Sad news…
African-American author, Walter Dean Myers passed away yesterday. He was 76 years old. He was one of several wonderful writers who changed the face of literature for young people in North America.
I had the pleasure of hearing him speak only once, but his words, like his books, will remain with me for years to come. Fallen Angels, Monster, and Bad Boy are some of my favorites. I will be revisiting them, and I hope you do too. He often set his stories in inner city neighborhoods and featured characters who often made less than ideal choices.
Myers,who grew up in Harlem under some tough circumstances, dropped out of high school, and had more than a few brushes with the law. He managed to stay connected to books and reading through his local library. In a public radio interview on “here & Now,” Myers says, “My circumstances often seemed insurmountable to me, but through reading I reached out for ideas that might help me escape them. The books I read showed me options other than those I saw reflected in my surroundings. They gave me new definitions for success in my life.”
After working a series of low paying jobs, he took the advice of a high school teacher who had told him to keep writing no matter what. Fortunately for all of us, Walters followed that high school teacher’s advice. He went on to publish more than 100 books and became one of the most respected voices in young adult literature in America. He was a tireless advocate for literacy, and his writing was especially popular with middle and high school boys. His books garnered multiple honors including: five Coretta Scott King Awards for African-American fiction, two Newbery Honor Medals, and a Printz Award. He was named a National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in 2012-13.
For young writers looking for writing advice, Myers published Just Write, which he described as a template from his own life.
Sheryl McFarlane 