Book Description

Growing up is tough ... really tough. But what if you had a handbook that told you how to figure things out? How to stay out of trouble?

At Duke's Place, Jimmy and Kevin find out that the handbook doesn't need to be written down. It can be as easy as listening to Duke and the old guys talking about their lives. But how can Duke understand what it is to be young now?

Reviews (6)

A book to teach and entertain
This book by the renowned Walter Dean Myers is aptly named. It is not so much a work of fiction as it is a guide to those young men who must navigate the rough shoals of life as an African-American male teenager. This is a book with a mission to instruct and entertain, but, primarily, instruct. If you object to didacticism in fiction, this is not the book for you. But if you think this is an important message--I think it is--then you must admire Myers' craft in making it much more than a tract.

handbook for boys
I liked the book. The book was good cause it gave alot of information about people and what they should do to do better in thier life in the future.The best part of the book was when people got into trouble and then Duke would talk to the boys and ask them how they could have changed the sitution. There was lots of characters. There was Jimmy (he worked for Duke) Duke, Cap, Mister M., and Kevin. The resolution of the book is hard to understand. Kevin got in to trouble and had to go to jail. Duke hired a new boy to work for him. Jimmy told the boy to listen to them in there it could help it in your life.

Handbook for Boys
Handbook for Boys by Walter Dean Meyers is about making the right choices in life. I liked this book because it really makes you think about how you want to end up in your how life. The guys in the barbershop really give out some great information and advice to this lost teen. Because of what they tell him he makes better choices in his life. Since I read this book some troubles that Jimmy where faced with have also come up in my life and I can say that because I have had supportive parents and people to support me like Jimmy did I have made the correct choice. I have not read any other books but Meyers, but I really have in interest to read his book called Monster that was recently made into a movie.

not a novel, but a self-help book
I bought this book because I had loved Myers' previous work, "Monster." However, I was rather disappointed by "Handbook for Boys"' lack of storyline. The stuff Duke talks about is all true and good, and Jimmy seems to accept and understand all of this. But almost nowhere in the book do we see Jimmy actually applying this newly acquired wisdom. And you never get to figure out how exactly Duke, Cap, and Mr. M got that smart in the first place! It would've been nice if Mr. Myers had given some background on Duke's life at least. All in all, "Handbook for Boys" is more of a self-help book for teens (not just boys, either), than an actual novel.

A great book for kids and adults to read together
Sixteen-year-old Jimmy Lynch has a choice to make: go to jail for six months or join Duke Wilson's community mentoring program. Thinking he got off easy, Jimmy goes to Duke's barber shop every day after school, where life is anything but easy. A steady stream of various characters provide a colorful backdrop of lessons to be learned. Duke, Cap, and Mr. M provide a daily barage of advice and stories for both Jimmy and Kevin, another student in need of mentoring. Jimmy thinks the old men are anything but helpful, until he finally begins to understand the purpose of their comments and the depth of their wisdom. When Kevin falls back into trouble Jimmy has a choice to make, one that he knows can affect his life forever. Like Duke says, Jimmy knows what the right thing to do is. Doing it is different, though.
Myers' book is a quick and lively read that helps young readers see the necessity of living life as a participant, not a spectator. The "mentors" encourage the teens to be in charge of their own destiny, and to not be a victim, like many of the people they see in their neighborhood. I highly recommend this book for both teens and adults, especially to be read together. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Cameron, Carla, and Len were fascinated (for different reasons) with guns and target shooting at the Patriots' club range until the day Len brought his Kalashnikov rifle, his AR-18, and his Ruger pistol to school, and shot and killed football jock Brad Williams, and then himself. Here is yet another school shooting story that begins with bullying and ends with disaster--a type that is becoming almost a sub-genre of YA fiction. Yet Walter Dean Myers, winner of many awards for his young adult novels, brings freshness and new anguish to this familiar tale (and growing social problem) of unstable victim tormented by bullies to homicidal rage. Following the example of his own masterwork Monster, Myers uses different perspectives in the aftermath of the "incident" to reveal the characters and to tell the story: interviews with Cameron and Carla by The Harrison County School Safety Committee, newspaper reports, a police report,Len's handwritten "die-ary" of his deranged thoughts, and finally, a grim medical examiner's report. The contrasts and contradictions in these various perspectives challenge readers to produce their own versions of why Cameron and Carla became Len's followers and what could have prevented this tragedy and others like it in real life. (ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (4)

BETTER THAN MONSTER!!
Based on the horrors of the Columbine Massacre, this book probes "The Dark Side of Youth". It is done both tactfully and thoughtfully, and raises the questions such as: Were there family problems that led to the deviance? How were teasing and taunting responsible for their actions? Was there a leader, and how much is the follower responsible? SHOOTER hosts other questions and concerns that we all have. Not many are answerable, but will make students think. We are studying what happened in Columbine,and comparing it with the fictional accounts in this book. Students can't get enough of the book, the research and their thoughts in class! What more can you ask for at the end of the year?

A MUST READ FOR TEENS AND THEIR PARENTS
The story is about violence and the characters are disturbing, but this book has an interesting way of reaching its audience and getting the message across. _Shooter_ is about a school shooting. The set up is unique. It reads like an investigation with statements, interviews, a diary, and written conclusions. The story is both depressing and compelling. It's the kind of book teens will pass on to each other and hopefully share with their parents.

The actors of the audio version are Chad Coleman, Bernie McInerney, and Michelle Santopietro. They do a superb job of bringing the troubled teens and the investigation to life.

A haunting, powerful read
Walter Dean Myers, author of the Michael L. Printz Award-winning MONSTER and many other acclaimed children's books, has done it again. Told from multiple perspectives in the aftermath of a high school shooting, Myers's latest effort SHOOTER tells the haunting story of three misfit teens.

Through a series of interviews, newspaper clippings and the diary of a troubled teen, the story unfolds. The reader learns about the shooter, Leonard, through in-depth interviews with his best friend Cameron and his ex-girlfriend Carla. Conducted by a school psychologist, an FBI agent, a threat analysis specialist and the town sheriff, the meetings demonstrate the different voices of the characters and reveal the teens' angst and desire to belong to a group.

Leonard assumes the role of leader with his friends. He introduces them to guns and brings them to the Patriots' target shooting club. Cameron and Carla are so needy for companionship that they don't see how disturbed Leonard truly is. They don't know the extent of his inner demons until it is too late. Leonard shows up at school one day with his guns and goes on a shooting spree, killing Brad, a jock and source of constant torment, and then himself.

SHOOTER is a haunting story that uncovers the pain of several high school students. It explores the tragedies of school violence and how the result of bullying can go to the most dramatic extreme. Myers has a gift for expressing the voices of his characters. Through every word, pause and breath in these interviews, we gather understanding. The excerpt from Leonard's diary, or as he calls it, "die-ary," reveals the twisted mind of the force behind the event. Parts of the diary are almost poetic, a technique common in Myers's writing. SHOOTER is not a light read, but it will leave you reeling.

(...)

Readers see it all...
Ever since Columbine, perhaps before, the public has been aware of the potential for violence in youths. In Shooter, we get a glimpse of the aftermath of a similiar incident. In what is termed a cult shooting, two boys are killed, one of them as a result of suicide, one murder. Six other students are injured. Police and psychologists are left with the task of reconstructing what was going on in the minds of those involved. Their assessments focus on two students, a young black boy who was the best friend of the suicide victim, and the girlfriend of the suicide victim. Both are a mix of anger, confusion, and hurt that cries out for love. Both are too old to be so young.

***** Readers sit in on the interviews with these two and are given a peak into police records, news articles, and reports. It is a harsh, grim, bleak read; but very insightful and telling. Although billed as a teen book, parents should exercise caution due to the darkness of the subject matter. However, adults might benefit from reading it, so as to get an insight into the world that their children are exposed to and may be part of if they are not careful. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A SOLDIER'S STORY
The journal of Scott pendleton Collins,is about a World WarII solider that goes to Normandy, France in 1944.The book begins with "He could see Omah Beach through the smoke and haze as his assult boat rocked in the choppy waters".I'm only 10 and I liked this book because it is about a real person in a real war and I like to read war stories.People should read this story because it is about history. The main character is Scott.The action parts in this book are the war parts and the scarry parts.

The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, by Walter Dean Myers, is a great book about a World War 2 soldier, stuck in the middle of D-Day. He lands on Omaha Beach, and has to run for his life. He watches his friends die, but with a few lucky breaks, he survives the horror. Scott then must continue marching, to capture the German headquarters of St. Lo, and Vire. I deeply enjoyed the book because as it teaches you of the war, in particular D-Day, and of the horrors that the young soldiers had to go through. They had to survive through the death of friends, the death of family, 'Dear John' letters from their girlfriends, and the constant sound of death and explosions around them. They also lived like savages, without sanitation, or good food. The author of The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins, Walter Dean Myers, is a well known historical-fiction writer. He has another book out about the Vietnam War, entitled Fallen Angles. Fallen Angels is a book similar in style, also focusing on the hardships that the G.I.'s had to persevere through. I strongly recommend either of these books to anyone with an interest in war and/or historical-fiction. The are great books that can teach you many important things!

Very good--But Sad Read
This book is very good but it ends in such a sad way!
However, this was the first book I read by walter dean myers. I really enjoyed the jokes he put in and the way he described the characters was well done. I really enjoyed Scott, the main character. He was really good and very much so realistic.
I really liked this book and even though it IS Dear America, I think that only 13 & up should read it.

The journal of Scott P Collins
The main charater is ScotT P Collins.He is a ninteen year old boy who is eager to go fight the Germans in Eroupe.Ithought this book was good but it does take patience to read.It starts out very slow.The book takes on the outskiris of the front line during the Americans part of Operation Over Lord [D-Day] .The main conflict in this book is the Germans invasion of Poland,France,Russia and north Africa.
The authers style of writing is journal entries each chapter is a new entriy.This book is part of a large series of books called the Dear America.My recommendation for tis book is for some one with a lot of time on his or her hands.This book is historical fiction so it tought me a lot about World War Two.

The Journal Of Scott Pendleton Collins
The Journal of Scott Pendleton Collins is a historical novel, a day by day journal about a young man, fresh out of high school, who joins the army during World War II. His nickname is Smoothie because he still does not have to shave yet. At his going away party, his uncle gave him a journal. The first entry in the journal is May 25, l944, from England.

This book is so well written that when he described the landing on Omaha Beach I can almost hear the sights and sounds of Private Ryan's landing on the beach like in the movie, Saving Private Ryan. I can almost feel all his feelings. He is saddened by the wounded and dead that he sees, but he is glad that he is still alive. He wants to be brave but he is scared and is ashamed of being scared. He is sick to the point where he vomits. He doesn't want to cry but he cries. He feels sure he is going to be killed.

He knows that he should not be keeping this journal as he is told to destroy all letters from home after they are read. He feels that it is the only thing he has to leave behind if something should happen to him. He has a message in the journal that if anyone should find it to please send it to his family and he gives the address. He often writes about being afraid of dying. This always seems to be on his mind.

This book was so well written that I almost feel as if I lived his war experience with him. The book also includes a lot of historical notes and also some pictures of the war. This author knows a lot about World War II. With this book he has given me a day to day feeling (2 months worth) of the horrors of war.

My great-grandfather McCormick (there was a McCormack in this book) served in the Army during World War II and my grandfather was in the army as a Military Policeman. In this book, Scotty's great-grandfather fought in the Civil War and his father in World War I and Scotty always wanted his picture on the wall with their pictures. Maybe some day my picture will be on my family's wall with my great-grandfather and my grandfather. I am certainly not the best of readers and don't feel qualified to review a writer's work but I can say that I really liked this book. It was a fast read, I almost didn't want to put it down, and it really held my interest.

This book really inspired me. The quality of the writing is great, the subject matter is great and I would definitely put it in the "great books" category. ... Read more

Book Description

Vietnam.

A young American soldier waits for his enemy, rifle in hand, finger on the trigger. He is afraid to move and yet afraid not to move. Gunshots crackle in the still air. The soldier fires blindly into the distant trees at an unseen enemy. He crouches and waits -- heart pounding, tense and trembling, biting back tears. When will it all be over?

Walter Dean Myers joined the army on his seventeeth birthday, at the onset of American involvement in Vietnam, but it was the death of his brother in 1968 that forever changed his mind about war.

In a gripping and powerful story-poem, the award-winning author takes readers into the heart and mind of a young soldier in an alien land who comes face-to-face with the enemy. Strikingly illustrated with evocative and emotionally wrenching collages by Caldecott Honor artist Ann Grifalconi, this unforgettable portrait captures one American G.L's haunting experience.

Reviews (4)

Endpapers of camouflage
All at once lush and frightening, Walter Dean Myers has penned a tale that seeks to remind us what war really is.There are "Enemies" that are old men and babies."Enemies" that sit beneath trees and contemplate their loved ones.Never have the lessons of Vietnam been more poignant or needed than they are right now.In writing this book, Myers has sought to present war beyond gore and gloom, looking instead at the very essence of death itself.Helped in this attempt by the award winning collage artist Ann Grifalconi "Patrol" is a frightening story that may hit a little too close to home for some, and not close enough for others.

Told in picture book format (a format that I suspect will raise a few eyebrows right there) the story follows one man throughout his day in Vietnam.The man is frightened.He knows that his enemy is nearby and wants to hurt him, just as he (on some level) wants to hurt his enemy.The man's patrol burns down an innocent village that may house members of the enemy.He calls in bombs and dives into elephant grass for cover.There, he accidentally runs face to face with the enemy."In a heartbeat, we have learned too much about each other".Both men escape and the patrolman goes back to base camp to write a letter to a loved one.He writes, "I am so very tired of this war".

Taken in total, the book is a mélange of beauty and fear.Grifalconi has deftly intertwined illustration and photograph in the pages of this book.There are extraordinary pictures in which men drawn only with the slightest of pen lines crouch beneath huge overblown tree leaves.When bombs burst in the distance, planes are both the actual cut-outs of airplanes and the hollows cut out of a misty sky.The men watching are bathed in the orange light of the distance.Myers' text is up to the challenge of confronting what war is.Though the author never goes so far as to condemn the idea of war itself, he finds other ways of showing how ludicrous some wars really are.When you're as good an author as Walter Dean Myers, all you have to do is write the truth and your message will appear for you.

The inside cover of this book proclaims that its age range is 8-12, which is patently ridiculous.I won't debate if it is appropriate or inappropriate for an eight year-old.That is left entirely up to the reader (though there is nothing gory or horrific enough to shock a kid of that age).What I take issue at is the age of 12 designated as the oldest age at which a person would want to read this book.First of all, this book is perfect for teens and even college age kids and adults in giving a good eye for eye glare at the horrors of being caught in a fighting situation.Second, this book has a myriad of different uses.Teachers and librarians are constantly on the look out for picture books that are mature enough for those adults learning to read.What better purpose could this book have?

When Walter Dean Myers joined the army at the age of seventeen, he had to come to grips with Vietnam and the fact that his brother died in combat.For this author, this book strikes close to home, revealing the stupidity of fighting.With our nation constantly in combat these days, it takes books like this one to remind us of the dangers of acting as a nation without thought or intelligence."Patrol" gives us many lessons to learn.

Powerful!
If someone doesn't recommend Walter Dean Myer's book, Patrol for some type of award, let me be the first. In this time of contemplating war, this book is so appropriate, although I would not recommend it for use with students below 5th grade. This picture book made me feel what it must feel like to be a grunt on the field. Powerful!

Get it through this link and support our school at the same time:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060283637/readwritesite

The Realities of War.....
"The land of my enemy has wide valleys, mountains that stretch along the far horizon, rushing brown rivers, and thick green forest.My squad of nine men are in the forest.Above me, birds twitter nervously in the treetops.Insects and small animals scurry through the underbrush, trying to avoid the crush of my combat boots.The squad leader raises his hand.We stop.The sound of my breath is soft in the morning air.Somewhere in the forest, hidden in the shadows, is the enemy.He knows I have come to kill him.He waits for me..."Walter Dean Myer's autobiographical picture book chronicles a day in the life of one soldier, on patrol, in the jungles of Viet Nam.His spare, poetic text comes alive on the page, and takes the glamor and excitement out of war as you trudge through the difficult, hot terrain, ever vigilant."We move again.We are always moving.My legs ache.My shoulders sag.My thousand eyes look for death in the waving bamboo fields."You can feel the smooth wooden stock of the soldier's rifle, the cold sweat running down his back, the fear and trembling as shots are fired and bombs explode, and the rapid beating of his heart."I think I see the enemy.I reload and shoot again.It is only a shadow, but I do not stop shooting.In war, shadows are enemies, too." But mostly, you feel the weariness and futility."I am so tired.I am so very tired of this war."Ann Grifalconi's stunning, multi-media collages are evocative and gripping, and together word and art paint an eloquent and powerfully vivid portrait of the Viet Nam War.Perfect for youngsters 9-12, Patrol: An American Soldier In Vietnam is a haunting experience that shouldn't be missed, and definitely one of the best new books of 2002.

candidate for the Blue Hen Award
As the children's librarian in the public library, I try to read a varietyof subjects for a wide range of ages.I was impressed by the poetic style and the thought that the book provoked in all the the librarians here.Fear and fatigue were so real, it was feelable to the reader. And just who was the enemy? Shocking, what the young GI realizes. ... Read more

Book Description

‘The distinguished novelist has culled his personal collection of turn-of-the-century photographs of African-American children and composed the verses that accompany this enchanting selection of youngsters.’ —NYT. ‘A unique celebration of the continuum of human life and of childhood in all its robustness, fragility, and evanescent beauty. . . . An exquisite album. The 42 superbly reproduced black-and-white and sepia prints radiate intensely with the personalities of their subjects.’ —SLJ. ‘The poet, inspired by the photographs, affirms the black experience in a lyrical, tender, and sometimes humorous voice.’ —H.

Notable Children's Books of 1994 (ALA)
1994 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)
1994 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Children's Books of 1993 (Library of Congress) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Children are Angels
Walter Dean Myers has put together a unique collection of poetry highlighting African
American childhood. Instead of using traditional illustrations, Myers gathered a
collection of turn of the century photographs of African American children in places
ranging from flea markets to museums. Each of the poems seems to capture the very
essence of the corresponding photograph and bring life to the nameless faces within the pictures. I enjoyed all of the poems in this collection, my personal favorites were "Love that Boy" and "Pretty Little Black Girl" which were tributes to Black boys and girls respectively.

While I enjoyed this collection, I believe this is a book that will be enjoyed more by parents than by their children. Still this book is a wonderful tribute to ordinary African American children and our rich cultural heritage. The stunning photographs along with delightful poems make this book worth checking out.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

It's Wonderful, Adorable, and Heart Warming
It's a wonderful make you feel good book. A great gift idea for all ages. The photos are beautiful and heart warming. I have given this book as a gift many times and everyone adores it.

Wow!
Just think, if I hadn't wandered by the poetry section and decided to look at the books, I might have never discovered this gem. I only found this because of a student's request for rhyming books and an admiration of Waler Dean Myers. Thanks fate.

A Wonderful Collecton of Photos and Verse
Brown Angels is surely to make you smile with its collection of adorable and emotional photographs. A wonderful gift idea.

An addorable, heart warming, make-you-feel-better book.
This book is filled with pictures of addorable and sweet African-American children. They are pretty old photographs. They made me giggle and smile. A good present. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not for Little Kids
As a book for four to eight year olds, I give it a three. As an adult, I give it five stars for an average rating of four. If you`ve never been to Harlem, or even New York, never met an American of African descent, if you`re too young to have heard of the likes of the Cotton Club, the Apollo, people like Sugar Ray, Langston Hughes, Lady Day, or even Malcolm X, your mama has a heck of alot of explaining to do: too much for the brief span of attention only just long enough to look at the pictures and feel the music of the poem. In terms of just words, I suppose this fits in the 4-8 reading level. However, as a work, this is more likely to be understood and therefore appreciated by older people. My kids, five, and seven, were completely mystified by the poem, although they loved the beautiful compositions that make you wish you could touch them. Having lived in Washington Heights, I can explain some basic things to them, but not enough. The ability to understand and appreciate this book is beyond their capacity at this time.

A tremendous poem from a tremendous writer!
Walter Dean Myers is certainly better-known for his chapter books for children than for poetry. That being said, "Harlem" offers an insight into the place as well as the man. African-American culture has long had a close relationship with poetry and Myers cements that friendship. Kudos for a job well-done!

For teachers, this is a must-read during African-American History Month in February (as well as any other time of the year).

A great book about Harlem!!!!!!
I thought this book was great! It's a book that anyone can read. This book not only has beautiful pictures, but seems to teach you a little about Harlem. I think this book should be read by all ages, because it is FANTASTIC!!!!

This book is for adults.
This book is for adults, not children. There is so much deep meaning in this book. Just because it is a picuture book does not mean that it is for children. I believe that adults will get much more out of it. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Won't Know Till I Get There
Won't Know Till I Get
There
" The Adopted Kid"

This story is about a family that has lived their life
with one child and has done well. His name is Steve. He is 14 years old and enjoys his life with his friends; Hi-Note,
and Patty. Steve gets called into the living room one day and is asked many questions. It started off. "Me and your mother have given it a whole lot of thought, and we would like to bring another child into the house". That's when all the action began. I thought the book was very interesting. It let me know that a lot of people who are struggling with the same situation around the world every single day. The book would especially be good for young kids. Young kids would enjoy listening to a story like that. My favorite character in the story is Hi-Note. He tries his hardest to be tough with Steve's adopted brother Earl. Anyway, Hi-Notes personality is so predictable from my prospective. All through the story you can predict what he is going to do or say.
He kind of reminds me of myself. I like basketball and love to hang out with my best friend. I also like to pick fights with people that are smaller than me, but stronger.

Won't Know Til I Get There
This story is about a group of four kids that get into trouble with the law.As punishment the kids have to help the senior citizens that live at Micheaux House Senior citizens home.The senior citizens that live there are both black and white.After
reading this book you will find out that the senior citizens home might get closed down. In order to try to save the home the senior citizens decide to open a deli and the kids help.

I thought this book was funny because of the waythe people talk and the the words that they use. The pedicaments that the kids and the senior citizens get intoare pretty funny also.Plus the problem in this story probably happens every day,and this book tells you about a group of people that are different nationalities and age s worked together to try to save a senior citizens home. So all in all I thought this book was funny and realistic.

The worst Way To Spend Your Summer Or Is It?
The Worst Way To Spend Your Summer Or Is It? Four young black teens from New York are caught by the police spray painting a rail road car and are sentenced to work in an old folk's home for the summer. One of the young boys has been in trouble with the law several times before but finds he has more in common with the seniors from the home than the others. They are forced to be together, none or them liking the circumstances that brought them together; however, as they get to know each other they find their lives are changed. Earl, the boy who has been in trouble before is living with Steve and Steve's parents on a trial basis but wants to have a permanent home. The book is written as if Steve Perry is writing to his journal. If you like good humor mixed with serious problems dealing with old age then you would like this book as I did.

Great Book!
The Main Character of my book is Steve. He's thirteen, likes basketball, and collects nickels. His best friend Hi-note is the toughest guy on the block until Steve's parents adopted a thirteen-year-old kid named Earl. Hi-note and Steve try to prove to Earl that they are tough by spray painting the word Visigoths. They tell these teenage guys that's the name of their gang and they always spray paint their gang name on trains. Well what they didn't know about these guys was that they were the Royal Transit Police. The police sent them to court and the judge gave them the choice of spending a little time in jail or work at an old age home. Hi-note, Patti, Earl, and Steve. While they were at the old age home they try to get along with the old people but they are very grumpy. Later on in the book they find out that the reason they are so grumpy is because they keep calling them old folks and not seniors and they keep on helping them like there a child. After they find out that was the only thing wrong with the seniors

Won't know till I get there by Walter Dean Myers
This book is a bout an only child whose parents decide to adopt a brother for him the kid finds out that the kid is not the best of children so to impress the kid he spray paints graffiti onto the side of an old rail road car and gets caught red handed he gets a choice he goto juvinielle hall or he can work in an old folks home for a a month or 2 he of course chooses to work with the elderly and it's a wonderful tale of basically what happens to him his freinds and the old that he works with. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Am I blue
I just read this book and even as I write this review I'm feeling reluctant to continue. This isn't one of those books that you quickly glance through then immediately write your response on. It's that rare kind of book that you read, and stop, and then think about for long periods of time. It's the book you carry with you to quiet places, like park benches or sloping green hills, just to read it to yourself. It's a book that sings without straining, that ropes you in with its words and then traps you with its images. I shouldn't be writing this review now. I should stop and think more about this book, ponder it a while, and when I figure out what to make of it THEN I'd write this review. But I'm afraid that if I wait to puzzle this book through completely, I'll never get around to writing anything at all. And that would be the worst response to something this good, I suppose. So it is with great reluctance that I'm going to try to convey to you what this book feels like to read.

A little background first. Written by young adult book god Walter Dean Myers, the author switches his focus from long prose to picture book form. Accompanied by Christopher Myers (an artist in the sense that what he draws drips into you) the two have concentrated on the blues. There's a fabulous author's note at the beginning explaining what the blues is and how it was born. From the call and response singing form, found on the continent of Africa, this type of music mixed with European English to create the final product, the blues. Myers puts it this way, "When art from two cultures comes together, the result is often an exciting new experience". He goes on to explain a couple terms and how the blues moved from the fields to the cities. Then the book begins.

I don't know enough about the blues personally to be able to tell if all the different lyrics found in this book can be individually assigned to a particular singer or situation, though I assume that this is the case. Likewise, I'm not certain if the illustrations in this book are based on photographs, but again, I assume so. After all, I recognized the reference to "strange fruit" one one page, and on another I remembered seeing the photo of the two boys sitting on the street curb, one turning his head away to sob. The book does something near impossible. It conveys misery without depressing. Reading through these stanzas, it's almost as if the book is one multi-veined blues song itself. The illustrations compliment this perfectly. The book is black and blue, brown and white. But mostly blue, to be honest. My favorite two-page spread features women hanging their sheets to dry on one page, and a woman reaching towards a flying blackbird on another. I could sit and stare at these pages for hours, if I had a mind to.

The books ends with a timeline of significant moments in the blues as well as a glossary of terms. Y'know, there are hundreds of books out there today about jazz and the importance of the jazz musicians. Why have the blues been so ignored? I can only assume because jazz is the easier subject to write about. Writing about blues, you're in danger of only showing the depressing aspects of the genre, and not the art. It takes an artist to convey this particular form well. We are fortunate that not one, but two artists took it upon themselves to do just that. This is the book that took my breath away.

A masterpiece redefines what picturebooks can do
Father-son, writer-illustrator team Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers have produced a masterpiece. W. D. Myers's text is made up of poetic blues lyrics, the "call and response" depicting the African-American experience. The poetry is beautiful, unsettling and evocative; it is perfectly complemented by C. Myers's art. The artwork is done entirely in white paint, warm brown paper bags, and blue ink -- every blue tone from navy-black blue to ice-white blue. It is not at all obvious at first glance that his palette was so limited; C. Myers is astonishingly creative, using a wide variety of artistic techniques and tools, and his spreads are richly textured and diverse. The images are moody, haunting, and tense. Sorrow and pain are the dominant emotions, though hope, joy, tenderness and celebration make appearances as well.

As the title indicates, the book is a journey, and the verses and images progress forward through the timeline of the blues, from the end of slavery through the beginning of the civil rights movement. The pictures also show the gradual movement from country to city, the black migration from South to North. The blues timeline is printed at the end of the book, along with a glossary of symbolic terms used in blues lyrics. This back matter, in addition to the opening author's note giving an explanation of the history and meaning of the blues, provide a necessary key to understanding the layers of meaning in the verses and accompanying illustrations.

Several of the spreads are visually breathtaking, evoking deep feelings of grief and sympathy. A man stands facing away from the viewer, knee-deep in a gorgeously painted blue ocean, holding onto a fishing net. The verse speaks of "casting my love out to the sea;" the illustration speaks powerfully of loneliness. Another spread depicts two young boys sitting on the curb, one with his face buried, turning away from the other child, who is holding his hand in comfort. The very adult look of concern and hopelessness on the boy's face is striking. Coupled with the verse, which says "despair will scrape the bone/ misery loves company, blues can live alone," the illustration speaks of abuse and misery visited upon children helpless to protect themselves; a similar illustration shows two children sleeping on the same mat, head to toe, by a verse that describes their poverty. One of the strongest images in the book is a furious boy at the back of a crowd holding up a sign that says YESTERDAY A MAN WAS LYNCHED, which explicates the accompanying verse ("Strange fruit hanging high in a big oak tree") and summons an image that, while shocking, is an important part of blues history.

"Blues Journey" is neither upbeat, nor easily accessible; it a sophisticated, layered work that expands with every re-reading. Perhaps it is not the sort of book a parent will take home to read to a toddler, but it has a great deal to offer older children; in particular, the book would be an invaluable classroom tool for the study of African-American history and blues music. The Myers have expanded the boundaries of what a picturebook can do. The combined effect of the text and art is to create a visual metaphor for the music of the blues, and a powerful evocation of the black experience.

A BEAUTIFUL AND HAUNTING BOOK
If you want to know what the book is about and the feel of it,
take a look at the cover. It says it all - the scariness, the
unutterable sadness, the awfulness of the slavery & then the segregation in the South from which the Blues developed.

Travel with Walter Dean Myers
Blues Journey briefly explores the blues. Walter Dean Myers prefaces his lyrics with a note about this musical genre. We then travel with the speaker through the sadness that he has experienced over his lifetime. W.D. Myers adds a timeline of blues landmarks and a glossary of blues terms to the end of the book. Walter Dean Myers' son, Christopher, beautifully illustrates this book. This is an excellent title for an introduction to a study of the blues with students fifth grade and up! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Joshua Loper Reveiw
This story is based after the civil war. Joshua and Doom are the only black people on the herd. They start out in the very back at drags but joshua moves to the front when one man slips up. There are some you could say sad parts like when joshuas horse dies but there are some good parts like when he is asked to go on another trail from texas to oregon.

The Black Cowboy
Joshua Loper and seven others are driving a herd. Joshua is pushed harder by the captain of the drive because of his race.In the end Joshua is one of the best known herders and in the end gets paid the most money because of his hardwork. The captain and Joshua have more respect for one another at the end of their trip.
I have two opinions about the book good opinion it is very discriptive well written, exciting, and enjoyable. Another opinion is the rambledon and on about things I thought were less interesting to me

OKAY BUT NOT GREAT!
I read all of this MY NAME IS AMERICA book. But like some of the other books in this series, it lacked excitement, suspense, and was not entirely accurate. I did not feel that the book was written by a 16 yr. old cowboy, though it kept my interest and gives children a feeling of what it was like to live in the 19th century. Much better and more accurate historical novels are THE JOURNEY OF LEROY JONES, A FUGITIVE SLAVE and THE DIARY OF A SLAVE GIRL, RUBY JO.

named but not known
I bought "The Journal of Joshua Loper" hoping to read a true account of a cowboy. I did not have to reach page 158 to notice that the "journal is a work of fiction." While the library research was quite extensive, he missed the realities and language of the culture. No normal, free young man in a ranching environment would still be fumbling with a rope at 16. He would have a good handle on it by age 11.

I cannot imagine a South Texas cowboy of that era calling men "guys", black people "colored" and horses "animals". These terms are more midwestern, perhaps more educated than was common among the people of that time.

Finally within a week of Austin he has blacks picking cotton in May. Cotton might be picked in August, but even in Texas, cotton takes a while to mature after it is planted.

The one thing that saves this book is the humor. Otherwise, it is the college description of a description. For the real thing read the real thing, or better yet, do it.

A good My Name is America book.
This was a good My Name is America book. Joshua is sixteen and he and his mother live and work on a ranch in 1871. His father is trying to find work somewhere else so they can all live together. Joshua is offered a job on a cattle drive so he takes it. The work is hard but he is proud to earn money for his mother. He keeps a journal thats tells what happens to him on the cattle drive. This was a good book ... Read more

Reviews (1)

glorious angels
I stumbled across this book and was intrigued by the beautiful pictures of the children.What was even more special was the fact that the pictures were from families around the world.The set up of the book was very well laid out.The verses were tender and full of joyful statements.When youthink of children it always brings a smile to your face and that is exactlywhat this book did for me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Once there was a little girl--an orphaned African princess--who narrowly escaped death by human sacrifice in a West African village in 1850. A British sea captain named Frederick E. Forbes saved her life by talking King Gezo of Dahomey into giving the girl to Queen Victoria of England as a gift: "She would be a present from the King of the blacks to the Queen of the Whites." As impossible as this tale sounds, it is a true one. Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers--piecing together her story from letters he found in a rare book and ephemera shop in London--paints a hauntingly detached portrait of the small African princess whom the heroic captain named Sarah Forbes Bonetta.

We follow her charmed but unlucky life as the Queen's protégéethrough a succession of British middle-class households, beginning with the Forbes home. Because of her celebrated association and frequent visits with the Queen, Sarah grows up in an unusual position of privilege, education, and celebrity. On the flip side, she is keenly aware that her decisions are not her own, and as a rescued orphan under the Queen's protection, her life's path is dictated by those acting in what they perceive to be her best interests. It is hard not to feel that it was cruel of her protectors to wrench her (more than once in her life) from the adopted family she adores, and eventually to encourage her to marry a West African businessman whom she clearly stated she could never love, and who would take her away from her adopted country. As the epilogue states, "She was both unfortunate in her losses, and fortunate that those losses were not greater.... She seemed to find a measure of comfort wherever she was, but was destined to be apart from the world in which she lived." This story, rich with historic prints, photographs, newspaper clippings, excerpts from Queen Victoria's diary, and Sarah's letters, is both fascinating and tragic. We have Myers to thank for rescuing this fine woman again--this time from the forgotten shelf of a London bookstore. (Ages 11 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (11)

What I Think!
The book, At Her Majesty's Request was the most wonderful book I've read because it tells the story of how Sarah Bonetta overcomed so many problems. First w/ the horror of watching her parents being killed, and then almost being sacrificed by the slave holders because of who she was and where she lived.Then when she was saved by a white man whom she couldn't even understand becase she spoke a different language.And then soon after that she learned how to speak english and then she became friends w/ the Queen of England, Queen Victoria.So the book to me was very heart-warming and I hope you love the book too! Go Wells Wolverines!

A reader from Dallas, Texas
When deciding to buy some books for my kids in elementary school to read, I was intrigued by the title of this book, and I chose it. Reading this book for me was an exhiliarating experience, and I would highly recommend it. The author tried to do justice to the life and history of this admirable African or should I say Nigerian princess (I am biased here), and for the Yoruba folks, she was an Egbado. Her ancestory can be traced to present day Abeokuta, Nigeria.

This book encapsulates the moving story of an African princess, who escaped death from a wicked king in the present day Republic of Benin (Dahomey) courtesy of a British Naval Captain (Frederick Forbes) during the early part of the 19th century. Captain Forbes brought her to England when she was about 6/7years old, where she had a first taste of the British Aristocrats and became known as Sarah Bonetta Forbes. She then had to be sent to Sierra Leone (West Africa) due to illness, having been thought to be unable to withstand the cold weather. In Sierra Leone, she was an astute student in the Female Institution there, and she maintained contact with Queen Victoria. She also met with the famous First African CMS Bishop, Samuel Ajayi Crowther. After about 4 years in Sierra Leone and now about 12 years old, Queen Victoria requested that she be sent back to England. She lived in England until she was about 19 years old. Reading her letters and her experience in England, gave me a personal satisfaction, as I had insight into a potential scholar the world did not really get to know. Sarah undoubtedly was an extremely bright kid, and Captain Forbes conceded that she was ahead of her contemporaries including the caucassian kids she schooled with. After much reluctance, she got married to a West African Business man, Mr Davis. Her marriage then took her back the second time to West Africa where she finally settled in Lagos (Nigeria). She lived and lectured here in another Female Institution until she was about 37/38 years, and had 3 children. Her first child Victoria was named after Queen Victoria, who was also her God-mother. Sarah Bonetta Davis as she became known had a tragic end, dying of Tuberculosis on a Portugese Island, where she was sent to recover. I wonder what happened to her husband Mr Davis and her three children. I think any information available on them and subsequent descendants would certainly complete the story. I congratulate the award winning author of this book, Walter Dean Myers for a job well done.

It was ok............................
first of all: I was going to give this book 3.5 stars, but since thats not an option, I figured, why not stretch the truth a little. OK, Now.....This book was OK I guess. It kinda has a hard story line to follow though, cuz one year shes leavin Africa, within 2 years shes goin back, sumtime later she comes back, sumtime she is forced to get married, the she has a kid. Now, doesnt that kind of (emphasis on kind of) sound confusing. Its also definatly a childrens book. I read it in 5th grade and Im decidin to review it now (dont ask).

Why Isn't Hollywood Calling???
If any literary giant needs to have his work adapted to film, it is Myers. As one of the premier writers of fiction for juveniles, the author has added another significant piece to his long line of classics. This one tells the story of a little-known African princess who comes under the wing of England's legendary Queen Victoria.

Not only does the book reveal the horrors of the African slave trade, the atrocities that some tyrants inflict on their enemies, and the class system that pervades much of a "civilized" society, it is a marvelous tale of a girl who overcomes such obstacles and becomes the darling of English society.

Although Sarah's life is brief, it is a memorable one as the character grows from frightened child to a loving mother.
I am recommending that all my students read this book as well as others by Myers. Now, if only someone in "Tinsel Town" would discover this fine author.

I'd much rather see his stories on the big screen than any about a teenaged wizard.

Good book!
I think this is a very well written book. I think that Walter Dean Myers is an amazing writer and that it is great he found this fantastic girl that many have never heard of. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Shadow of the Red Moon
The book Shadow of the Red Moon by Walter Dean Myers was a book I don't recommend. That is because Walter Dean Myers I think is a better writer when he writes about the inner city urban community. This book had its ups and it had its downs. At some parts there would be a lot of action and at other you would get bored really easy. Myers made it unique making Jon be half Fen and half Okalian. He was half of the enemy and half of the endangered race of humans. The beginning came with a bang and made you want to read more which I liked a lot but after a little bit it would start going from action to boring and back to action then boring. I thought the book was really weird to do that. I also thought they should of changed Kyra's name to something else that matched his attitude. Like he said in page eighteen ""Go away!" The boy spit his words out angrily." I didn't agree with most of what the book said. It doesn't relate to one thing of real life because it is a fantasy book about prehistoric people. I definitely don't recommend this book to anyone because it doesn't have an exciting plot. I read this book because the cover persuaded me it looked like the name and the illustration had a powerful meaning. The book was at sometimes entertaining but I recommend another book that will keep you entertain during the whole time you read the book

kids are our only hope
as Jon leaves the cristal city in search of the Okalian holy land he meats the many creatures of the wilderness including a black unicorn named shadow and the dreaded fens the enemies of his people ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

A new look
Myers takes a new look at the Malcom X story with a special light on his childhood. The book is well organized with a blueprint of the structures that made up his life.

My idol, my admirer, my savior... Malcom X
Malcom X, as we know is a well known activist throughout the world. However, while reading "By any means necessary", I have come across a different Malcom X, infact the first Malocm X that I have come across with was Malcom Little.This was Malcom as a little boy, a Malcom who worked really hard in school to achive his goal to become a lawyer. But this dream of his, would only be dream because Malcom was black.Malcom's intelligence was over looked just because he was not white.
The second Malcom was a street hustler/gambler named:Detroit Red. He was the lady's man of both races:black and white.Malcom then started to use what he learnt in school in the streets to make profits. However this job did not last long because Malcom was sent to prison year 1946.This is when the third Malcom came along, in prison Malcom learnt the Islamic ways of life.When Malcom was released from prison, he then replaced Little(his given name, with X ).- Xstands for the unknown being our names was lost on the slaveship.
Malcom X is a remarkable man, his name has been spoken within the slum of cities and also their capitals. While reading this book I have realised that Malcom X is my idol, my admirer, and my savior...Malcom X.

A great book
This wonderful biography on Malcom X is an intriguing book talking about Malcom's life and greatest triumphs. It describes his life as a child, on the streets, in prison, and as a leader. It told me almost everything I wanted to know about his life, with a some interesting tidbits to keep it from getting boring, but not too many so it isn't a foot thick. The book starts out nicely, with a story about when Malcom made sure that a young African American man captured by the police is kept in good health. Although, after reading this grabbing article, the book slows down a little bit, don't stop, because ahead of you is a fun and informative novel containing everything you wanted to know about this wonderful leader.

situational ethics at its best....
this should taught in class rooms to show what is wrong with the victim mentality in this country.

Malcolm X.
Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary was about Malcolm X and his struggle to end racism in the United States. Malcolm X was born with the name Malcolm little. Growing up was a hard time for Malcolm, his father was killed when Malcolm was very young, and after that point his family never had enough money. He went to live with his sister when he was a teenager, and after that became a street hustler. He was arrested and was sentenced to ten years in prison; it was there that he learned about the teachings of Islam. When he was released from prison, he began attending meetings of the Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad. He later helped the Nation of Islam to start many new temples, one of which he was the leader. He began to disagree with Elijah Muhammad on some things. Later he split from the Nation of Islam, and made a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca. After he returned to the United States, he formed a new group called Afro-American Unity. He then began working with groups of all races to achieve equality for African-Americans....I thought that this was a great book, and really enjoyed reading it; it is one of the most interesting books that I have read. I recommend it to anybody who will take the time to read it. ... Read more

Book Description

You can call me Mouse, 'cause that's my tag I'm into it all, everything's my bag my ace is Styx, he'll always do Add Bev and Sheri, and you got my crew

...and a crew it is! For fourteen-year-old Mouse, this summer is anything but boring. His father, who checked out from the family eight years ago, is now trying to make a comeback as a dad. Beverly, a new girl from California, seems to like locking lips with the Mouse--but she seems to like other guys, as well. Sheri is trying to persuade the gang to join a dance contest. And there's a rumor that a lot of money--the loot from a '30's bank heist, to be exact--is hidden somewhere in an abandoned Harlem building, and you know the Mouse is determined to get a piece of that action.

1991 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
Children's Choices for 1991 (IRA/CBC)
Children's Books of 1990 (Library of Congress)
1991 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Parenting Honorable Mention, Reading Magic Award ... Read more

Reviews (1)

As entertaining as it is informative
USS Constellation: Pride Of The American Navy by Walter Dean Myers is the story of an american warship from the days of tall sails, wooden ships, and an American navy becoming increasingly active on the high seas. This majestic vessel still towers over the Baltimore harbor and flys the flag as a symbol of navy tradition. This was a ship that was used to blockade the illegal African slave trade and fought in the Civil War on the side of the Union forces. Very nicely illustrated with archival drawings and photographs, the USS Constellation: Pride Of The American Navy is as entertaining as it is informative and very highly recommended for both school and community library American History collection. ... Read more