We are reading the book "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes. We have read to page 73, and up until this point the book is about the different hidden lives that teenagers that live in The Bronx have. The book is split into different chapters, and each chapter is the perspective of a different person. In each chapter the person talks about things that are happening in their lives. After each chapter a poem related to the chapter is presented. Also, after each poem he only clear "main character", Tyrone comments on the poem. They all share this poetry in their English class, which has a slam poetry night very often. This poetry is the way that some of the students reach out and shine a light on what is happening in their lives.
The first two people that I am going to contrast are Devon and Tyrone. Tyrone sees school as a joke and doesn't see himself as having a future. He also wants to be a rapper and ashes he was more of a jock. For example he says "These white folk talking 'bout some future, telling me I need to be planning for some future - like I got one!" This shows that he doesn't even believe that he should plan for his career because he assumes there won't be one. Devon on the other hand is a tall and athletic boy who wishes he could read and do all that without being teased. Since he is very good at basket ball he often has to hide his love of books. As it says in the text, "Then once they're out the door, I cut upstairs to the library to sneak a read." This means that he actually likes school unlike Tyrone, and he even is upset that he is put into a category. Meanwhile Tyrone is jealous of him for his sports abilities. For example, "If I had moves like Devon, I'd be cruising crosscourt with Scotty Pippin!" This shows that Tyrone doesn't understand why Devon would be unhappy with his lot, similar to how Devon doesn't understand why Tyrone would want his skills.
The two other students that I will contrast are Lupe and Gloria. Lupe thinks that having a baby will help her find someone to love and be loved by. She envies her friend Gloria because she has a baby. For example, "…I'm thinking, Gloria you have no idea how lucky you are." This shows that she thinks that her friend is lucky for having a baby, even though she doesn't know the struggles her friend is going through because of the baby. However, Gloria wishes that she could go back and change things. She misses her old life, and she doesn't think that having a baby was (or is) a good idea. As she says, "Fun ain't even in my vocabulary anymore. Once you have a kid, everything changes." This shows that her life has changed drastically and she can no longer be a child the way she used to be. She also is jealous that Lupe can still have fun and she can't, meanwhile Lupe wishes that she had a baby to feel loved. That both want what the other has, however if they got what they wanted they might realize that they liked their old lives better
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