Bad Boy - by Walter Dean Myers (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A classic memoir that's gripping, funny, and ultimately unforgettable from the bestselling former National Ambassador of Books for Young People. A strong choice for summer reading--an engaging and powerful autobiographical exploration of growing up a so-called "bad boy" in Harlem in the 1940s.

As a boy, Myers was quick-tempered and physically strong, always ready for a fight. He also read voraciously--he would check out books from the library and carry them home, hidden in brown paper bags in order to avoid other boys' teasing. He aspired to be a writer (and he eventually succeeded).

But as his hope for a successful future diminished, the values he had been taught at home, in school, and in his community seemed worthless, and he turned to the streets and to his books for comfort.

Don't miss this memoir by New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers, one of the most important voices of our time.

From the Back Cover

As a boy, Walter Dean Myers was quick-tempered and physically strong, always ready for a fight. He also read voraciously-he would check out books from the library and carry them home, hidden in brown paper bags in order to avoid other boys' teasing. He aspired to be a writer. But growing up in a poor family in Harlem, his hope for a successful future diminished as he came to realize fully the class and racial struggles that surrounded him. He began to doubt himself and the values that he had always relied on, attending high school less and less, turning to the streets and his books for comfort.

In a memoir that is gripping, funny, and ultimately unforgettable, Walter Dean Myers travels back to his roots in the magical world of Harlem during the 1940s and 1950s. Here is the story of one of the strongest voices in young people's literature today.

Review Quotes

"[A] superb memoir. Young writers will find inspiration here." -- School Library Journal

"Myers paints a fascinating picture of his childhood growing up in Harlem in the 1940s." -- Publishers Weekly

"Many of the individual scenes have power...and the author's voice and heart are consistently heard and felt throughout." -- The Horn Book

"A powerful read. Will make the reader laugh out loud & sigh with satisfaction." -- Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"A thoughtful, cautionary and inspiring tale." -- Chicago Tribune

"This memoir joins the ranks of stellar literary autobiographies, such as Fleischman's Abracadabra Kid and Zindel's Pigman and Me." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books