Poe Park

by Agnes Martinez

After graduating from elementary school, Enoch Morales is looking forward to a summer of fun with his friends in the Bronx before moving on to bigger things the following school year, but when tragedy strikes, Enoch must turn to his friends and family to get him through his shock and sadness.

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Salsabrarian]

Enoch Morales has just graduated from elementary school and is looking forward to a fun summer with his best friend Spence. But Spence is shot dead on the the street and Enoch wants nothing more than to hide away in his apartment and eat, sleep and watch TV. His mother enrolls him in a church day camp which he attends reluctantly. There he meets Ed, a homeless man who helps in the church soup kitchen, and gets more acquainted with Carmen and Quiet Willy, classmates from school. His half-brother Miguel comes to live with them and his dalliances with Spence's cousin's gang worries Enoch, especially since he's learned Spence had been running drugs for the gang. In the climactic scene Enoch pleads with Miguel not to shoot a gang member and to stay with the family. When the moment passes and Miguel relents, Enoch is sure Spence was watching over them through that night.

[Wildaa (: · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me realize something. Life can be tough. Everybody's life will eventually have a rough moment. I'd recommend this book to one of my best friends. I feel this book can brighten my friends life. She'll know she isnt alone. I think anyone that can read should read this book. When you're missing a major part of your life, and you dont know where to turn, when you find out things you just dont want to know, what can you do to help that? I think its the fact that parents always have something to hide from children, something they are hiding to protect them, yet the kids always find out and they arent prepared for the information. Parents are to blame for the depression of kids who live miserably because of something they should've known years ago.

[Bite Meh =D · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel Poe Park is an excellent novel that describes friendship and the life of young teenagers now at that days. This book taught me that I have to appericate every second I get to live and every second I share with my loved ones. In the novel Enco, had a best friend named Spencer. Enco's cousin was involed in gangbanging. So his rivals thought if he harmed his Enco, it would harm his cousin. Therefore, they shot Spencer near a fire hydrant.

[Rishad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really amazing. It tells the story of how friendship can last with you forever in your soul, and also how some secrets cannot be told between friends but must searched for. A story about gangs, guns, and more violence around one child who has lost a dear friend. How must can he or she take around this violent neighboorhood that only brings bad memories? This book is not just a book, but an amazing story that touches your heart with every page.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I was an english teacher I would recommended this book to anyone who likes school and their b-day is on the last day of school. There was a part in this book that got me confused. It was when Adrin brother was Carlos and they say they were best friends because there are two boys named Carlos one is his brother and the other is his best friend.

[Jennifer Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because it kept me hooked and I didn't want to put it down until I finished it. I liked how the author used good description on how Enoch felt about his friends death. I enjoyed that it had some spanish words so I practiced reading spanish. It's sad that his friend had to die, but he didn't let his sadness get in the way of him and his brother.

[Emmanuel Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well wrote story something that actually sounds like it would've probably happend in real life. and i really dont know what to say about tthe book its really about two best friends were playing at a pump with water one day and some one shot the other and how it changed the boys life.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a good book because i never thought that i would remember a book so well from 4th grade.Lolz.

[Lezlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per Coel: "This book was good but sad."
The subject matter was tough and, unfortunately very real in some areas of the country. In the end I had to regroup before I could read the end aloud.

[Melissa Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is a really good book to read has a alot of sense in it i reccomend it to any ages you will love this book

[Tommy Jimenez]

I want to read this book because, I read half of it and it was intencing but then I stopped!!!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is pretty depressing. Kids have gang ties and guns kill. It will probably get passed up to the middle school level.

[Christian Carr · Rating 1 out of 5]

well it good but not that good.