Who is the narrator, can she or he read minds, and, more importantly, can we trust her or him?
First Person (Central Narrators)
Ever read a book with one narrator? How about two? That's child's play. In Bronx Masquerade, we're looking at nineteen different narrators. Whoa.
If this seems confusing, rest assured it is not. Basically, each of the eighteen students in Mr. Ward's class gets a chance to tell their own story and share a poem they read at Open Mike Friday. And then, at the very end, one future student gets to chime in, making it clear Open Mike Friday will be continued during the next school year.
One student gets more ink than the rest: Tyrone. He reacts to each of the poems read in class, leading us through the action and commenting on everything. His thoughts are the thread that connects all his friends' stories together.
The one guy who never gets his say? Mr. Ward. Though each of his students talk about him, Teach never gets to speak for himself. Maybe that's because this book just isn't about him. It's for the kids and about the kids, so they're the ones taking center stage. Good for you, guys.