Walter Dean Myers

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Search Terms (Use for computer searches) ·         Walter Dean Myers ·         African American Writers Subject Headings (Use in card catalogs and print indexes) ·         Walter Dean Myers   Call Number ·         921 MYE (Dewey Decimal) ·         FIC MYE (Dewey Decimal) ·         2004002501 ...  (Library of Congress) Databases ·         SAILOR – Maryland ·         EBSCOhost Library catalogs ·         BCPS  Library Catalog ·         Enoch Pratt Free Library

This pathfinder will be useful in finding information about the African American author Walter Dean Myers

For an introduction to the topic, see:

·         http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/contact.html    

 

Key Resources at a Glance:

·         Walter Dean Myers Official Website

·         Scholastic - Walter Dean Myers Author Study

·         Houghton Mifflin Meet the Author - Walter Dean Myers

 

Reference Background

• http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Walter_Dean_Myers.aspx
• Williams, Micheal. The African American encyclopedia."Walter Dean Myers. 4. New York: Marshal Cavendish corporation, 1993. Print
• "World Book Encyclopedia." Walter Dean Myers. 13. Chicago: Scott Fetzer Company, 2009. Print

 

Resources

Books

·         Bad boy: a memoir by  Walter Dean Myers.

Magazine Articles

·         USA Today, April 24, 2008, Bob Minzesheimer, "The Somber Realities of War Cross Generations," interview with Myers, p. 7D.

·         Gallo, Don. "A Man of Many Ideas: Walter Dean Myers." Writing! (February-March 2004): p. 10

·         McElmeel, Sharron L. "A Profile: Walter Dean Myers." Book Report (September-October 2001): p. 42

·         Brown, Jennifer M. "Walter Dean Myers Unites Two Passions." Publishers Weekly (March 22, 1999): p. 45.

Internet / Multimedia Resources

·         http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Li-Ou/Myers-Walter-Dean.html#ixzz1sAKIcxfL

·         Walter Dean Myers:  Ambassador for Young People's Literature

·         SLJ Exclusive Interview: Walter Dean Myers, the New National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

·         Get To Know Walter Dean Myers: A List of Resources

Organizations and Special Collections

 

·         READ.GOV        http://www.read.gov/cfb/ambassador/index.html

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My pathfinder of Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers

Foster, Marc, dir. The Kite Runner.2008. Film

Summary

Love, lies, loyalty and redemption is the recipe for this dramatic film.  If these ingredients attract your palate, then this is the film for you.  The Kite Runner is a story about the friendship of two childhood boys, Amir and Hassan, growing up in Kabul.  Amir was very wealthy and prominent and Hassan was of a very poor ethnic background and also the son of Amir's father's servant.  The Boys relationship become strained after an unfortunate occurrence.  When the country become torn, Amir and his father flee to California.  Years later, Amir returns to his old country to help his childhood friend who son is in  trouble.

Critique

I really enjoyed this film.  The emotions that this film evokes allows you to reflect on how precious life, love and friendship is really. This is a delightful film.  I recommend this film to ages 12 and up.

Connection

Let's see what others are saying about this film.

Dargis, M. (n.d.). 2007, /december,14. Retrieved from movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/movies/14kite.html

2012 January, 14. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kite_runner/

Whaley, J. (2011). Where things comes back. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Summary

If you enjoy such themes as mystery, love, and character flaws then this is certainly a must read book for you.  Cullen Witter, who lives in Lily Arkansas wonders if he will ever leave this dull town.  While he is reflecting on his life, her is faced with having to deal with the disappearance of his younger brother and a cousin who overdosed on drugs.  To make matters worse, his issues are overshadowed by the town's obsession of the reappearance of a an extinct woodpecker.  The plot is also intertwined with another theme concerning characters of a religious fervor

Critique

this novel was cleverly and intelligently written.  Whaley does a brilliant job intertwining plots.  I recommend this book to ages 13 and up.

Connection

If you are interested in this book, you would probably like these books as well.

1.  Between Shades of Gray  by Ruta Sepetys

2. The Returning  by Christine Hinwood

3. Inside out and Back Again  by Thanhha Lai

To further investigate issues from this book, you can go to the websites listed below

www.johncoreywhaley.com

overflowingheartreviews.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/book-review-where...

·             www.bookbrowse.com/...preview_number/6340/where-things-come-backr where things come back by john whaley

Nye, N. (2011). There is no long distance now: very short stories. New York: Greenwillow/Harper Collins.

Summary

Do you have a treasure chest of a library? If you do, then here is a little gem that is filled with a plethora of emotions and experiences. This delightful book consist of forty very short stories.  The stories take a look into the varied  lives of people from diverse backgrounds.  There are some repeated characters.  The stories are not connected.  Although the stories are now more than five pages long, they are condensed and compacted with details.

Critique

These short stories are very easy reading.  There is definitely something in this book for everyone.  I recommend this book for age 13 and up.

Connection

If you are interested this book, you would probably enjoy these books as well authored by Naomi Shihab Nye:

1.  What Have You Lost  by Naomi

2.  Never In A Hurry:  Essays On People And Places

3.  Honeybees:  Poems And Short Prose

To further investigate issues from the book, you can go to the websites listed below.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/10604175-there-is-no-long-distance-now

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/naomi-shihab-nye/there...

Collins Suzannes. (2010).The Hunger Games. Scholastic Press:New York


Summary
katniss Everdeen a 16 year old living in a nation called Penam that is  formally known as North America.  Every year the Capitol of Panem hosts an annual event called the Hunger Games.  This annual event consists of  two tributes (male and female), who are selected from the 12 districts.  This savage account is televised for all the districts to view.  The tributes must fight until one remains standing but there is a twist to this story.  This book gives  a gruesome account of how Katniss tries to survive.

Critique
I found this book to be very disturbing.  Though well written but extremely violent.  The thought of having to take another person's life to survive only for the moment is very unnatural yet  this barbaric approach to survival has been cultivated in Western society through a winner take the spoils cultural acceptance.  I would reccomend this book to ages 12 and up.

If you enjoyed this book, you may want to read the following:
1.  The Fall (The Gods Slayer Trilogy) by David L. Dawson
2.  Fire Stones (The Fire wars #2)( A Young Adult Dystopian Mythology Fiction by Kailin Gow
3.  Mocking Jay (Book 3) by Suzanne Collins

Websites
1.  www. fanpop.com/spots/the-hunger-games/articles/54407/title/opinions-review-hunger-games
2.  www.teenink.com/opinions/social_issues-civics/articles/250477/violence-from-The-Hunger-Games-and-our-society

Wright, Richard. (2010). Black Boy: New York:



Summary
If you like to read an  excellent  example of a brilliantly crafted writing and can look amid the horror and sadness of true events then this is definitely the book for you.

Black Boy is an autobiography of the author Richard Wright.  The non-fiction book retells the painful memories of Richard's life growing up in the segregated South and  his journey of how he had a hunger and thirst to learn and ultimately becoming a writer.  He struggles to grow up in a society that has clearly been mapped out into two worlds; black and white.  These two worlds only came together to form a sick and sad union only for the  need and necessity of which Richard never accepted but learned to adapt.

 Critique
I really enjoyed this book.  Amid Mr. Wright's grim experiences, I thoroughly enjoyed his writing.  Mr. Wright had a way of verbalizing his thoughts and feelings very poignantly.  There are time you can actually see what he was seeing and feeling.  Unfortunately, he was punished for being so naive.  I recommend this book to age 12 and up.  This was an Excellent good read.

Connections
If you are interested in this book, you would probably be interested in these books as well.
1.  Native son by richard Wright
2.  If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin
3.  Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin
4.  Fences by August Wilson
5.  Blues For Mr. Charlie by James Baldwin
6.  The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
7.  Cane by Jean Toomer

To further investigate issues from this book you can go to the websites listed below.
1.  youthvoice.net/discussion/hoe-richard-wrights-book-black-boy-inspires-me-and-other-readers

2.  www.goodreads.com/book/show/228630.Black_Boy

Cleopatra Rules

Shelter, Vicky Alvear.(2010).Cleopatra Rules!: The Amazing Life of The Original Teen Queen: Pennsylvania: Boyds Mills Press, Inc.

Summary
Do you like Drama, mystery, romance, scandal or just all out mayhem? if your answer to any of the above then this is definetly the book for you.  This book is an informal biographical sketch and history of the Pharoah Cleopatra.  This book explores how Cleopatra's rose to be the powerful force of Egypt and reign as the Queen of Egypt. 

Critique
This book fun to read.  There are times you feel as though the documentary is being told through the eyes of a teenager.  The subjects in this book are written in the vernacular of a student.  There are lots of puns and combined modern reference  with ancient facts.  The characters in the book are whimsically described; one example is, "Caesar was fifty-two years old.  He had a wife at home and a grown daughter who had died giving birth years before.  He was balding.  Yet the dud had a reputation for being a player." (p. 27)  I recommend this book to age 12 and up.

Website Interest
Now that you have my take on this wonderful book, lets see what others think.
www.commonsensemedia.org/book-review-cleopatra-rules
motherdaughterbookclub/2011/01/book-review-cleopatra-rule
www.goodreads.com/book/show/8285377-cleopatra-rules

Book Interests
1.  Alexander the Great Rocks the World
2.  My Name Is Not Easy
3.  Torn (The Missing Book 4)
Dare to Dream!: (25 extraordinary lives

Burgan, Michael.(2008).Bram Stoker's Dracula.Mancato, Minnesota:Stone arch Books

Summary
 Ooh! I am sure you will thirst for more of this story when you read this graphic novel. Jonathan Harker, a lawyer from London, goes to Transylvania on a business trip.  He is invited to stay at the castle of Count Dracula, the man who Jonathan was hired to find  a place to live in England.  While at the counts home, Jonathan witness some very strange occurrences; Jonathan discovers the Count sleeping let's say, some unnatural quarters; a coffin.  When the count realizes Jonathan is on to him, he flees to London to go on a feeding frenzy?  Before the Count is stopped, a dear friend was succumbed to eternal doomed but unfortunately becomes a casualty as a result of Count quest to fulfill his liquid entree.
Critique Dracula's
I enjoyed the graphic novel.  The author was brilliant in telling the story in complete darkness for the exception of displaying the characters in the lights; a very though provoking contrast in displaying the two ideologies;  good versus evil.  This book has several informational features: Chapters settings, About the author, about the Retelling author, Glossary, More about Vampires, Discussion Questions and Writing Prompts.  I recommend this book to ages 12 and up.

Connections
If you enjoyed this graphic novel, I am sure you will enjoy these books as well: Sleepy Hollow, Gulliver's Travels, 20,000 Leagues Under the See and The Invisible Man.  All the books are published by Stone Arch Books,
If you are interested in knowing more about subjects related to this book you may visit www.facthound.com

Girlology

Summary
Holmes, Melisa and Hutchison, Trish.( 2007). Girlology:  A Girl's Guide to Stuff that Matters.HCI Teens. Tell me, are certain parts of your anatomy beginning to expand and you don't have a clue as to why? Or perhaps you get  tingling sensations whenever a certain somebody comes around and you; makes you scratch your head because you've never felt that way before towards that person.   He or she is giving you goose bumps all over.  Well, have I got the book for you !  It's entitled.,"Girlology: A Girl's guide to what Matters."  The girl friendly discusses ways a girl can empower herself..  This books helps girls to gail confidence and control over their physic al and emotional changes.  Some of the issues discussed in this book are:  values, sex, puberty, friendships and relationships.  This also answers questions that girls may be too embarrassed to ask their parents.

Critique
I really enjoyed this book.  I would recommend it to any you girl who is beginning to develop her uniqueness into womanhood.  The answers are very straightforward.  There are two tones that clearly resonate in this book the voice of the adolescent and the expressing how they feel in their vernacular and the voice of the professionals; the writers of the book.  I recommend this book to ages 12 and up.

Connections
If you enjoy this book, I am sure you will enjoy the following books as well:  Girlology:  Hang-Ups, Hook-Ups, and Hold Out and Girlology's:  There's Something new about You Both books are authored by the same authors of A Girl's Guide to Stuff that Matters.

Now, let's see what others are saying about this book.                                                                       1Holmes, Melisa and Hutchison,Trish (2007).                                                                  weread.com/reviews/Girlology and (Holmes, Melisa and Huchison, Trish.(September, 23, 2010). www.girlology.com/tags/book-review

Asher, Jay. (2007) Thirteen Reasons Why. New York: The Penguin Group.



Summary
Asher, Jay. (2007) Thirteen Reasons Why. New York: The Penguin Group.  This a very sad and traumatic story is about a young lady by the name of Hannah Baker.  Hannah narrates the 13 reasons contributing to her  deciding to commit suicide.  These reasons unfortunately,  involve several of her classmates and herself as well.  The story starts off by Hannah sending the box to her first contributor and classmate, Clay Jenson.  As Clay listens to the haunting tapes, he narrates how he played a part in Hannah's death considering he was an admirer of Hannah. 

Critique
The story was very cleverly written.  Her you have dual narrative, Hannnah Hannah articulating the reasons for unltimately ending her life and Jason her classmate trying to figure out why he is even on the list.  Although there are several cadences in this story, I found myself reading through the cadences because I like Clay, wanted to know who, were the other classmates on the list  and where did they played a part in Hannah's demise.  This was a very exciting reading.  I fealt as though I was in the town of the occurrences.  I recomend this book to ages 12 and up.

Connections
If you are interested in this book, you would probably like these books as well.
1.  "Before I Fall " by Lauren
2.  "The Future of Us" by Jay Asher
3.  "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
4.  "Why We Broke Up" by Daniel Handler

To furth investigate issues from the book, you can go to the websites listed below:  http://boysrockbr.blogspot.com/2011/08/13-reasons-being-pleasant-and-not.htmlo http://havenforthoughts.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/

My Young Adult Literature Reading List

To broaden and deepen our reading repertoire in YA Literature, students will read book-length works -published within the last five years- written for adolescents (12-18 year olds). Your reading list should span this age level, representing books that middle & high school students would read.  It is unacceptable to aim your list at upper elementary students.  Bring weekly YA selections to class.  Check YALSA’s lists of award-winning YA books to help you choose.  Note in particular the award winners (listed below in #7), Best Books for YAs, and Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers. 

#	GENRE	TITLE	AUTHOR	YEAR 2007 -present
1	Nonfiction	A.Girlology's There's Something New about you:  A Girl's guide to Growing up B.  Big Truths for Young Hearts	Melissa Holmes M. D. and Trish Hutchinson M. D. Melissa Holmes M.D and Trish Hutchinson M.D.	2008 2010
2	Realistic Fiction	13 Reasons Why	Jay Asher	2007
3	Graphic novel	A.Bessie Coleman Daring Stunt Pilot B.  Bram Stoker's Dracula	Trina Robbins Micheal Burgan	2007 2008
4	Non-Western setting	A. Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen B.  Growing up Filipino II	Vicky Alvear Shelter Cecilia Manguerra Brainard	2010 2010
5	e- book (Playaway, audio, Kindle, …)	A.  Black Boy  B.  I know why the Caged Bird Sings	Richard Wright Maya Angelou	2007 2009
6	Fantasy	A.  Ship Breaker B.  The Hunger Games	Paolo Bacigalupi Suzanne Collins	2010 2008
7	Short Story Collection	A.  There is no Long Distance Now (Very Short Stories)   B.  Bloody Horowitz	Naomi Shihab Nye  Anthony Horowitz	2011 2010
8	2011 or 2012 Award-Winner: Printz, Sibert, Morris, Alex, Edwards, Schneider, Batchelder, or Belpre	A.  Where Things Come Back B.  Breaking Night	John Corey Whaley Liz Murray	2011 2010
9	Film adapted from a work of young adult literature	A.  The Kite Runner B.  The House at Sugar Beach	William Horberg  Helene Cooper	2008 2008