Nikki Grimes

Nikki Grimes was born in Harlem, but grew up in many different parts of New York. As a foster child from a broken home, she moved from place to place, always saying goodbye to new friends. Reading and writing became her survival tools. When she had no...

When Dyamonde Daniel’s friend Damaris suddenly becomes a picky eater, it doesn’t take Dyamonde long to figure out the problem: Damaris is secretly dieting because some mean girls teased her about her weight. Dyamonde can’t let her friend go on this...

Dyamonde has just moved to a new school, and she’s impatient for a best friend. Then Free shows up, and there’s an even newer kid in class. Unfortunately, Free doesn’t want to be friends. In fact, he’s downright grouchy. Dyamonde is determined to find...

Dyamonde Daniel’s best friend, Free, thinks he’s poor because he can’t buy a new video game. So when their teacher announces a poetry contest with a $100 prize, Free decides he’ll try to win it. But Free is not the only poet in the class.Before the...