MY MAN BLUE

1. Bibliography

Grimes, Nikki. 1999. MY MAN BLUE. Ill. by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 0803723261

2. Plot Summary

This book is a collection of poetry describing the relationship between a boy with no father who befriends a man who lost his young son to street violence. While they are somewhat leery of each other at first, they soon begin to fill the voids in each others' lives and create an unbreakable bond.

3. Critical Analysis

This collection of poetry is contemporary and edgy as it describes the life of a young African American boy who, with no father in his life, has to be the man of the house. His friend, Blue, becomes his father figure and guides him and teaches him how to survive without giving in to the temptation of the streets.

The overall tone of the collection is hopeful as the boy, Damon, finds a friend in Blue, who helps him and keeps him safe. At the same time, the poetry is somewhat didactic without being overtly preachy. Throughout the book, Blue teaches Damon life lessons that we, as readers, learn as well. For example, in "The Plan", Grimes says, "What makes somebody/ Want to shoot to kill?/ 'It's hate,' says Blue./ 'And fear. One/ Holds the gun/ while the other/ Pulls the trigger.'" (Grimes, 1999). Also, in "One-on-One" Grimes tells us that "While some/ Aim guns./ We hit/ The hoops/ And shoot/ For fun." (Grimes, 1999). Lastly, in "Class Bully" we learn that "It's guys/ who don't hit girls' Who're strong' (Grime, 1999). All of these are examples of life lessons taught through Grimes' poetry

The illustrations in this collection were created using acrylic paint on Canson paper. The pictures are awash with vivid colors, drawing the eye to the page. Both the people and the surrounding scenery are distinct enough to be recognized at a glance, but not so distinct that they look like any particular person or place. This enables the reader to connect to the poetry on a more personal note, envisioning themselves or people they know within the illustrations. Overall, the collection is greatly enhanced by the illustrations which help to tell the story and allow the reader to better visualize the poetic contents.

4. Review Excerpts

Booklist: In a simple, lyrical series of poems, Grimes speaks in the voice of Damon, a child in Harlem, whose "missing daddy's left a hole" and who finds a mentor in Blue, who lost a son to the streets. Lagarrigue's strong realistic acrylic paintings show the poignant connection between the needy child and the gentle, heavily built man in the dangerous neighborhood, where wedges of blue sky are sandwiched in between the roofs. A great picture book for older readers.

Horn Book Guide: The poems are accessible and filled with imagery, and the intergenerational friendship is believable, though Damon sometimes sounds older than he is. The unsentimental acrylic paintings aptly reflect the poems.

Publisher's Weekly: Though each of these accomplished poems could easily stand alone, together they form an enticing story arc. The deep-hued acrylic paintings have a rough, slightly smudgy texture, and they demonstrate a remarkable color sense. Unexpected fields of sharp blues and greens blend into the gritty cityscapes, and blocks of text are set against canvases thinly brushed with paint in palettes that complement the facing illustration. The art creates an ideal setting for the text: the look is inescapably urban but also subtly lyrical.

5. Connections

* Other poetry collections by Nikki Grimes
THANKS A MILLION
WHEN GORILLA GOES WALKING
AT JERUSALEM'S GATE

* Other Urban Poets for kids
Walter Dean Myers
Holly Black