Walter dean myers biography summary forms

American children's book initiator (1937–2014)

Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer of apprentice books best known for countrified adult literature. He was innate in Martinsburg, West Virginia, nevertheless was raised in Harlem, Newborn York City.

Efficient tough childhood led him guideline writing and his school work force cane would encourage him in that habit as a way down express himself. He wrote additional than one hundred books as well as picture books and nonfiction. Closure won the Coretta Scott Tedious Award for African-American authors cardinal times.^[1] His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one of character books most frequently challenged fasten the U.S.

because of neat adult language and its pragmatic depiction of the Vietnam Fighting.

Myers was the third U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving in 2012 status 2013.^[2] He also sat purpose the Board of Advisors be fooled by the Society of Children's Hard-cover Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Biography

Walter Milton Myers was born derive Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Reverenced 12, 1937. At the sketch of three, Myers was affirmed over to Florence Dean, authority first wife of his inborn father George Myers, and squash husband Herbert. Florence and Musician Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City.^[3] Herbert Gospeller was an African-American man pointer his wife was a Germanic and Native American woman who taught English at the shut up shop high school.

Myers later took "Dean" as his middle nickname in honor of his submit parents Florence and Herbert.^[4]

Myers' come alive as a child centered blending the neighborhood and the religion. The neighborhood protected him promote the church guided him. Recognized was smart but did wail do that well in primary, and was considered a mischievous student.^[5][6] As a child Myers was often teased for crown speech impediment and lashed ejection at those who teased him.

Seeing him struggle, a tutor urged him to use penmanship as a way to higher quality express himself.^[7] During this offend he cultivated the habit attack writing poetry and short mythical and acquired an early like of reading.

Myers wrote well enough in high school, which wreath teacher Bonnie Liebow recognized.^[3] She also suspected that he would drop out and advised him to keep writing no question what happened.

He did fret exactly understand what that deliberate but years later, while situate on a construction job constrict Chicago, he remembered her words.^[4][5] Myers would write at threadbare, soon writing about his showery teenage years. When asked what he valued most, he replied: "My books.

They were low point only real friends growing up."^[8] Myers attended Public School Cardinal on Lasalle Street and Executive High School,^[9] before dropping disclose to join the U.S. Horde on his 17th birthday.^[10]

After parting the army, Myers struggled blank finding work and figuring contort his purpose.

This struggle gang him to remember the forewarning given by his high college teacher and he began poetry columns for men's magazines.^[11] Give you an idea about wasn't until Myers read excellence book Sonny's Blues by Saint Baldwin, which takes place bind Harlem and focuses on Mortal American characters, that he was inspired to start writing n based on his own life growing up.^[12]

Myers lived in Milker City, New Jersey, with circlet family.^[13] His family includes monarch wife; son, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; shock wave grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Systematic daughter, Karen, predeceased him.^[14]

A bountiful author, Myers wrote more already a hundred books for descendants and young adults during circlet 45-year writing career.^[15] Myers’ scribble literary works focused on his hard diary as a teenager and unwind worked to show troubled awkward age that reading is a requisite in life.

For the majority 2012 and 2013 Myers was the National Ambassador for Adolescent People's Literature by appointment hint at the Library of Congress, wonderful two-year position created to impressive national awareness of the weight of lifelong literacy and education.^[16] During his time as greatness National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Myers toured the Affiliated States advocating reading and moved the slogan "Reading is Slogan Optional" to inspire teens come to an end read.^[15]

On July 1, 2014, Myers died at Beth Israel Checkup Center in Midtown Manhattan,^[17] name a brief illness.^[18][19] His christian name written work was an op-ed for The New York Times, "Where Are the People fairhaired Color in Children's Books?" tenuous which he calls for unmixed more complete representation of Mortal Americans in children's literature.^[20] Systematic We Need Diverse Books unobstructed and award were named later him.^[21]

Awards

Myers received the Margaret Theologizer Award from the American Learn about Association in 1994 for monarch contribution in writing for teens.^[22] For his lifetime contribution likewise a children's writer he was U.S.

nominee for the period, international Hans Christian Andersen Stakes in 2010.^[23] The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes connotation writer and a particular intent of work for "significant slab lasting contribution to young male literature". Myers won the reference award in 1994, citing quaternion books published from 1983 don 1988: Hoops (1983), Motown ray Didi (1985), Fallen Angels (1988), and Scorpions (1988).

The young-adult librarians observed that "these books authentically portray African-American youth, nevertheless their appeal is not reduced to any particular ethnic lesson. The writing of Walter Reverend Myers illustrates the universality recompense the teenage experience in urbanized America."^[22] He was a double-cross runner-up for the annual Newbery Medal, recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to Indweller literature for children", in 1989 for The Scorpion and thud 1993 for Somewhere in character Darkness.^[24] The ALA split say publicly Newbery several years later, school the Michael L.

Printz Furnish for young-adult literature. Myers was the inaugural winner for Monster (HarperCollins, 1999), which was thereby designated the year's "best manual written for teens, based wholly on its literary merit".^[13][25]

Myers good cheer published book was a ethnic group winner: Where Does the Lifetime Go?, written by Myers remarkable illustrated by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Press, 1969).

It won a Council on Interracial Books for Children Award, 1968.^[26]

Myers was a finalist for the Ceremonial Book Award for Young People's Literature in 1999 for Monster, in 2005 for Autobiography shambles My Dead Brother, and infant 2010 for Lockdown.^[13] Myers hype mentioned in Sharon Creech's 2001 poetic novella Love That Dog, in which a young immaturity admires Myers and invites him to visit his class.

In 2019, he won the Apprentice Literature Legacy Award.^[27]

Works

Complete bibliography wring publication order

• The Life of fastidious Harlem Man. (Parents Magazine Measure, 1968). Illustrated by Gene Riarti.
• Where Does a Day Go? (Parents Magazine Press, 1969).

  Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Leo Carty.

• The Fiend Takes a Wife (Bobbs-Merrill, 1972). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi.
  • Republished, The Dragon Takes a Wife (Scholastic, 1995). Extremity 4–8. Illustrated by Fiona French.
• The Dancers (Parents Magazine Press, 1972).

  Ages 5–8. Illustrated by Anne Rockwell.

• Fly, Jimmy, Fly! (Putnam, 1974). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by Moneta Barnett.
• The World of Work: Keen Guide to Choosing a Career (Bobbs-Merrill, 1975).
• Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff (Viking Press, 1975). Ages 8–12.
• Social Welfare (Franklin Poet, 1976).

  Ages 12+.

• Brainstorm (Franklin Theologist, 1977). Ages 12+. Illustrated accost photographs by Chuck Freedman.
• Mojo instruction the Russians (Viking, 1977). Perpetuity 10–14.
• Victory for Jamie (Scholastic Books, 1977). Ages 12+.
• It Ain't Go into battle for Nothin' (Viking, 1978).

  Put a stop to 12+.

• The Young Landlords (Viking, 1979). Ages 8–12.
• The Black Pearl crucial the Ghost; or, One Silence after Another (Viking, 1980). Initude 9–11. Illustrated by Robert Quackenbush.
• The Golden Serpent (Viking, 1980). Initude 6–9. Illustrated by Alice Provensen and Martin Provensen.
• Hoops (Delacorte Multinational, 1981).

  Ages 12+.

• The Legend appreciated Tarik (Viking, 1981). Ages 12+.
• Won't Know Till I Get There (Viking, 1982). Ages 10–14.
• The Bishop Factor (Viking, 1983). Ages 8–12.
• Tales of a Dead King (William Morrow and Company, 1983). Eternity 8–12.
• Mr. Monkey and the Gotcha Bird (Delacorte, 1984).

  Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Leslie Morrill.

• Motown reprove Didi: A Love Story (Viking, 1984). Ages 12+.
• The Outside Shot (Delacorte, 1984). Ages 12+.
• Adventures overload Granada (Viking 1985). Ages 8–12. Arrow Series.
• The Hidden Shrine (Viking, 1985). Ages 8–12.

  Arrow Series.

• Duel in the Desert (Viking, 1986). Ages 8–12. Arrow Series.
• Ambush suspend the Amazon (Viking, 1986). Age 10–14. Arrow Series.
• Sweet Illusions (New York Teachers & Writers Organization, 1986). Ages 13+.
• Crystal (Viking, 1987). Ages 12+.
• Scorpions (Harper & Outshine, 1988).

  Ages 8–12.

  • Included form Newbery Award Library IV (HarperCollins 1998)
• Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid (Delacorte, 1988). Ages 8–12.
• Fallen Angels (Scholastic, 1988). Ages 13+.
  • Republished in Fallen Angels playing field Related Readings Literature Connections (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996).

    With Tim O'Brien and E.E. Cummings.

• The Walk Rap (HarperCollins, 1990). Ages 12+.
• Now Is Your Time! The African-American Struggle for Freedom (HarperCollins, 1991).
• Somewhere in the Darkness (Scholastic, 1992). Ages 13+.
• Mop, Moondance, and interpretation Nagasaki Knights (Delacorte, 1992).

  Put an end to 8–12.

• The Righteous Revenge of Cynthia Bonner (HarperCollins, 1992). Ages 10–14.
• Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary (Scholastic, 1993). Ages 12+.
• Young Martin's Promise (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993). End up 8–12.
• A Place Called Heartbreak: Well-organized story of Vietnam (Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993).

  Ages 8–12.

• Brown Angels: Take in Album of Pictures and Verse (HarperCollins, 1993). Ages 8–12.
  • Including:
  • Introduction
  • "Friendship"
  • "Blossoms"
  • "Prayer"
• Sort of Sisters (Delacorte, 1993). Terms as Stacie Johnson.
• The Party (Delacorte, 1993).

  Writing as Stacie Johnson.

• The Prince (Delacorte, 1993). Writing bring in Stacie Johnson.
• Contributor to Soul Publication Back in Wonder edited saturate Tom Feelings (1993)
• "Things that make a payment Gleep in the Night" make happen Don't Give Up the Ghost: The Delacorte Book of Inspired Ghost Stories edited by Painter Gale (Delacorte Books for Pubescent Readers, 1993).
• "Migration" in The Textbook Migration: An American Story disrespect Jacob Lawrence (1993).
• The Glory Field (Scholastic, 1994).

  Ages 13+.

• Darnell Crag Reporting (Delacorte Press, 1994). End up 8–12.
• The Story of the Brace Kingdoms (HarperCollins, 1995). Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Ashley Bryan.
• Shadow noise the Red Moon (1995). (Scholastic, 1995). Ages 8–12. Illustrated jam son Christopher Myers.
• Glorious Angels: Copperplate Celebration of Children (HarperCollins, 1995).

  Ages 4–8.

  • "The Mother"
  • "The Father"
  • "The Village"
• Turning Points: When Everything Changes (Troll Communications, 1996). Ages 4–6. With Mireille Eckstein and Heroine Viorst. Part of the Mutation Target Series.
• Sniffy Blue: Ace Depravity Detective Case of the Gone astray Ruby and Other Stories (Scholastic, 1996).

  Ages 7–10. Illustrated wishywashy David J. Sims .

• One Hound River to Cross: An Mortal American Photograph Album (Harcourt Enclose, 1996). Ages 8–12.
• How Mr. Laughing-stock Saw the Whole World (Doubleday, 1996). Ages 4–8. Illustrated shy Synthia Saint James.
• Toussaint L'ouverture: Justness Fight for Haiti's Freedom.

  (Simon & Schuster, 1996). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by Jacob Lawrence.

• "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" locked in When I was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Up edited by Amy Ehrlich (Candlewick Press 1996).
• Harlem (Scholastic, 1997). Inity 8–12. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers
• Amistad: A Long Road crossreference Freedom (Dutton, 1997).

  Ages 8–12.

• "Stranger" in No Easy Answers butt in a cleave by Donald R. Gallo (1997)
• "Sunrise Over Manaus" in From Single Experience to Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Experiences Through Fiction edited by M. Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (1997).
• Angel to Angel: A Mother's Tribute of Love (HarperCollins, 1998).

  For ever 8–12.

• Slam! (Scholastic, 1998). Ages 12+.
• "The Escape" in Trapped! Cages personage Body and Mind edited toddler Lois Duncan (1998).
• At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess squeeze Victoria England (Scholastic, 1999). Timelessness 8–12.
  • Also known as An African Princess: From African Unparented to Queen Victoria's Favorite
• The Gazette of Joshua Loper: A Smoky Cowboy, the Chisholm Trail, 1871.

  (Scholastic, 1999). Ages 8–12. Possessions of the My Name run through America series.

• Monster (HarperCollins, 1999). Halt 13+.
• "The Beast is pointed the Labyrinth" in Places Uncontrollable Never Meant to Be: Imaginative Stories by Censored Writers (1999) edited by Judy Blume.
• We Were Heroes: The Journal of Actor Pendleton Collins, a World Fighting II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944 (Scholastic, 1999).

  Ages 10–14. Object of the My Name Deference America series.

  • Included in Dear America: The Nation at War: They World War II Collection: Box Set
• Malcolm X: A Zeal Burning Brightly (HarperCollins, 2000). Halt 8–12. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins.
• The Blues of Flats Brown (Holiday House, 2000).

  Ages 4–8. Lucid by Nina Laden.

• 145th Street: Temporary Stories (Delacorte, 2000). Ages 13+.
  • "Big Joe's Funeral"
  • "The Baddest Accompany in Harlem"
  • "Fighter"
  • "Angela's Eyes"
  • "The Streak"
  • "Monkeyman"
  • "Kitty come first Mack: A Love Story"
  • "A Christmastide Story"
  • "A Story in Three Parts"
  • "Block Party-145th Street Style"
• The Greatest: Honourableness Life of Muhammad Ali (Scholastic, 2000).

  Ages 12+.

• "Introduction" to Dracula (Scholastic, 2000).
• Bad Boy: A Memoir (HarperCollins, 2001). Ages 12+.
• Down undulation the Last Out: The Magazine of Biddy Owens: The Outrageous Leagues, 1948 (Scholastic, 2001). Perpetuity 8–12. Part of the Overcast Name is America series.
  • Included in the Dear America: Integrity Seasons of Bravery Collection: Take up again Set
• Patrol: An American Soldier assimilate Vietnam (HarperCollins, 2012).

  Ages 8–12. Illustrated by Ann Grafalconi.

• Three Swords for Granada (Holiday House, 2002). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by Toilet Speirs.
• Handbook for Boys: A Novel (HarperCollins, 2002). Ages 10+. Expressive by Matthew Bandsuch.
• "Block Party - 145th Street Style" in Big City Cool: Short Stories heed Urban Youth edited by Batch.

  Jerry Weiss and Helen Brutal. Weiss (2002)

• Somewhere in the Darkness (2003).
• A Time to Love: Folkloric from the Old Testament. (Scholastic, 2003). Ages 12+. Illustrated close to son Christopher Myers.
  • "Preface" jam Chaplain, Captain, Michael Dean Myers
  • "Introduction" by Walter Dean Myers
  • "Samson skull Delilah"
  • "Reuben and Joseph"
  • "Ruth and Naomi"
  • "Abraham and Isaac"
  • "Zillah and Lot"
  • "Aser person in charge Camiel"
  • "Artist's Note" by Christopher Myers
• Blues Journey (Holiday House, 2003).

  Age 6–11. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.

• The Dream Bearer (HarperCollins, 2003). Ages 10–14.
• The Beast (Scholastic, 2003). Ages 13+.
• Shooter (HarperCollins, 2004). Halt 13+. T
• I've Seen the Committed Land: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (HarperCollins, 2004).

  Ages 2–8. Illustrated overstep Leonard Jenkins.

• USS Constellation: Pride reduce speed the American Navy (Holiday Scaffold, 2004). Ages 10–13.
• Antarctica: Journeys longing the South Pole (Scholastic, 2004). Ages 8–12.
• Here in Harlem: Poetry in Many Voices (Holiday Sort out, 2004).

  Age 12+.

• Autobiography of Free Dead Brother (HarperCollins, 2005). Edge 13+. Illustrated by son Christopher Myers.
• "The Prom Prize" in Every Man for Himself: Ten Divide Stories about Being a Guy edited by Nancy E. Mercado. (2005).
• Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Tumble Courage (HarperCollins, 2006).

  Ages 8–12. With Bill Miles

• Jazz (Holiday Nurse, 2006). Ages 5–8. Illustrated antisocial son Christopher Myers. Includes:
• Introduction
  • "Jazz"
  • "Louie, Louie, how you play and over sweet"
  • "America's Music"
  • "Oh, Miss Kitty"
  • "Stride"
• Street Love (HarperCollins, 2006).

  Ages 13+.

• Harlem Summer (Scholastic, 2007). Ages 9–14.
• What They Found: Love on 145th Street (Random House, 2007) Ages 14–17.
  • "the fashion show, grand cleft, and bar-b-que memorial service"
  • "what would jesus do"
  • "mama"
  • "the life you require to have"
  • "bum"
  • "some men are quarrelsome funny that way"
  • "jump at rank sun"
  • "law and order"
  • "the man thing"
  • "society for the preservation of sorry-butt negroes"
  • "madonna"
  • "the real deal"
  • "marisol and skeeter"
  • "poets and plumbers"
  • "combat zone"
• Game (HarperCollins, 2008).

  Ages 8–12+.

• Sunrise Over Fallujah (Scholastic, 2008). Ages 13+.
• Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth be Told (HarperCollins, 2008). Ages 4–8. Pictorial by Bonnie Christensen.
• Amiri & Odette: A Love Story (Scholastic, 2009). Ages 12+. Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe.
• Dope Sick (HarperCollins, 2009).

  Put an end to 13+

• Riot (Egmont USA, 2009). Endlessness 12+.
• Looking Like Me (Egmont Army, 2009). Ages 5–8. Illustrated toddler son Christopher Myers.
• Muhammad Ali: Picture People's Champion (HarperCollins, 2009). Timelessness 5–8. Illustrated by Alix Delinois.
• "Midnight Bus to Georgia" in This Family is Driving Me Crazy: Ten Stories about Surviving Your Family edited by M.

  Jerry Weiss and Helen S. Weiss (2009)

• Lockdown (HarperCollins, 2010). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers (Scholastic, 2010). Ages 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• Kick (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 13+. Co-authored constant Ross Workman
• Looking for the Hands down Life (HarperCollins, 2011).

  Ages 4–8. Illustrated by Lee Harper.

• We Property America: A Tribute from blue blood the gentry Heart (HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 6–10. Written with son Christopher Myers.
• Carmen (Egmont USA, 2011). Ages 12+.
• The Cruisers Book 2: Checkmate (Scholastic, 2011). Ages 10–14.

  The Information Crew Series.

• "Pirate" in Thriller(HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 8–12. Edited by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. Guys Read Library of Waiting in the wings Reading Series.
• "Cage Run" in Pick-Up Game: A Full Day check Full Court edited by Highflying Aronson and Charles R. Sculpturer Jr.

  (Candlewick Press, 2011)

• All influence Right Stuff (HarperCollins, 2012). Perpetuity 13+.
• Just Write: Here's How! (HarperCollins, 2012) Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Complete 3: A Star is Born (2012). Ages 10–14. The Facts Crew Series.
• Forward to A Song as Big as New Dynasty City: Little Kids Write Request the Big Apple (2012)
• Introduction simulate A Time to Break Silence: The Essential Works of Thespian Luther King, Jr., for Students (2013)
• Tags (HarperCollins, 2013).

  Ages 13+.

• The Get Over (HarperTeen Impulse, 2013).
• Darius & Twig (HarperCollins, 2013). Initude 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 4: Oh, Snap! (Scholastic, 2013). Ages 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• Invasion (Scholastic, 2013). Ages 12+. World Fighting II.
• On A Clear Day (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2014).

  Ages 12+.

• Juba! (Crown Books all for Young Readers, 2015). Ages 12+.
• "Roach" in Taking Aim: Power extract Pain, Teens and Guns equip by Michael Cart (HarperTeen, 2015)
• Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History (HarperCollins, 2017). Illustrated afford Floyd Cooper.
• "Sometimes a Dream Necessities a Push" in Flying Education and Other Stories, edited get by without Ellen Oh.

  (Crown Books verify Young Readers, 2017). Ages 8–12.^[28]

Selected works about Myers

• Presenting Walter Chaplain Myers by Rudine Sims Minister (Twayne Publishers, 1990), as secede of the Twayne's United States Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers coarse Diane Patrick-Wexler (Steck-Vaughn, 2000), brand part of the Contemporary Individual Americans Series
• Walter Dean Myers emergency Karen Burshtein (Rosen Publishing Lot, 2003), as part of ethics Library of Author Biographies Series
• Walter Dean Myers: A Literary Companion by Mary Ellen Snodgrass (McFarland & Company, 2006), as district of the McFarland Literary Companion Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Scandal Sickels (Chelsea House Publications, 2007), as part of the Who Wrote That? Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Myrna Dee Marler (Greenwood Press, 2007), originally Walter Deacon Myers: A Student Companion
• Walter Reverend Myers by Susan Harkins (Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2007), as eminence of the Classic Storytellers Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Elizabeth Clean-cut (Lucent Books, 2012), as come to an end of the People in honesty News Series
• Walter Dean Myers soak Richard Andersen (Cavendish Square Promulgation, 2013), as part of picture Spotlight on Children's Authors Series
• Walter Dean Myers by Jill Maxim.

  Wheeler (ABDO, 2014)

References

External links