Editorial Review

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 Read more

Reviews (44)

Shooter
It's a great book with suspense in every page! However it is not for kids.

Great demonstration of Mr. Myers's craft
I am waiting for Walter Dean Myers to wring a play or screenplay. I am an actor and a playwright and when I read "Shooter" just like "Monster" he crafts dialogue so effectively that it carries the story even without the narrative. Each character has a specific and active voice. Even the psychologists and reporters who merely record or probe information. But it's the diary of the Shooter at the end where you will be blown away by how Myers is able to get inside the mind of a disturbed, misunderstood and lonely teenager. This book is so incredible that whenever I lend it to one of my students, I don't get it back.

Gun
This book Shooter is about Carmeron Porter. Carmeron is a seventeen year old African American. He goes to school at Madison High School in Harrison County. In the book Carmeron is being interviewed. He gets interviewed five times with five different people. The reason he is being interviewed is because his friend Len killed himself in school. The statement fact is: a seventeen-year-old White male found dead in the aftermath of a shooting incident at Madison High School in Harrison County. The conclusion: Death by self- inflicted wound.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/All Ages    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Emotional problems    4. Family problems    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. School violence    8. Social Issues - Adolescence    9. Social Issues - Suicide    10. Social Issues - Violence    11. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Violence   

Reviews (12)

Handbook for Boys
The book Handbook for Boys by Walter Dean Myers was a good book. Many of the chapters had people telling the main characters(Duke, Jimmy,Kevin, Mr.M, and Cap)problems in their lives. Once they left the setting the main characters told there opinions on that persons problem. What I liked about this book was that it showed real-life situations with ways to solve your problem. It shows you the ways how to stay out of trouble and ways to succeced.
Great book by James Dean Myers
Great book for teenagers. I was reading this book because for my class you have to read a novel by the end of the 1st quarter and each quarter on. I decided to choose this after the information on the back and the cover interested me. I sure didnt waste my money nor my time. It was a great book that deserves alot of credit. I think for Myers this book was alot better than Monster.
Review on Handbook for Boys
I think that Handbook for Boys is a great book. This book is about a boy named Jimmy, who gets in trouble with the law, for selling drugs to help his mother.Jimmy's mother can't afford to get him out of jail.So Duke lets Jimmy work at his barbershop as his punishment.That is where Jimmy learns about life and problems people face everyday.
Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Barbershops    3. Boys / Men    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Conduct of life    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Myers, Walter Dean    10. People & Places - United States - African-American    11. Social Issues - General    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Editorial Review

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. Read more

Reviews (12)

Interesting and easy to read.
My son had to pick two books off of a large list to read over the summer for school.After reading the other reviews of this book, we picked it.It was a wonderful choice.The book was very interesting, fast paced, well written and easy to read.I read it in 3 hours, and my son was able to read in in a few nights without any complaints of boredom.

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. 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

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Africa, West    3. Africans    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography - Cultural Heritage    6. Bonetta, Sarah Forbes,    7. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    8. Children: Grades 2-3    9. Great Britain    10. History    11. History - Africa    12. History - Europe    13. Juvenile Nonfiction    14. Juvenile literature    15. Missionaries' spouses    16. Nigeria    17. Oyo State    18. Princesses    19. Queen of Great Britain,    20. Victoria,    21. b. 1843?    22. Africa    23. Bonetta, Sarah Forbes    24. Fiction    25. Friends and associates    26. Juvenile Fiction / Short Stories    27. Victoria   

Reviews (49)

The Journal of Scott Pendleton
I read the book The Journal of Scott Pendleton.This book is depressing.Scott has to expierience death.The book is depressing because how the way the Germans treat people.Also
Scott pendleton
This journal about Scott Pendleton And how he lived throw wourld war 2. It is an amasing book. He describs it wery well and u see what he sees. It is also a very sad. He loses most of his buddys and frends. But ther are also happy times, like wher he poproses to a girl in a letter from acros seas. He writs alot of letters to his famly and frends.
Scott pendleton
This journal about Scott Pendleton And how he lived throw wourld war 2. It is an amasing book. He describs it wery well and u see what he sees. It is also a very sad. He loses most of his buddys and frends. But ther are also happy times, like wher he poproses to a girl in a letter from acros seas. He writs alot of letters to his famly and frends.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography - Historical    2. Campaigns    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Diaries    7. Fiction    8. France    9. Historical - Military & Wars    10. Juvenile Historical Fiction    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. Juvenile fiction    13. Normandy    14. World War, 1939-1945    15. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / United States / General   

Reviews (6)

the rightrous revenge od Artemis bonner
In this book i thought it was really great.i never expected the ending.it qwas a complete shock to me.butIthought the author should have writen a nother book to see what happens with the ending.i think thisis a great book for evryone to read! The Righteousm Revenge of Artemis Bonner
this book was very fun to read. it had a lot of action. I liked this book beocuase the main charter really fought for what he belived in. Also this book was filled with suspence. we never expected how the book would end! the only thing that I did not like about this book is that there is not a sequel. for that I am up set. iI hope that in the future another book comes out!

Walter Dean Myers at his best
The Righteous Revenge Of Artemis Bonner was a adnenturous comedy with a lot of susspense. The story is focused on a boy named Artemis Bonner who in search for his deceased uncle's treasure, but only one thing stands in his way, and that is a man named Catfish Grimes who is also looking for the treasure. The race is on.Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Buried treasure    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Westerns    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Fiction    7. People & Places - United States - African-American    8. Revenge    9. Westerns    10. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (1)

A clarinet sassing its way through a Sunday-night sermon
Okay.A bit of a confession here.Back in 2003 I wrote a review of "Blues Journey" in which I said many nice things including, "This is the book that took my breath away", which is fairly expansive even for me.Three years have now passed, and what father/son team Walter and Christopher Myers did for the blues they are doing now for jazz.Looking back on "Blues Journey", I realize that at the time this was not a book I was particularly good at understanding.I had the wherewithal to know that it was beautiful, but if you asked me the number of times I've thought about "Blues Journey" in this three year interim, the answer would be hardly at all."Jazz" is different.I know it sounds unlikely, but I think this book has something its predecessor lacked."Jazz" has a purpose, defined by its dedication ("To the children of New Orleans") and brought to searing sizzling life by both its author and its artist.No one can tell you after perusing this book that "Jazz" isn't hot as all get out.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Jazz    6. Juvenile Performing Arts    7. Musicians    8. Myers, Walter Dean    9. Stories in rhyme   

Reviews (6)

Wonderful book!
I ordered this book for my 8 year old and we both love it.Itarrived in a timely fashion and we are very pleased with our purchase.

Children are Angels
Walter Dean Myers has put together a unique collection of poetry highlighting African 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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. American poetry    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children's poetry, American    5. Children: Grades 1-2    6. Family - General    7. Juvenile poetry    8. People & Places - United States - African-American    9. Poetry    10. Poetry - General    11. English literature: poetry texts & anthologies    12. Juvenile Nonfiction / Ethnic / African-American    13. Photographs: portraits    14. Picture books    15. Works by individual poets: from c 1900 -   

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 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. A BEAUTIFUL AND HAUNTING BOOK
If you want to know what the book is about and the feel of it,Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Blues (Music)    3. Blues music    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Juvenile Nonfiction    7. Juvenile Poetry    8. Music - General    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. Poetry    11. Poetry - General   

Reviews (4)

Reviewing The Dream Bearer
The Dream Bearer was my first exposure to Walter Dean Meyers, and I will continue to read his work.In this novel, the main character, David, is the heart of his family.His older brother becomes involved with drugs, his father battles a mental illness, and his mother is scared for everyone.David meets an old, intriguing man and through their short conversations, David attempts to understand the actions of the people in his life.He realizes if he could imagine what people dream about, he could better attempt to understand their life.It is with this knowledge that he discovers how to relate to his father in a way no one in the world seems to understand.
A Great Book, You should read it!
This book was really good.The details were good.I liked how the story took place.It's cool about the problems that were in this book, it made it exciting. I love Walter Dean Myers books!
Dream Keeper

Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Family - Parents    6. Fathers and sons    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lifestyles - City & Town Life    10. Myers, Walter Dean    11. People & Places - United States - African-American    12. Social Issues - Physical & Emotional Abuse    13. Fiction dealing with multiculturalism    14. Juvenile Fiction / Boys & Men    15. Men's studies    16. Multiculturalism    17. Primary / junior schools    18. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (7)

the journal of joshua loper
Wow! If you're looking for a Wild West book, this is the one. I'm sure you'll love how the story leads off, and how it ends. This story begins when a teenager reaches the age to go on a cattle trip, and is totally psyched, but did not know what was In store for him. What he learns is
The Journal of Joshua Loper
This is a story about an adventurous 16 year old boy. He is a boy who wants to have more adventure. A coincidence was that he got to go on the Chisholm Trail. He worked as a cowboy. The Chisholm Trail is from Texas to Abilene,Kansas. Once a boy goes on the trail he become a man. What will the hardships be for Joshua? To find out you should read this book.

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. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Cattle drives    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Cowboys    6. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    7. Fiction    8. Historical - United States - 19th Century    9. Historical - United States - Colonial    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Juvenile Historical Fiction    12. Social Issues - Prejudice & Racism    13. West (U.S.)    14. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (7)

All about Harlem
The book Harlem was about how black and whites didn't get along. In the story they was mostly on 125th street in Harlem, New York. The plot was that to celebrate their journey to Harlem, making a way for new a beginning in life. In their old town it was alot of racism, so they moved to Harlem and all their problems were resolved with the help of postive leaders.
All about Harlem By; Montel Toon
The book Harlem was about how black and white people didn't get along in the past. They celebrated their journey to Harlem, and made a way for new a beginning in life. In their old town it was a lot of racism, so they moved to Harlem and all their problems were resolved with the help of postive leaders. The story was mostly based on 125th street in Harlem, New York.
A wrench of heart from Goree Island / A wrench of heart from Goree Island
I have a problem.I'm a children's librarian at a moderately sized branch in Greenwich Village, New York City.I have a library assistant currently going to library school.Between the two of us, we're fairly good at covering almost all the topics and age group titles required of us.There is one notable exception to this, however.Poetry.Neither of us are particularly interested in it.By extension, neither of us know much about it.So when I set out to review all the great Caldecott Honor winners out there, I knew I'd be covering a lot of poetry gaps in my general children's knowledge.Living in New York, Walter Dean Myers', "Harlem" is an especially good book to know about.I live in Harlem.I have kids coming in needing books on different New York communities all the time.You'd think, therefore, that "Harlem" would be a kind of godsend.Unfortunately, it's Walter Dean Myers at his most sophisticated.Because of the adult nature of the poems, references, and illustrations in this book, I'm afraid I just can't recommend it to the swarming hoards of five to nine-year-olds that need picture books about the uptown area.For them, I'll be handing over Brian Collier's, "Uptown".For teens needing some Harlem beauty, "Harlem" is for them.
Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. General    6. Harlem (New York, N.Y.)    7. Juvenile poetry    8. Poetry    9. British & Irish history    10. Humour & jokes    11. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American    12. Scotland   

Editorial Review

Winner of the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Read more

Reviews (2)

A Stunning Chronicle of Americans!
Highly successful and popular children's author Walter Dean Myers has crafted a work of strength and power as he takes the reader on a photographic journey of the African-American from slavery to the present. The photographs assembled, mixed with the author's prose, effectively exhibit the numerous triumphs and tragedies that have been a part of the African-American experience.
Historic Photographs of African-American Experience
This book is woooonnnnderful!!You will not be sorry you bought this book.One-of-a-kind.Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Afro-Americans    3. Children's 9-12 - History - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 People & Places    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. History - Other    7. History - United States/General    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. People & Places - United States - African-American    10. Pictorial works    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / History / United States / General   

Reviews (8)

Just another sport story
If you like sports stories, then Me Mop and the Moondance Kid is the book for you.We did not think that the book was interesting because it repeated itself over and over.It was not what we expected it to be.We would not recommend this book to our classmates.This book was mainly about a group of kids playing baseball and trying to win a tournament.Will they win or lose?You will have to read it to find out.We give the book three stars.
Me,Mop,And The Moondance Kid
T.J. and his older brother new each other there hole life and they grow up in Dominican Academy it is a home for the orphans Moondance was adapted when he was 10 years old and Moondancecam play baseball and so he try's out for a team and he is so good that he makes the team.
Freddy's Review
This book is about three kids that are orphans on a baseball team called the Elks.The kids are TJ, Mop, and the Moondance Kid.TJ and Moondance got adopted by the Jacksons.But Mop still did not get adopted.So Mop thinks that Marla, the wife of the coach, Jim Kennedy, wants to adopt her.Marla becomes the coach of the Elks and Mop needs to be a good baseball player to get adopted.TJ gets in a fight with Rocky because he beats up his brother Moondance.TJ got beat up by Rocky real bad.The Elks team is in the playoffs and TJ is a bad player for baseball.TJ gets hit in the back with the baseball and he got to walk.They won the playoffs and Mop got adopted by Marla. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Afro-Americans    3. Baseball    4. Children's 9-12    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 3-4    7. Family - Orphans & Foster Homes    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. People & Places - United States - African-American    11. Readers - Beginner    12. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Reviews (23)

Homerun Hitting Book
Read a homerun hitting book about baseball. It is the Negro Leagues and it is the journal of Biddy Owens. It is about a 17 year old boy that is the team equipment manager of the Birmingham Black Barons. He sometimes gets to play right field and hit the ball too. He goes from city to city with the team to baseball games.
This book makes you want to play a game of baseball with fri
This book makes you want to play a game of baseball with friends!
A Real Patriot
Scott Pendelton Collins is a true american patriot. In this book he faces many hardships that would make many men runaway with their tails between their legs. He fights through one of the most well known battles of World War Two, D-Day and his company aids in the capture of the French city of St.Lo, and many key cities along the way. He has to walk endless miles and be ready for unexpected attacks, as well as have to be ready to fight with a 30 minute notice. He is hesitant on making friends because he knows that they or he could die at any time. He witnessed many of his new friends die on the beach on D-Day. He also reads about one of his friends deaths in a casuality report. He says the war has changd him in many ways, some good and some bad, and he doesn't think he will ever be able to forget the constant boom of the arterilly fire for both sides, allies and germans.
Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Baseball    3. Birmingham Black Barons (Baseb    4. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 3-4    7. Children: Grades 4-6    8. Fiction    9. Historical - General    10. Historical - United States - 20th Century    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Juvenile Historical Fiction    13. Negro Leagues    14. People & Places - United States - African-American    15. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    16. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General   

Reviews (25)

D
Darnell rock is a ok book.It was is like the hood In the book.It was a lot of AAL in his book.The best part of the book was when Chris and Tony got in a fight.It would have ben better if it was about sports.

D
Darnell rock is a ok book.It was is like the hood In the book.It was a lot of AAL in his book.The best part of the book was when Chris and Tony got in a fight.It would have ben better if it was about sports.

Darnell Rock news
J.La Fear
Read more

Subjects:  1. Afro-Americans    2. Children's 9-12    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Fiction    5. Homeless persons    6. People & Places - United States - African-American    7. Schools    8. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Army.    3. Children's 9-12 - History - Military / War    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. History - Military & Wars    7. History - United States/20th Century    8. Infantry Regiment, 369th    9. Juvenile Nonfiction    10. Juvenile literature    11. Participation, African American    12. People & Places - United States - African-American    13. Social conditions    14. To 1964    15. United States.    16. World War, 1914-1918    17. Juvenile Nonfiction / Ethnic / African-American   

Reviews (11)

Patrol
We liked the illustrations!It is great because it tells about history of the Vietnam War.The book is about a soldier that fights in Vietnam.We liked it beacuse it has lots of action!
Great History Picture book for Vietnam unit
I was impressed with both the quality of the pictures and the authenticity of the story line.The pictures provide a realistic representation of Nam and the author tells his story well to make the book interesting for young readers.It would be a good companion text to a history unit about the Vietnam War.

A Really Good Book
If you really want to read a good book,I suggest you read Patrol,by Walter Dean Myers.This is a really great book because of its illustrations and writing style.One important element was Patrol`s illustrations.I liked the illustrations because they were in a collage.Collages are interesting because not many books use that form of art.Another reason Patrol is a good book is beacause of its writing style.The writing style was interestingbecause it was in poetry form.In conclusion,you have learnd why Patrol is a terrific story ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Historical - Asia    5. Historical - Military & Wars    6. Historical - United States - 20th Century    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Myers, Walter Dean    9. Soldiers    10. Vietnam War, 1961-1975    11. Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975    12. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Military & Wars   

Reviews (9)

Won't Know Till I Get There
Steve is an only child until one day his parents decide they want to adopt.They discuss it with Steve and he has no objections; he thinks it will be cool to have a little kid looking up to him and following him around. Soon Steve learns that this kid has a criminal record and is thirteen-year-old Earl Goins.Steve doesn't want to look weak or un-cool to Earl so he decides to spray-paint "Royal Visigoths" on an old train, but the whole gang gets caught and is forced to work at Micheaux House.They all learn that there is more to people then meets the eye.
Won's Know Till I Get There
Kevin Buie
Won'tKnow Till I Get There
Won't Know Till I GetRead more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5.&nb