Fact Friday: Bad Boy: a memoir by Walter Dean Myers

Bad Boy: a memoir by Walter Dean Myers. 224 p. Amistad/ HarperCollins Publishers, 2001. 9780060295236. (Own)

Walter Dean Myers did not have an easy start in life. His mother died shortly after he was born. When his father remarried, his stepmother tried her best but Walter had "problems" and was hard to handle. He was sent north to live with a couple named Dean. He was bright but he also had a speech impediment that caused people to assume that he was less intelligent. He also had a temper and wasn't afraid to fight back when teased. He disliked school and would often cut in order to read all day. How did Walter grow up to be a legend in children's literature? In short chapters, Myers honestly and vividly depicts life growing up in his beloved Harlem. If you are a fan of Myers' work, this is a must read. If you enjoy memoirs, this is a must read. If you are human, this is a must read.