Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12

Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army. After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He has been writing full time since 1977.

Growing Up in Harlem When Walter D. Myers was just 3 years old his mother died. Since his father was ill at the time he sent Walter to go live with foster parents. Walter later on moved with them in Harlem in New York City, NY.

Problem child drop Out and only 15 • Walter D. Myers was a problem child growing up. He had a speech problem, that caused him to react angrily. As the years went on and he went to high school, he decided to drop out at the age of 15. This happened because he could not speak well. Also his parents did not have money for him to go to college.

Drop out becomes a writer • After Walter dropped out he started working at a local post office. He started to write at night. He wrote for magazines, and the National Inquirer. Later on he entered a contest for kids. He won with his book called WHERE DOES A DAY GO? This was also the turning point of Myers’ life.

Myers becomes a famous writer • Soon after, Myers started to write books for teenagers. He wrote a short story for teenagers and an editor read it and liked it. He thought it was a chapter of a novel and wondered how the rest of the story went. To Myers that sounded like a great opportunity banging on the door. So he started a novel for the short story. Next thing he knew he had a contract.

Walter writes over 90 books • After he signed his contract, Walter began to write even more. Next thing he knew he had 90 books written, such as Monster, Somewhere in the Darkness, Harlem, Malcolm X, and The dragon Takes a Wife. Walter says he “enjoys writing and he is glad how his life turned out from nothing to millions”.

th 145 Street Walter Dean Myers An Urban Book

What is a short story? • A prose narrative shorter than a novel.

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The story is told from the main character’s point of view and weaves what he says and does with what he remembers.

Reverberation • While you listen to the story you will note things or reverberate them. • Look for the echoes and patterns in Myers’ work. Or connections that remind of you of things that have happened to you or your friends.

• As I read, underline sections that are interesting • Confusing to you put ? ? ? ? • Draw a line after the 5 th and 10 th stanzas. • Practice reading together.

Set Designs • Finish your set design. • Share your set design for “A Christmas Story”

• http: //origin. eastbaymedia. com/~wet a/ram/wdmyers/wdm 1. ram

Harlem • Pictures of New York • Harlem • What is the genre of Harlem by Walter Dean Myers?

Harlem • A Mecca for African-American culture and life for more than a century, Harlem started out as Nieuw Haarlem, a prosperous Dutch farming settlement. By the turn of the 20 th century, black New Yorkers started moving uptown into Harlem's apartment buildings and town houses. The neighborhood prospered and by the 1920 s, Harlem had become the most famous black community in the United States, perhaps in the whole world.

• The Harlem Renaissance, generally regarded as occuring between 1919 and 1929, was Harlem's golden era, when local writers such as Zora Neale Hurston, W. E. B. Du. Bois, Langston Hughes, and Ralph Ellison achieved literary recognition. The Depression hit hard here, but happily, today the neighborhood is well on the way to new glory days: Young people and families are moving into the newly restored brownstone and limestone buildings, and the combination of architectural treasures, crackling vitality (even Bill Clinton chose Harlem for his postpresidential office!), great music and culture, and honest-to-goodness, lip-smacking soul food make Harlem a must-see destination

• As I read, underline sections that are interesting • Confusing to you put ? ? ? ? • Draw a line after the 5 th and 10 th stanzas. • Practice reading together.