Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers
Myers in 2001
Born	Walter Milton Myers (1937-08-12)August 12, 1937 Martinsburg, West Virginia,U.S.
Died	July 1, 2014(2014-07-01)(aged 76) New York City,U.S.
Occupation	Writer
Period	1969–2014
Genre	Young adult novels,nonfiction, poetry
Notable works	Fallen Angels Monster
Notable awards	Margaret Edwards Award 1994 Michael L. Printz Award 2000
Website
walterdeanmyers.net

Walter Dean Myers(bornWalter Milton Myers;August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer ofchildren's booksbest known foryoung adult literature.He was born inMartinsburg, West Virginia,but was raised inHarlem,New York City.A tough childhood led him to writing and his school teachers would encourage him in this habit as a way to express himself. He wrote more than one hundred books including picture books and nonfiction. He won theCoretta Scott King AwardforAfrican-Americanauthors five times.His 1988 novelFallen Angelsis one of thebooks most frequently challenged in the U.S.because of its adult language and its realistic depiction of theVietnam War.

Myers was the third U.S.National Ambassador for Young People's Literature,serving in 2012 and 2013.He also sat on the Board of Advisors of theSociety of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators(SCBWI).

Biography

Walter Milton Myers was born inMartinsburg, West Virginia,on August 12, 1937. At the age of three, Myers was given over to Florence Dean, the first wife of his biological father George Myers, and her husband Herbert. Florence and Herbert Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City.Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a German and Native American woman who taught English at the local high school. Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert.

Myers' life as a child centered on the neighborhood and the church. The neighborhood protected him and the church guided him. He was smart but did not do that well in school, and was considered a disruptive student.As a child Myers was often teased for his speech impediment and lashed out at those who teased him. Seeing him struggle, a teacher urged him to use writing as a way to better express himself.During this time he cultivated the habit of writing poetry and short stories and acquired an early love of reading.

Myers wrote well in high school, which his teacher Bonnie Liebow recognized.She also suspected that he would drop out and advised him to keep writing no matter what happened. He did not exactly understand what that meant but years later, while working on a construction job in Chicago, he remembered her words.Myers would write at night, soon writing about his difficult teenage years. When asked what he valued most, he replied: "My books. They were my only real friends growing up."Myers attended Public School 125 on Lasalle Street andStuyvesant High School,before dropping out to join the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday.

After leaving the army, Myers struggled with finding work and figuring out his purpose. This struggle led him to remember the advice given by his high school teacher and he began writing columns for men's magazines.It wasn't until Myers read the bookSonny's BluesbyJames Baldwin,which takes place in Harlem and focuses on African American characters, that he was inspired to start writing stories based on his own experiences growing up.

Myers lived inJersey City, New Jersey,with his family.His family includes his wife; son, author and illustratorChristopher Myers;son, Michael; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A daughter, Karen, predeceased him.

A prolific author, Myers wrote more than a hundred books for children and young adults during his 45-year writing career.Myers’ writing focused on his hard experiences as a teenager and he worked to show troubled teens that reading is a necessity in life. For the years 2012 and 2013 Myers was the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by appointment of the Library of Congress, a two-year position created to raise national awareness of the importance of lifelong literacy and education.During his time as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Myers toured the United States advocating reading and used the slogan "Reading is Not Optional" to inspire teens to read.

On July 1, 2014, Myers died atBeth Israel Medical CenterinMidtown Manhattan,after a brief illness.His last written work was an op-ed forThe New York Times,"Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?" in which he calls for a more complete representation of African Americans in children's literature.AWe Need Diverse Booksgrant and award were named after him.

Awards

Myers received the Margaret Edwards Award from theAmerican Library Associationin 1994 for his contribution in writing for teens.For his lifetime contribution as a children's writer he was U.S. nominee for the biennial, internationalHans Christian Andersen Awardin 2010. The ALAMargaret A. Edwards Awardrecognizes one writer and a particular body of work for "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". Myers won the annual award in 1994, citing four books published from 1983 to 1988:Hoops(1983),Motown and Didi(1985),Fallen Angels(1988), andScorpions(1988). Theyoung-adult librariansobserved that "these books authentically portray African-American youth, but their appeal is not limited to any particular ethnic group. The writing of Walter Dean Myers illustrates the universality of the teenage experience in urban America."He was a two-time runner-up for the annualNewbery Medal,recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children", in 1989 forThe Scorpionand in 1993 forSomewhere in the Darkness.The ALA split the Newbery several years later, establishing theMichael L. Printz Awardfor young-adult literature. Myers was the inaugural winner forMonster(HarperCollins, 1999), which was thereby designated the year's "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit".

Myers first published book was a contest winner:Where Does the Day Go?,written by Myers and illustrated by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Press, 1969). It won a Council on Interracial Books for Children Award, 1968.

Myers was a finalist for theNational Book Award for Young People's Literaturein 1999 forMonster,in 2005 forAutobiography of My Dead Brother,and in 2010 forLockdown.Myers is mentioned inSharon Creech's 2001 poetic novellaLove That Dog,in which a young boy admires Myers and invites him to visit his class.

Works

Myers in 2013

Complete bibliography in publication order

• The Life of a Harlem Man.(Parents Magazine Press, 1968). Illustrated byGene Riarti.
• Where Does a Day Go?(Parents Magazine Press, 1969). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byLeo Carty.
• The Dragon Takes a Wife(Bobbs-Merrill,1972). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byAnn Grifalconi.
  • Republished,The Dragon Takes a Wife(Scholastic, 1995). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byFiona French.
• The Dancers(Parents Magazine Press, 1972). Ages 5–8. Illustrated byAnne Rockwell.
• Fly, Jimmy, Fly!(Putnam,1974). Ages 5–8. Illustrated byMoneta Barnett.
• The World of Work: A Guide to Choosing a Career(Bobbs-Merrill, 1975).
• Fast Sam, Cool Clyde, and Stuff(Viking Press,1975). Ages 8–12.
• Social Welfare(Franklin Watts,1976). Ages 12+.
• Brainstorm(Franklin Watts, 1977). Ages 12+. Illustrated with photographs byChuck Freedman.
• Mojo and the Russians(Viking, 1977). Ages 10–14.
• Victory for Jamie(Scholastic Books,1977). Ages 12+.
• It Ain't All for Nothin'(Viking, 1978). Ages 12+.
• The Young Landlords(Viking, 1979). Ages 8–12.
• The Black Pearl and the Ghost; or, One Mystery after Another(Viking, 1980). Ages 9–11. Illustrated byRobert Quackenbush.
• The Golden Serpent(Viking, 1980). Ages 6–9. Illustrated byAlice ProvensenandMartin Provensen.
• Hoops(Delacorte Press,1981). Ages 12+.
• The Legend of Tarik(Viking, 1981). Ages 12+.
• Won't Know Till I Get There(Viking, 1982). Ages 10–14.
• The Nicholas Factor(Viking, 1983). Ages 8–12.
• Tales of a Dead King(William Morrow and Company,1983). Ages 8–12.
• Mr. Monkey and the Gotcha Bird(Delacorte, 1984). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byLeslie Morrill.
• Motown and Didi:A Love Story(Viking, 1984). Ages 12+.
• The Outside Shot(Delacorte, 1984). Ages 12+.
• Adventures in 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 in the Amazon(Viking, 1986). Ages 10–14. Arrow Series.
• Sweet Illusions(New York Teachers & Writers Collaborative, 1986). Ages 13+.
• Crystal(Viking, 1987). Ages 12+.
• Scorpions(Harper & Ross, 1988). Ages 8–12.
  • Included inNewbery Award Library IV(HarperCollins 1998)
• Me, Mop, and the Moondance Kid(Delacorte, 1988). Ages 8–12.
• Fallen Angels(Scholastic, 1988). Ages 13+.
  • Republished inFallen Angels and Related Readings Literature Connections(Houghton Mifflin Company, 1996). WithTim O'BrienandE.E. Cummings.
• The Mouse 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 the Nagasaki Knights(Delacorte, 1992). Ages 8–12.
• The Righteous Revenge of Artemis Bonner(HarperCollins, 1992). Ages 10–14.
• Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary(Scholastic, 1993). Ages 12+.
• Young Martin's Promise(Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993). Ages 8–12.
• A Place Called Heartbreak: A story of Vietnam(Raintree Steck-Vaughn, 1993). Ages 8–12.
• Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse(HarperCollins, 1993). Ages 8–12.
  • Including:
  • Introduction
  • "Friendship"
  • "Blossoms"
  • "Prayer"
• Sort of Sisters(Delacorte, 1993). Writing asStacie Johnson.
• The Party(Delacorte, 1993). Writing asStacie Johnson.
• The Prince(Delacorte, 1993). Writing asStacie Johnson.
• Contributor toSoul Looks Back in Wonderedited by Tom Feelings (1993)
• "Things that go Gleep in the Night" inDon't Give Up the Ghost: The Delacorte Book of Original Ghost Storiesedited byDavid Gale(Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 1993).
• "Migration" inThe Great Migration: An American StorybyJacob Lawrence(1993).
• The Glory Field(Scholastic, 1994). Ages 13+.
• Darnell Rock Reporting(Delacorte Press, 1994). Ages 8–12.
• The Story of the Three Kingdoms(HarperCollins, 1995). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byAshley Bryan.
• Shadow of the Red Moon(1995). (Scholastic, 1995). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers.
• Glorious Angels: A 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. WithMireille EcksteinandJudith Viorst.Part of the Troll Target Series.
• Sniffy Blue: Ace Crime Detective Case of the Missing Ruby and Other Stories(Scholastic, 1996). Ages 7–10. Illustrated byDavid J. Sims.
• One More River to Cross: An African American Photograph Album(Harcourt Brace, 1996). Ages 8–12.
• How Mr. Monkey Saw the Whole World(Doubleday, 1996). Ages 4–8. Illustrated bySynthia Saint James.
• Toussaint L'ouverture: The Fight for Haiti's Freedom.(Simon & Schuster, 1996). Ages 8–12. Illustrated byJacob Lawrence.
• "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" inWhen I was Your Age: Original Stories About Growing Upedited byAmy Ehrlich(Candlewick Press 1996).
• Harlem(Scholastic, 1997). Ages 8–12. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers
• Amistad: A Long Road to Freedom(Dutton, 1997). Ages 8–12.
• "Stranger" inNo Easy Answersedited byDonald R. Gallo(1997)
• "Sunrise Over Manaus" inFrom One Experience to Another: Award-Winning Authors Sharing Real-Life Experiences Through Fictionedited byM. Jerry WeissandHelen S. Weiss(1997).
• Angel to Angel: A Mother's Gift of Love(HarperCollins, 1998). Ages 8–12.
• Slam!(Scholastic, 1998). Ages 12+.
• "The Escape" inTrapped! Cages of Body and Mindedited byLois Duncan(1998).
• At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victoria England(Scholastic, 1999). Ages 8–12.
  • Also known asAn African Princess: From African Orphan to Queen Victoria's Favorite
• The Journal of Joshua Loper: A Black Cowboy, the Chisholm Trail, 1871.(Scholastic, 1999). Ages 8–12. Part of theMy Name is Americaseries.
• Monster(HarperCollins, 1999). Ages 13+.
  • RepublishedMonster: A Graphic Novel(Amistad, 2015). Adapted byGuy Simsand illustrated byDawud Anyabwile.
• "The Beast is in the Labyrinth" inPlaces I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers(1999) edited byJudy Blume.
• We Were Heroes: The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, a World War II Soldier, Normandy, France, 1944(Scholastic, 1999). Ages 10–14. Part of theMy Name Is Americaseries.
  • Included inDear America: The Nation at War: They World War II Collection: Box Set
• Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly(HarperCollins, 2000). Ages 8–12. Illustrated byLeonard Jenkins.
• The Blues of Flats Brown(Holiday House, 2000). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byNina Laden.
• 145th Street: Short Stories(Delacorte, 2000). Ages 13+.
  • "Big Joe's Funeral"
  • "The Baddest Dog in Harlem"
  • "Fighter"
  • "Angela's Eyes"
  • "The Streak"
  • "Monkeyman"
  • "Kitty and Mack: A Love Story"
  • "A Christmas Story"
  • "A Story in Three Parts"
  • "Block Party-145th Street Style"
• The Greatest: The Life of Muhammad Ali(Scholastic, 2000). Ages 12+.
• "Introduction" toDracula(Scholastic, 2000).
• Bad Boy: A Memoir(HarperCollins, 2001). Ages 12+.
• Down to the Last Out: The Journal of Biddy Owens: The Negro Leagues, 1948(Scholastic, 2001). Ages 8–12. Part of theMy Name is Americaseries.
  • Included in theDear America: The Seasons of Bravery Collection: Box Set
• Patrol: An American Soldier in Vietnam(HarperCollins, 2012). Ages 8–12. Illustrated byAnn Grafalconi.
• Three Swords for Granada(Holiday House, 2002). Ages 8–12. Illustrated byJohn Speirs.
• Handbook for Boys: A Novel(HarperCollins, 2002). Ages 10+. Illustrated byMatthew Bandsuch.
• "Block Party - 145th Street Style" inBig City Cool: Short Stories about Urban Youthedited byM. Jerry WeissandHelen S. Weiss(2002)
• Somewhere in the Darkness(2003).
• A Time to Love: Stories from the Old Testament.(Scholastic, 2003). Ages 12+. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers.
  • "Preface" by Chaplain, Captain, Michael Dean Myers
  • "Introduction" by Walter Dean Myers
  • "Samson and Delilah"
  • "Reuben and Joseph"
  • "Ruth and Naomi"
  • "Abraham and Isaac"
  • "Zillah and Lot"
  • "Aser and Camiel"
  • "Artist's Note" by Christopher Myers
• Blues Journey(Holiday House, 2003). Ages 6–11. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers.
• The Dream Bearer(HarperCollins, 2003). Ages 10–14.
• The Beast(Scholastic, 2003). Ages 13+.
• Shooter(HarperCollins, 2004). Ages 13+. T
• I've Seen the Promised Land: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.(HarperCollins, 2004). Ages 2–8. Illustrated byLeonard Jenkins.
• USS Constellation: Pride of the American Navy(Holiday House, 2004). Ages 10–13.
• Antarctica: Journeys to the South Pole(Scholastic, 2004). Ages 8–12.
• Here in Harlem: Poems in Many Voices(Holiday House, 2004). Age 12+.
• Autobiography of My Dead Brother(HarperCollins, 2005). Ages 13+. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers.
• "The Prom Prize" inEvery Man for Himself: Ten Short Stories about Being a Guyedited by Nancy E. Mercado. (2005).
• Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage(HarperCollins, 2006). Ages 8–12. WithBill Miles
• Jazz(Holiday House, 2006). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers.Includes:
• Introduction
  • "Jazz"
  • "Louie, Louie, how you play so 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 opening, and bar-b-que memorial service"
  • "what would jesus do"
  • "mama"
  • "the life you need to have"
  • "bum"
  • "some men are just funny that way"
  • "jump at the 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. Illustrated byBonnie Christensen.
• Amiri & Odette: A Love Story(Scholastic, 2009). Ages 12+. Illustrated byJavaka Steptoe.
• Dope Sick(HarperCollins, 2009). Ages 13+
• Riot(Egmont USA, 2009). Ages 12+.
• Looking Like Me(Egmont USA, 2009). Ages 5–8. Illustrated by sonChristopher Myers.
• Muhammad Ali: The People's Champion(HarperCollins, 2009). Ages 5–8. Illustrated byAlix Delinois.
• "Midnight Bus to Georgia" inThis Family is Driving Me Crazy: Ten Stories about Surviving Your Familyedited byM. Jerry WeissandHelen 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 withRoss Workman
• Looking for the Easy Life(HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 4–8. Illustrated byLee Harper.
• We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart(HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 6–10. Written with sonChristopher Myers.
• Carmen(Egmont USA, 2011). Ages 12+.
• The Cruisers Book 2: Checkmate(Scholastic, 2011). Ages 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• "Pirate" inThriller(HarperCollins, 2011). Ages 8–12. Edited byJon Scieszka.Illustrated byBrett Helquist.Guys ReadLibrary of Great ReadingSeries.
• "Cage Run" inPick-Up Game: A Full Day of Full Courtedited by Mark Aronson andCharles R. Smith Jr.(Candlewick Press, 2011)
• All the Right Stuff(HarperCollins, 2012). Ages 13+.
• Just Write: Here's How!(HarperCollins, 2012) Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 3: A Star is Born(2012). Ages 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• Forward toA Poem as Big as New York City: Little Kids Write About the Big Apple(2012)
• Introduction toA Time to Break Silence: The Essential Works of Martin Luther King, Jr., for Students(2013)
• Tags(HarperCollins, 2013). Ages 13+.
• The Get Over(HarperTeen Impulse, 2013).
• Darius & Twig(HarperCollins, 2013). Ages 13+.
• The Cruisers Book 4: Oh, Snap!(Scholastic, 2013). Ages 10–14. The News Crew Series.
• Invasion(Scholastic, 2013). Ages 12+. World War II.
• On A Clear Day(Crown Books for Young Readers, 2014). Ages 12+.
• Juba!(Crown Books for Young Readers, 2015). Ages 12+.
• "Roach" inTaking Aim: Power and Pain, Teens and Gunsedited byMichael Cart(HarperTeen, 2015)
• Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History(HarperCollins, 2017). Illustrated byFloyd Cooper.
• "Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push" inFlying Lessons and Other Stories,edited byEllen Oh.(Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017). Ages 8–12.

Selected works about Myers

• Presenting Walter Dean MyersbyRudine Sims Bishop(Twayne Publishers, 1990), as part of theTwayne's United States AuthorsSeries
• Walter Dean MyersbyDiane Patrick-Wexler(Steck-Vaughn, 2000), as part of theContemporary African AmericansSeries
• Walter Dean MyersbyKaren Burshtein(Rosen Publishing Group, 2003), as part of theLibrary of Author BiographiesSeries
• Walter Dean Myers: A Literary CompanionbyMary Ellen Snodgrass(McFarland & Company, 2006), as part of theMcFarland Literary CompanionSeries
• Walter Dean MyersbyAmy Sickels(Chelsea House Publications, 2007), as part of theWho Wrote That?Series
• Walter Dean MyersbyMyrna Dee Marler(Greenwood Press, 2007), originallyWalter Dean Myers: A Student Companion
• Walter Dean MyersbySusan Harkins(Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2007), as part of theClassic StorytellersSeries
• Walter Dean MyersbyElizabeth Hoover(Lucent Books, 2012), as part of thePeople in the NewsSeries
• Walter Dean MyersbyRichard Andersen(Cavendish Square Publishing, 2013), as part of theSpotlight on Children's AuthorsSeries
• Walter Dean MyersbyJill C. Wheeler(ABDO, 2014)

External links

• Official website
• Walter Dean MyersatLibrary of Congress,with 132 library catalog records
• Walter Dean Myersat theInternet Speculative Fiction Database

• Walter Dean MyersArchivedAugust 11, 2018, at theWayback Machineat Houghton Mifflin Reading
• Walter Dean Myersat Scholastic Teachers
• Interview by Public School Insights(print) posted January 31, 2009 – about his book "Dope Sick" and its themes of personal responsibility and redemption
• "Reading is not Optional", keynote address by Myers(audio-video recording) at the 2012 Hudson Children's Book Festival
• AppearancesonC-SPAN