Nikki Grimes

In this sequel to Garvey's Choice, Garvey finally feels close to his father through their shared love of music. Then the COVID-19 pandemic puts his world in lockdown, and when his father gets sick, Garvey looks for a way to use his music to bring them both hope.

Garvey, an overweight boy who loves science fiction and music, is teased at school and feels he can never measure up to his sports-loving father's expectations, until a friend nudges him toward singing.

After her parents' divorce, Gabby retreats into vivid daydreams at school, until a teacher helps her channel that imagination into writing poetry.

Twelve-year-old Joylin is happiest shooting hoops with the boys, especially her friend Jake, until middle school changes everything and she starts reinventing herself to catch the eye of a new boy, Santiago.

Grimes's memoir of a childhood shaped by her mother's mental illness, foster care and abuse, and how writing helped her survive.

Darrian and his classmates in Mr. Ward's English class prepare for a poetry slam, sharing the poems that reveal grief, foster care, family pressure and the stories they carry.

High school sophomore Mister, who dreams of a volleyball scholarship, faces an unplanned pregnancy, and her story is told alongside poems in the voice of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Two sons cast aside by their fathers, the biblical Ishmael and a present-day New York teen named Sam, wrestle with anger and betrayal in alternating voices and slowly move toward forgiveness.

A class of Bronx students break down stereotypes about each other through Open Mike Fridays, sharing original poems.