Walter Dean Myers

Writer Walter Dean Myers died last month at the age of 76 on July 1. He wrote books for children of all ages, including picture books and non-fiction, but was especially known for his Young Adult literature.

He wrote over 100 books during a career that spanned 45 years and received every major award in his field including two Newbery Honor awards, three National Book Award Finalists, and six Coretta Scott King awards. In 2012 he was appointed the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and served for two years.

Walter Dean Myers was born in West Virginia. He moved to Harlem, in New York City, at a young age and considered Harlem to be his beloved home. Many of his books are set in Harlem neighborhoods.

Although challenged with a speech impediment and poor grades, Myers was an avid reader, and that love of reading led him to a career as a writer. His books encourage young people to overcome difficulties and never give up, a message that he often took to incarcerated teens in detention centers.

He will be missed, but we can look forward to three up-coming books: Juba! ( April, 2015),  a novel for teens based on the life of an African American dancer, On a Clear Day (September, 2014), and a graphic novel adaptation of his novel Monster.

To learn more about Walter Dean Myers and find a good book to read, check out his website: http://walterdeanmyers.net/  Whether you are interested in adventure, biographies, Harlem, history, music, poetry, sports, war, or writing, with so many books to choose from, you are bound to find something wonderful.