The title of this novel—Bronx Masquerade—comes from one of Devon's poems. His verse is all about how he looks and acts one way on the outside, but he feels a totally different way inside. When you think about it, that's a pretty good summary for every poem in the book: Each of Mr. Ward's students sees him or herself a little differently than other people do. It's like they're each wearing a mask for the outside world.
Up until now, Mr. Ward's students have all been putting on their little masquerades, wearing masks and disguises so no one can find them out. It's tough to keep hiding in the shadows when there are poems to read and write, though, and by the end of the book they're all well on their way to ditching their masks for good.