The author is a tough-talking, tough-walking Bronx cat who has to keep his love of The Sound of Music and West Side Story a secret for fear of getting humiliated by his rap-loving peers. (He won’t even put his name on the story!)

Discussion prompts:

• What kind of neighborhood does the writer come from? How do the kids there dress and what kinds of music do they like?

• How did the writer get interested in musicals?

• What does he like about musicals?

• What happened when he told writers at New Youth Connections that he likes musicals?

• Why does he hide that he likes musicals?

• People think the writer’s a freak for liking musicals. Do you agree or disagree that he’s a freak?

Writing prompts:

Have your students write short essays on the following topics:

• If you were the writer, would you tell people you like musicals or keep it a secret? Explain why.

• Is there something you like that doesn’t fit it with your image? What is it? Do you keep it a secret? Why or why not?

• Write a short letter to the writer, explaining why you agree or disagree with his decision to keep his love of musicals on the down low (d.l.).

• The writer says he’ll admit to loving musicals when he’s older and doesn’t care what others think. Why do you think he has to be older to not care about what other people think?

Roleplay: You will need two students to act out this short roleplay in front of class. Make sure the students understand their roles. Each has to try to convince the other of his point of view. Let the role play go for about five minutes. Afterward, have the class discuss the roleplay.

One student plays the writer, another student plays the writer’s friend. The writer reveals to the friend that he likes musicals. The writer’s friend thinks he’s fake and a sellout for liking musicals. The writer wants to convince his friend that there’s nothing wrong with liking both rap and musicals.