Between the Lines

Darrian dreams of writing for the The New York Times. To hone his skills and learn more about the power of words, he enrolls in Mr. Ward's class, known for its open-mic poetry readings and boys vs. girls poetry slam.

Everyone in class has something important to say, and in sharing their poetry, the class learns that everyone has challenges they must deal with—whether it is health problems, worries about aging out of foster care, being bullied for religious beliefs, or having to take on too much responsibility because of an addicted parent, each kid has a story to tell. As Darrian and his classmates get to know one another through poetry, they bond over the shared experiences and truth that emerge from their writing, despite their private struggles and outward differences.