“Garvey’s Choice,” by Nikki Grimes
Highlights Press, Honesdale, Penn., 2016, 108 pages, Grades 4-7.
Poetry is written in many forms. Traditionally, American poetry followed certain rhyming patterns. In the 20th century, poetry in the form of free verse became popular. This type of poetry is akin to writing ideas in brief sentences. Today, free verse is one of the dominant forms of poetry in the United States. In Japan, poetry has traditionally been written in the form of haiku. This poetic style has three line poems with a total of 17 syllables.
Nikki Grimes has chosen a second type of Japanese poetry, Tanka, for the novel “Garvey’s Choice.” Tanka poems are five lines long and have 31 syllables. This poetic structure helps the writer focus on mood and the meaning of life. Her use of the Tanka poetic form is brilliantly displayed in this moving novel.
Garvey is an overweight child disinterested in sports. His father is a sports enthusiast and continually tries to get his son to play football and other sports. Garvey, quite frankly, is pathetic in sports. His sister, Angela, is an outstanding athlete and his father constantly mentions this to his physically inept son.
Filled with self-loathing, Garvey tries to eat his way to happiness. All that this does is make him even less acceptable to his father or his classmates. At school, Garvey is bullied and made fun of by many of his classmates.
Being a bookworm makes him seem even odder. But Garvey likes to study astronomy and read. Fortunately, he makes a friend with a boy named Joe. For the first time, Garvey finds a person willing to accept him. Joe asks him to consider joining the school chorus since Garvey is always singing and humming to himself. Garvey is reluctant at first because he thinks singing will make him into a bigger dork than he already is. But with Joe’s encouragement, Garvey goes to the choir tryout.
Suddenly, the boy sometimes called “Chocolate Chunk” begins soaring through the scales. The choir director is impressed and tells the chorus that their problems with having a tenor are over. But still, Garvey isn’t sure. What will his Dad think if he takes up music? Will it bring on more bullying?
But singing just seems to be so natural for Garvey. A school production is scheduled. All the families of the students come to the event. Garvey looks out and sees his parents and sister. His throat starts to tighten. What happens?
Does Garvey sing his song beautifully? Why is his heart so light? What does Garvey learn about self-acceptance? Why can friends make such a difference in a person’s life? What is the author trying to tell us about kindness and acceptance? To find out, go to the library and check out this award winning novel, “Garvey’s Choice” by Nikki Grimes.
This novel is written totally as a Tanka poem. The strict structure of the Tanka form is carried off effortlessly by Nikki Grimes. Readers will fall in love with Garvey as he works out his difficulties in life.
The consequences of bullying and lack of parental acceptance can be seen in Garvey’s struggles. But Grimes also shows how friendships can be the bridge that allow a person to learn self-acceptance. As well, the author demonstrates that Garvey’s father can grow and learn to value his son. This a brilliant and insightful novel written in Japanese Tanka form. From a literary standpoint that makes it incredible. From a human standpoint it makes it a gift of love. I hope you get a chance to read this novel and cherish the character of Garvey. I loved it and think you will as well.
