Walter Dean Myers
Walter and I met for breakfast at one his favorite diners in New Jersey. He is a regular customer and the waitress seemed to know what he wanted before he ordered-an omelet, buttered toast and coffee. We discussed some of his latest projects including the recently published book Street Love, Harlem Summer due out in March of 2007 and a work in progress about the Iraq War (one of his son's is a military chaplain who served in Iraq and is now posted to Japan).
As we discussed books and politics, Walter remarked that this is a great time in his life. He is not building a career, he is not worried about money, and he can take on projects that interest him. What amazes me about people of Walter's stature is how modest and considerate they are. He has won two Newbery Honors, five Coretta Scott King Awards and the Michael J. Printz Award just to name a few.
Earlier in his career, his father found it hard to relate to his son's line of work. Walter was adopted at a young age, and he really did not know that his father could not read. His Dad would bring papers to Walter for him to read and use the excuse that he was worried about his eyesight. Obviously, he was a proud man who did not want to admit to his son that he was illiterate.
If I got the story straight, it seems that Water's mother was married to both his biological father and the man who eventually adopted him. He has no idea why he was so lucky to be adopted, and in his adult life he has spent some time reflecting on what the attraction may have been. Walter has decided that "maybe it was because he was cute." His ethnic heritage is interesting. His mother was half German and half American Indian, and she had about a third grade education. Unfortunately, she was pretty much ostracized by the local white community so she gravitated to the black part of town. As far as his own personal life, Walter has been married twice and his second marriage (30 some years ago) resulted in the birth of his very talented son Christopher Myers. He also has two other very successful children--a daughter and son from his first marriage.
Walter enjoys traveling, particularly visiting the UK and other places where he can understand the language. He enjoys staying 5 or 6 weeks, which gives him an opportunity to attend the theater and to undertake research and pursue his hobbies--collect books and photographs relating to African American history. Some of these pictures and memorabilia give him ideas for books like the one he wants to undertake about the Pullman Porters and another about the Lincoln Embroidery Club. Some reflect little known segments of Black history.
We talked about one of his more recent books Jazz which just won a Coretta Scott King Honor. Walter remarked that jazz is a subject of fascination-it is not bound by rules--and for blacks it was and is a freeing up. He wondered what he could do the make his writing sound like jazz (see the review of Jazz below for further details). Christopher, the artist, has different sensibilities and when he paints a picture that goes along with a poem, Walter might say, but that is not what I has in mind. No matter, working with Christopher is stimulating. Yes, there is competition, but competition can really stimulate creativity and as Walter stated "what could be better than having an opportunity to work collaboratively with your son."
Christopher was fortunate because his mother took him to museums, and he grew up in an environment filled with poetry and art. He was drawing superheroes, which made him popular at school, and he has tried a variety of mediums and is still deciding what medium will be his real calling. It is clearly apparent that Christopher loves to paint and Walter loves to work with words. Together they have created some truly wonderful books.
Walter noted that he was trying to come up with fresh ideas for a book about basketball. His comment to me was "What about a basketball player from Eastern Europe who comes with a very different background just like the inner city kids do." At the time he was thinking about this story, Walter was also reading Othello, and it raised some racial and cultural issues. Why not make the coach an Iago type-a manipulator. Walter knows firsthand what it is like to face discrimination. After he left the Army and attended college, he could not play basketball against certain colleges in the south. But times have changed and his son and other African Americans do not face this type of discrimination.
One of his really big projects is to write a history of Black people in America using documents to tell the story. For example, his research brought to light a document written at the time of Charles II that recommended increasing the British hold on the colonies by increasing the slave trade. Now that was something that really surprised me. I did know about the laws passed in certain southern states that forbid the teaching of reading to slaves. I also knew about the Tuskegee Airmen, but Walter has found photographs of African American pilots who flew before the 1930s. His research will continue and on his most recent trip to London, he told me that he would be working on the design of this new book. When it does come out, it will surely be remarkable, just like all the other books that he has written.
Contributor: Marilyn Courtot
To view a feature on this author from a previous year, click here.
For further information on this author, click here.
FReviews
Antarctica: Journeys to the South Pole
Walter Dean Myers
In this well-written look at expeditions to Antarctica, Myers offers more than dry facts explaining one of the last frontiers of exploration. Antarctica, he tells us, was "thousands upon thousands of miles away" from most European seaports when the early adventurers risked their lives to explore the region. Beginning with Commander James Cook's voyage in 1773, the author brings the adventure up to the present. Chapters include the story of Shackleton crossing the Antarctic Circle and Richard Byrd's voyages in the 1920s. The appealing black and white photographs illustrating the book present the explorers in a more personal light with pictures of the ponies used to pull Shackleton's sleds and the crew of the Discovery perched on the ship's deck, ready to set sail. A timeline, one-page fact sheet, and a bibliography make this a worthwhile addition to libraries. But Myers' book is not just for research and reference; fans of action and adventure will enjoy this fascinating look at not only the successes but also the failures of Antarctic discovery and exploration. 2004, Scholastic Press, $18.95. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Augusta Scattergood (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2005; National Council for the Social Studies; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Beehive Award, 2007; Nominee; Informational; United States
ISBN: 0-439-22001-7
Bad Boy: A Memoir
Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers, the much-honored dean of African-American writers for young people, grew up in Harlem. This is his memoir of those years in the 1940s and early 1950s. The title is a misnomer, for Myers was not a bad boy at all. Rather, he was a hyperactive child with a low boiling point who was trying to find his place as an adopted child in a mixed marriage (his adopted father was black and illiterate, his mother of German and American Indian extraction), as well as in a society, where his best friends could be white only until adolescence. Add a speech impediment and an early love of books to this mix and the result is a very confused youngster. Myers paces his story slowly and thoughtfully, creating not so much a picture of his world around 126th and Amsterdam as an inner universe of the evolving mind. His ultimate crash during high school is sad but believable, and when the author leaves us en route to the Army, one finds oneself saying, "Next! What happens next?" 2001, HarperCollins/Amistad, $15.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Best Books for Young Adults, 2002; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Fall 2001; Book Sense 76; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2002; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001; Parent's Guide to Children's Media, Inc.; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002; H.W. Wilson; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 2001; Smithsonian; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Original Voices Award Nominee 2002 Young Adult United States
Parents' Choice Award Gold 2001 Non-Fiction United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Vermont
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2003; Nominee; Kentucky
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Massachusetts
Volunteer State Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Young Adult, Grades 7-12; Tennessee
ISBN: 0-06-029523-6
ISBN: 0-06-029524-4
The Beast
Walter Dean Myers
To have a better opportunity to get into an Ivy League university, Anthony "Spoon" Witherspoon leaves his home in Harlem to attend Wallingford Academy. Before leaving, he and his girlfriend, Gabi, a bright young woman who hopes to become a poet, talk about his departure and how much he will change. Spoon knows he loves Gabi, and that love is put to the test when he returns home for the first time at Christmas. He expects everything to be the same. However, he discovers many changes have occurred throughout the neighborhood. He learns that Gabi's mother has been diagnosed with cancer. Spoon senses a change in Gabi, but it is only when he discovers a hypodermic needle in her bedroom that he realizes she has started using drugs. When her mother dies, she disappears and Spoon goes in search of her, finally locating her in a drug house. Myers has created two main characters about whom the reader truly cares. There is a fine supporting cast as well. Contrasts are made between the lives of the boarding school students and the teens living in Harlem. The ending is upbeat, and the reader cheers for Gabi, but recognizes that she will have a lifelong struggle. It is evident in the tone of this eloquent cautionary tale that Myers cares deeply for his teen readers. 2003, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 14 up. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
Anthony Whitherspoon, a.k.a. "Spoon," an intelligent seventeen-year-old raised on the streets of Harlem, leaves the streets during his last year of high school to attend Wallingford Academy in Connecticut in an effort to achieve his goal of entering an Ivy League school. Leaving his girlfriend, Gabi, he journeys towards a brighter future. Spoon's story is one of an African-American boy struggling to step outside the norm and better himself. Life at the academy makes him aware of how the Harlem way of life is different. He begins to struggle with the fact that he and Gabi are not as close as they once were as he realizes his new feelings for Chanelle. When Spoon returns home for Christmas, the world he had known is no longer the way he remembered; he no longer feels part of the place he once called home. He feels as though he is a stranger in a new place forgetting the ways of survival on the streets. Gabi, the once-aspiring poet, has fallen under the control of drugs. Spoon must come to grips with the beast of drug abuse, the choice between Chanelle and Gabi, the death of Gabi's mother, and the reality of street life in Harlem. The struggles that Spoon faces throughout the novel correspond to the many issues that other young adults face. 2003, Scholastic Press, $16.95. Ages 14 up. Reviewer: Joseph H. Israel (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2004; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Kentucky
ISBN: 0-439-36841-3
Blues Journey
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Christopher Myers
A young man sits strumming a guitar on the left-hand page while on the right the author presents an explanation of the birth and development of "a truly American music, the blues." This book successfully presents "the lyrics as a poetry form." The astounding artwork was created using blue ink, white paint and brown paper bags. Each illustration strikes a strong emotional chord, as one reads, or sings, the words in the call and response. Walter Dean Myers sets the stage perfectly with the first lyrics, "blues, blues, blues,/ blues, what you mean to me?/ Blues, blues, blues,/ blues, what you mean to me?/ Are you my pain and misery,/ or my sweet company?" Whether the topic of the song is a broad social issue such as slavery, or the more intimate loss of love, the reader feels the impact. The color blue with its many hues has been used most effectively to highlight a person or an object on the page. Christopher Myers has created wonderful facial expressions, incredible body language and a sense of movement on these pages, which enhance the reader's sensibilities of the poetry. This father-son team has truly created a sense of the blues in a picture book format. But don't let the format fool you. The depth of the African American experience is here. Every time I read this and look at the illustrations I see and feel something new. Extraordinary! A Time Line presents important names as well as dates, and a Blues Glossary adds important details for a deeper understanding of the lyrics presented. 2003, Holiday House, $18.95 Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2003; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2004; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2004; H.W. Wilson
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2004; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2004; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Fanfare Honor List, 2003; Horn Book; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, February 15, 2003; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2004; Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2004; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2004; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2004; National Council for the Social Studies; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, April 2003; Cahners; United States
Top 10 Art Books for Youth, 2003; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Top 10 Black History Titles for Youth, 2004; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Boston Globe--Horn Book Awards Honor Book 2003 Picture Book United States
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book 2004 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Maine Student Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Maine
Texas Reading Club, 2004; Texas
ISBN: 0-8234-1613-5
The Blues of Flats Brown
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Nina Laden
Flats Brown was a guitar pickin', blues singin' junkyard dog from Mississippi. Ill-treated by A. J. Grubbs, the junkyard owner, he and pal Caleb take to the road and head for Memphis. On Beale Street the two found success, a success that took them clear to New York City. Soulful tunes like "Here Ain't No Use Running Blues," "The Dog Gone Long Blues" and "The Junkyard Heap" chronicled Flats' and Caleb's life on the run. Dogging their every step was A. J. Grubbs, determined to return Flats to the junkyard. At a showdown one stormy night, Flats realizes that Grubbs was a throw away just like he was and penned "The Gritty Grubbs Blues" a tune that touched Grubbs "deep down inside, the way the blues do." With the song to cheer him on, Grubbs returned to the junkyard alone and the doggone duo pondered their next move. The canine pair are two cool dudes. Myers employs language that moves slowly and languorously like the blues. Double spread pastels of smoky clubs, doleful heroes, and a nasty villain are extraordinary. A great read aloud that will warm the coldest heart. 2000, Holiday, $16.95. Ages 6 to 12. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, March 1, 2000; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2001; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, March 2000; Cahners; United States
ISBN: 0-8234-1480-9
The Dream Bearer
Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers captures the reader's attention with dynamic characterizations, weaving a drama that combines humor, fear, tenderness, sadness, rage, and compassion. It is David's summer break from school in the stifling surroundings of Harlem's 145th Street. The story, told in first person, details his relationships with family and friends, revealing how each nudges him toward self-discovery and acceptance and empathy for others. David's mom symbolizes the calm, secure glue, holding the family together despite her fear of Dad's explosive behavior. His father's mental illness and alcoholism elicits unceasing anxiety in the family unit. Seventeen-year-old brother, Ty, has too much time on his hands, leaving home more often and for longer periods of time and severing the once close bond the boys shared. Relationships with best friends, Sessi, a Kenyan girl building a grass hut on the apartment roof as did her ancestors, and Loren, who seems to say all the right things at the right time, offer strength and support to David throughout the long hot days. Finally there is the homeless, strange-looking dude, Moses Littlejohn, who David visions as a disguised NBA scout for a homeless basketball team. The old man's gift of bearing dreams has become a heavy load and he is on a journey to find someone to lift that burden. Fortunately for David, Moses shares opportunities through a variety of dreams focused on relationships, and ultimately provides logic to the experiences and behaviors of others during the turbulent summer. The story's setting in a troubled urban neighborhood emphasizes the many facets of life there and reflects the author's own value of dreams to bring self-discovery and understanding to fears and the feelings of others. 2003, HarperCollins, $16.00. Ages 10 to 15. Reviewer: Barbara Troisi (Children's Literature).
Twelve-year-old David Curry lives on 145th Street in Harlem. David's father suffers from an undisclosed mental illness that manifests itself in unpredictable, often violent behavior. David's outspoken mother lobbies to establish a community homeless shelter and tries to protect her family from the ravages of Harlem as best she can. David's older brother slowly slithers into the neighborhood drug crowd. David's best friend, Loren, is bi-racial, and his newest friend, Sessi, recently emigrated from Kenya. Into this mélange walks Mr. Moses, a homeless guy who says he is a 303-year-old dream bearer. Mr. Moses' mission is to pass his dreams on through generations, and he has chosen David as his current conduit. As the dream-telling unfolds, David becomes alternately enthralled, confused, and frightened; his internal conflicts spin within the external framework of his daily real-life struggles. David knows he is spiritually linked to Mr. Moses but does not quite grasp the meaning of this connection. However, he believes that the dreams are important and the key to his family's survival. Despite what might appear to be a trite assemblage of characters, Myers weaves their lives into a tapestry that ultimately makes sense and provides hope amid the myriad battles that accompany life in Harlem--or anywhere else, for that matter. Myers invites us to see what we can see when we close our eyes. Themes for classroom discussions can include: personal and community responsibility, father/son relationships, African culture, mentoring, the homeless, mental illness, and drug addiction. Not currently available but well worth locating at your local library or used book source. 2003, Amistad/HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Barbara Sauer (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, May 15, 2003; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-06-029521-X
ISBN: 0-06-029522-8
ISBN: 0-06-054277-2
Handbook for Boys: A Novel
Walter Dean Myers
Drawings by Matthew Bandsuch
Myers does it again with another realistic look at African-American culture and the difficulties that face us all in this new "please yourself" society. Growing up gets tougher every year. A handbook on how to stay out of trouble and be successful would be nice and make things easier, but there is not one, or is there. Jimmy is charged with assault on a classmate but instead of serving the six months in a youth facility he is to perform community service at Duke Wilson's barbershop. Jimmy comes in daily after school with another youth, Kevin, who is working for a college scholarship. They listen to the ever-critical advice from Duke. Throughout the story Mr. M. Jimmy's anger and reluctance slowly fade and eventually this leads him to better understand life as well as himself. He soon discovers that lessons are better learned from the mistakes of others rather than yourself if possible. The "real" dialog and thoughts of Jimmy, as the narrator, makes the book easily accessible to even the most reluctant reader. This book is certainly, as Myers says in his forward, "a jumping-off point for many interesting conversations about success." 2002, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Christina Burbage (Children's Literature).
This book will work most powerfully for teen readers, especially if it is read aloud and discussed with an adult. Myers, who has had many poignant conversations with young inmates has come to believe that kids who succeed "almost without exception, were actively involved in pursuing their dreams" while many others never get the information they need. Handbook is somewhat similar to Plato's Dialogues goes to the hood. It is really a series of philosophical discussions about life; the plot, setting and characters are there to provide context. The main character, Jimmy, has committed a crime and decides that he'll work at Duke's barbershop and serve six months of being mentored, rather than enter the juvenile system. Kevin, another boy under Duke's care, and Jimmy, call Dukes barbershop the "Torture Chamber," not because of the physical demands, but because Duke continually asks them to discuss life and reflect on their beliefs. While Duke and his barbershop buddies laugh and crack on each other, they also examine the actions of their customers. Pookie, for example, is losing his home and according to Duke, he "is walking through the world with his eyes closed, and then talking about how proud he is of dealing with anything that comes his way people like that become victims who just go from day to day to see what event they stumble into." At first Jimmy's got attitude, but finally these vignettes begin to work on him and he and Duke discuss success and failure, entitlement, sex, choices, responsibility, caring for others and more. Myers doesn't give glib answers; he looks at causes instead of symptoms. Again the ending is realistic, but hopeful. Kevin's going to jail, but Jimmy knows "there's talking and then there's doing. Talk is easy and doing is hard." Jimmy's changed enough to take on that hard work. This book also comes on tape, excellently performed by Peter Francis James (HarperChildren'sAudio, $24.00; unabridged, 4 hours, 3 cassettes). 2002, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2003; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Smithsonian Magazine's Notable Books for Children, 2002; Smithsonian; United States
ISBN: 0-06-029147-8
ISBN: 0-06-029146-X
The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage
Walter Dean Myers and William Miles
The 369th Infantry Regiment distinguished itself in World War I more than most other U.S. fighting units. America's fighting role in the Great War was relatively short, but the 369th's story is exceptional because it was a black regiment in an era of segregation when blacks were usually regimented to jobs as laborers. The 369th fought as part of the French Army and saw lots of combat. Some of the battles were so horrific that newspapers dubbed the 369th Hellfighters. By war's end it was one of the most decorated American regiments of WWI. Myers and Miles have done an excellent job retelling this dramatic story--one of the previous books on this subject, now out of print, was by yours truly--which undercuts popular arguments for segregation in America. Miles is the 369th's historian and his contribution has enhanced this attractive and engaging book with personal accounts and photographs. 2006, HarperCollins, $16.99. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Michael L. Cooper (Children's Literature).
Since its colonial days, America has been a nation that has been dogged by the scarring effects of racial prejudice. In this title readers are given a chance to see both another example of this theme of racial bigotry and the way in which one group of African-Americans strove to overcome it. The subject matter of this fine book is the 369th Infantry, dubbed "The Harlem Hellfighters." The 369th was originally the 15th New York National Guard Regiment. Once America entered the First World War in 1917, the 15th became a fully-vested part of the American Army. In France, the 15th was renamed the 369th and was assigned to fight under French command. In the trenches of the Western Front, the 369th became a hardened combat infantry unit. Several of its members received the highest French decorations for bravery while the entire unit was also recognized for valor. However, as the two authors of this insightful book note, these accomplishments did not impress American bigots either at home or in the military. In the end, the accomplishments of the 369th were noteworthy as was the bravery of its membership. This is a well-written and compassionate book that tells the story of African-American soldiers who stood up and tried to be "race men" at a time when doing so was a grave risk. 2005, Harper Collins Children's Books, $16.99. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Book Sense Picks, Winter 2005-2006; Independent Booksellers Association; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog 2006 Supplement to the Ninth Edition, 2006; H.W Wilson Company; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Book of the Season Spring 2006, 2006; Nominee; Children's; New York
ISBN: 0-06-001136-X
ISBN: 978-0-06-001136-9
ISBN: 0-06-001137-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-001137-6
Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices
Walter Dean Myers
Myers has won numerous awards for his fiction, but he has always been a poet, and in this collection he becomes a poet of Harlem, where he grew up and heard its pulsing rhythms. Inspired by the Spoon River Anthology of Edgar Lee Masters, Myers recreates the voices of Harlem dwellers he has known--from students and poets to artists and evangelists, street vendors and veterans, nurses and party girls. The poems are loosely connected by the testimony in six parts of a fictitious Clara Brown, who adds her perspective to life in Harlem through the years ("Yes, it's done changed some, honey / And rearranged itself some / But when I was young, I danced these streets"). Of the fifty-four poems, it's impossible to pick one favorite. Readers will have to find their own, perhaps drawn to the almost unbearable poignancy of "Terry Smith, 24, Unemployed" or the rueful cadences of "Helen Sweet, 27, Party Girl." The accompanying photographs from Meyers' own collection are piercingly evocative, although he says they aren't chosen as illustrations of particular poems. One can only marvel at the image of Al Sharpton as a boy evangelist, for example, or at the jacket photo of Duke Ellington posing elegantly with two of his singers in 1938. Even the endpapers demand attention, with "George Ambrose, 33, English Teacher" (Myers' lovely tribute to Yeats), superimposed on a map of Harlem. This beautifully produced volume with its vision of a vibrant and beloved community is outstanding in every way. 2004, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages all. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).
Acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers offers a portrait of a vital community in Here in Harlem. His poems capture many moods and personalities, from musician Willie Arnold, with his "hot notes sailing like soulful birds" to hospital nurse Mary Ann Robinson, who watches as "Death spins the hands of the clock." Twelve-year-old students speak as do World War II veterans, a gossipy hair dresser and the father of a drug addict. Dancer-singer Clara Brown shares memories of Cotton Club racism, storefront churches and a jazz-loving mouse in reflections throughout the book. In her 87 years, she has seen Harlem deal with better times and worse. "Not to worry," she tells one resident. The community always survives. Read these poems during African American History Month in February--and all year long. 2004, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Books for Young Adults, 2005; American Library Association YALSA; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2005; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2005; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, November 15, 2004; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Nonfiction Honor List, 2004; VOYA; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2005; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2005; American Library Association ALSC; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 15, 2004; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, December 2004; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2005 Supplement, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Claudia Lewis Award for Poetry Winner 2004 United States
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Winner 2005 United States
The Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry Honor 2005 United States
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Winner 2005 Grades 4-6 United States
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Best Book 2005 Social Studies - Grades 7-12 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2005-2006; Reading List; High School Level; Texas
ISBN: 0-8234-1853-7
I've Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins
This work details the life, career, and death of Martin Luther King, Jr. Starting with King's birth and later pastoral career, Myers highlights some of the central civil rights battles in which King was engaged. The work also discusses King's liberal and pacifistic principles, including Gandhi's influence on King's beliefs and King's disagreement with Malcolm X. The pictures complement the ideological content by depicting protestors, peace signs, political graffiti, police, and police dogs. Jenkins's brushstrokes frequently add as much texture as color to each image, often creating a desire to touch the page. His choice of colors deepens the emotional power of his work. Yellows give a divine touch to certain images while a bright purple tends to charge tense images. The book includes in the work's illustrated end papers a chronology of the major events in King's life. 2004, HarperCollins Publishers, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: K. C. Manus (Children's Literature).
As in all Walter Dean Myers' books, his straightforward words compel the reader to attend. It is the violence of color and image in Jenkins' illustrations that adds a powerful depth to those words. Myers chooses to tell about the Montgomery bus boycott, jail, the March on Washington, Malcolm X's and John F. Kennedy's assassinations, and the final protest march in Memphis that ended a few days later in Dr. King's death. He writes not a biography as much as an exploration of whether Dr. King achieved his desires. Myers contrasts the violence against those who were struggling to obtain justice with Dr King's belief in nonviolence as a means of bringing the demands of justice to reality. The reader is left with uncertainty as to which prevailed. Unfortunately, reducing these events to a few pages creates the same problems that brief treatments in history texts do; for example, he writes that the bus boycott was in response to Mrs. Parks' arrest, creating a background for Dr. King's participation, though the boycott had long been planned and was awaiting the right opportunity to be put into action. Myers' and Jenkins' invitation to share Dr. King's vision of the promised land is certainly a book parents or teachers could share with children, but the readability and illustrations are more appropriate for older children. 2004, HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Diane Carver Sekeres, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2005; H. W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-06-027703-3
ISBN: 0-06-027704-1
Jazz
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Christopher Myers
Fifteen poems give a unique spin to music history in this title. The highly acclaimed author opens with a title poem that speaks of the African origins of jazz and "[d]rumming in tongues along the Nile," then swings to an exuberant tribute to Louie Armstrong in which that legendary trumpet player spanks a bad tune "like a naughty boy." The rhythm and word-play of poems such as "Be-Bop" and "Three Voices" will have kids bouncing and repeating lines like "[a] bippety-bop snake can't bite my style" and "[t]hum, thum, thum, and thumming/I feel the ocean rhythm coming." The illustrator brings the intensity of fluid lines and saturated color to his portraits of the jazz world. Fittingly, this creative father-son team dedicates their book, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, to "the children of New Orleans," birthplace of jazz. A wonderful book to celebrate Kwanzaa's principle of creativity. 2006, Holiday House, $18.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Books of the Year, 2006; Publishers Weekly; United States
Best Children's Books, 2006; Kirkus; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Sep. 1, 2006; United States
Children's Pick of the List, 2006; NAIBA; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, September 1, 2006; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 7, 2006; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2006; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Books of the Year Winner 2006 8 to 12 Years United States
ISBN: 978-0-8234-1545-8
ISBN: 0-8234-1545-7
Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins
Strong words and bold illustrations combine to make this a memorable biography. The book takes us from Malcolm's tragic childhood through transformations that first turn this bright child into a prison convict, later into an avid learner, and finally, the Muslim leader who altered black history forever. Myers does a great job of blending into this biography how Malcolm was impacted by society and the impact he later had on the world. Malcolm's quotes are peppered throughout the telling and Myers' fiery writing reflects the passion of the man who often inflamed those whose lives he touched. 2000, HarperCollins, $15.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Susie Wilde (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2000; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, Fourth Edition, 2003; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2001; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, February 2000; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal: Best Books, 2000; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Prairie Pasque Award, 2002; Nominee; South Dakota
ISBN: 0-06-027707-6
ISBN: 0-06-027708-4
Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam
Walter Dean Myers
Collages by Ann Grifalconi
An American soldier and his squad search the countryside to find the enemy. In a concise, first person narrative, Myers provides the sights and sounds of the environment as well as the emotions of the young man. "My body shakes...My chest tightens. I wipe my sweaty palms. I bite back my tears." Equally effective are the layered collages that depict the mountainous terrain, the rice fields, the bombs exploding, a house on fire, and the fear in the soldier's eyes. The lovely and placid birds and flowers seem incongruous next to the soldiers with their guns. Such is the reality of war. The picture-book format with a brief but powerful text makes this accessible to all students in a classroom discussion. Indeed, it makes an excellent introduction to a study of the Vietnam War. The difficulties of fighting a war in such a landscape, locating and recognizing the enemy, the effects of Agent Orange, communication, the use of helicopters, and the emotional impact of waiting are some of the issues addressed in the text and illustrations which work so well together. Hauntingly stunning. 2002, HarperCollins, $16.95. Ages 9 to 16. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2002; Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2002; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
The Children's Literature Choice List, 2002; Children's Literature; United States
Choices, 2003; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Core Collection: The Vietnam War in Youth Fiction, 2006; American Library Association-Booklist; United States
Great Middle School Reads, 2004; ALSC American Library Association; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, May 1, 2002; United States
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2003; National Council for the Social Studies NCSS; United States
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2003; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, April 22, 2002; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Jefferson Cup Award Honor Book 2003 United States
West Virginia Children's Book Award Honor Book 2005 Grades 3-6 United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
California Young Reader Medal, 2005-2006; Nominee; Picture Book for Older Readers; California
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Vermont
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2005; Nominee; Grades 6-8; Michigan
Maine Student Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Maine
Maryland Children's Book Award, 2004; Nominee; Middle School; Maryland
West Virginia Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; West Virginia
ISBN: 0-06-028363-7
ISBN: 0-06-028364-5
The Righteous Revenge of Artemis Bonner
Walter Dean Myers
Artemis Bonner, at 15, is out to avenge the Dastardly Murder of his Uncle, Ugly Bonner. To do so he must travel to Tombstone and track down the Murderers--Catfish Grimes and his companion Lucy Featherdip. These two Desperadoes are looking for the Gold Mine that Ugly Bonner found and laid claim to; Artemis has a Map, but he's not sure in what State or Territory he should Begin his Search. Artemis picks up a young Sidekick named Frolic, who aids him in his Search. A wonderfully Funny Book; very readable, but the Capital Letters are Contagious! Artemis and Frolic are nearly killed, but their motto is, or should be, Never Give Up. They eventually get back to Artemis' mother in New York. Their lives will never be the same. A 1993 ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Parents' Choice Award winner recently issued in paperback. 1994, HarperCollins, $14.89 and $4.50. Ages 7 to 14. Reviewer: Judy Silverman (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6, Tenth Edition, 1993; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Best Books for Young Adults, 1993; American Library Association-YALSA; United States
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Twelfth Edition, 1995; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Kaleidoscope, A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8, 1994; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Great Stone Face Award, 1994-1995; Nominee; New Hampshire
ISBN: 0-06-020844-9
ISBN: 0-06-020846-5
Three Swords for Granada
Walter Dean Myers
Illustrated by John Speirs
Set in 1420, the section of Spain called Granada is invaded by an unruly and vicious group of dogs called the Fidorean Guards. The native cats, that are hunted and persecuted, know that things will only get worse. When the Fidorean Guards demand that all cats must move into a settlement, they know something must be done. Three cats, Askia, Paco, and Lacy, create a formidable force when they unite to fight for the freedom of Granada. As the Fidorean Guards become more and more greedy, they attempt to invade a neighboring town and it is there that the cats band together and overcome the dogs. Standing up for what you know is right is never an easy thing to do. These three swashbuckling cats know that freedom is worth a high price and they are willing to pay it, if need be. Children will enjoy this tale as the cats outsmart and out maneuver the dogs who seem to rely on brawn alone. Freedom is restored to Granada thanks to the Three Swords for Granada! Soft, pen and ink sketches by John Speirs accentuate the story in this transitional chapter book. 2002, Holiday House, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book 2002 Language Arts-Grades K-6 Novels United States
ISBN: 0-8234-1676-3
A Time to Love: Stories from the Old Testament
Walter Dean Myers
With artwork by Christopher Myers
Thick, cream-colored pages invite the reader to delve into the author's original versions of six intriguing stories from the Bible. Through lyrical language, Myers presents the stories from a different perspective--Delilah tells how her love for Samson is offset by her need to save her people, Isaac achieves a new level of love and understanding for his father, Joseph's betrayal by his brothers is recalled by Reuben, Lot's daughter's insights explain why her mother looked back. The stories are all connected by the theme of love, particularly evidenced by the story of Ruth and Naomi. As the artist states, " This is the lesson of these stories, which my father and I hope to have shed some little light upon--God lives in our very human ability to love." Christopher Myers utilizes a different artistic style for each story, each one further illuminating the story through the dramatic visual interpretation. It is a truly collaborative family effort, including a moving preface by Chaplain, Captain, Michael Dean Myers, son of the author and brother of the illustrator. Christopher Myers includes a personal artist's note at the completion of the novel. This is a stunning piece of bookmaking, respectful and worthy of the original text. 2003, Scholastic Press, $19.95. Ages 12 to 16. Reviewer: Micki S. Nevett (Children's Literature).
This book is a compilation of six different stories from the Old Testament that help teach important biblical lessons. "Samson and Delilah," "Reuben and Joseph," "Ruth and Naomi," and the other stories show different forms of love--toward God, parents, brothers, friends, men and women. Walter Dean Myers puts an imaginative twist on these stories by telling them from a different person's perspective than they are usually told. One story he tells is the tale of Abraham and Isaac. This story would usually be heard from Abraham's perspective: the anguished father having to sacrifice his son. Myers, however, tells this story through Isaac, the scared little boy whose father plans to kill him. This technique gives the stories a fresh look and also makes it easier for young readers to understand the points the stories are making. The author's son, Christopher Myers, created the book's original artwork, which includes something a little different for each story. He researched how other artists have shown God on paper and discovered that most have done it through people's relationships with one another, with mankind, and with God. This research and Christopher Myers's intense upbringing in a religious family helped him to create such wonderful artwork for the stories. This book, created by a father-son team, teaches biblical stories and shows God as a loving ruler--a realization that came to the Myers team through their upbringing. 2003, Scholastic Press, $19.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Jennifer Tinsley (Children's Literature).
In this collection, Walter Dean Myers retells six timeless stories from the Old Testament. These stories from the Hebrew scriptures tell memorable tales of Samson, Joseph, Ruth, Abraham, Lot, and Moses. Although the plots closely resemble the scriptures from which they come, Myers uses a different perspective, cleverly making secondary characters in the original stories the first-person narrator of each retold tale. For example, Delilah tells the story of Samson and Delilah from her own point of view. Through this narrative, the audience can read Delilah's personal thoughts as she struggles with the decision to honor her love for Samson or betray him by revealing to his enemies the secret of his strength. In another tale, Myers retells the story of Isaac and Abraham from Isaac's viewpoint. Isaac's words move the reader to empathy as he describes his epiphany that his father will offer him as sacrifice to God. Though the stories come straight from the Bible, they can be viewed without religion in mind since they involve life choices many people must make. The voices of the characters make the stories easy reading for young adults who can handle complex concepts. Christopher Myers, the illustrator and author's son, uses a wide variety of artwork to help illustrate the different stories. He incorporates pencil drawings, photographs, collage, watercolors, and even Egyptian art. This plethora of media used to illustrate the stories makes each tale unique. 2003, Scholastic, $13.97 and $19.95. Ages 13 to 16. Reviewer: Myra Bodrick (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2004, 2004; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 31, 2003; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Storytelling World Awards Winner 2004 Storytelling Anthologies United States
ISBN: 0-439-22000-9
Updated 09/07/07
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