesley, I was moved around a lot and knew how lonely that could be. In other words, I connect with every character in the book. I either shared some aspect of their experience, or I have known someone who did.

I knew people like Raynard, and Sheila, and all the rest. The characters in Bronx Masquerade are my peeps! So, while these characters are all fictional, they come from someplace real. (There is one real person in the book, though: Mr. Ward. That character is based on a teacher and poet I am honored to call my friend.)

The plot of Bronx is as tricky to pin down as the main protagonist, but the core plot is the genesis and development of a poetry movement at a high school.

As far as the main theme, once again, Bronx leaves the reader scratching his head. There are many themes: the power of friendship, don’t judge a book by its cover, believe in yourself, the grass is not always greener, and more. Each small story has its own theme, or core idea. However, the overriding theme of the novel is the power of poetry, specifically the power of