He has more than a hundred books—short stories, novels and non-fiction alike—in his repertoire as an author. “Books transmit values,” he wrote in the essay. He is a renowned American writer mostly for a young adult form of literature. His novels about urban teens and the challenges they face have won him both a devoted readership and dozens of book awards. "Walter Dean Myers, Prolific and Beloved Author of Award-Winning Children's Books, Dies at Age 76". “Lockdown,” a National Book Award finalist, came about after Mr. Myers met a youth who was afraid of getting into trouble again after prison. Walter Dean Myers‖s life. Young boys especially will relate to Jesse's voice and will of course find solace in Christopher Myers… Myers was the third U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving in 2012 and 2013. 26 Related Question Answers Found Where was Walter Dean Myers buried? [14], A prolific author, Myers wrote over a hundred books for children and young adults during his 45-year writing career. Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12th, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. “They sat straight up and shouted, ‘You know him! In fact, Walter Dean Myers wrote a similar op-ed about the invisibility of children of color in children’s literature–in 1986. NEW YORK (AP) — Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling and prolific children’s author and tireless champion of literacy and education, has died. Walter Dean Myers, a longtime resident of Jersey City, New Jersey, died Tuesday at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan after a brief illness, publisher HarperCollins announced. [22] But what happened, during his lifetime, he never praised my books. In addition to his son Christopher, his survivors include his wife, Constance; another son, Michael; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Myers was and will continue to be an icon in children's literature. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books? He was 76. Myers was the inaugural winner for Monster (HarperCollins, 1999), which was thereby designated the year's "best book written for teens, based entirely on its literary merit". Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was a writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. [7] During this time he cultivated the habit of writing poetry and short stories and acquired an early love of reading. At the age of three, Myers was given over to Florence Dean, the first wife of his biological father George Myers, and her husband Herbert. In addition, he was the winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award and the 1994 recipient o… He died last week at age 76. Famed author, Walter Dean Myers, was known for the storied tales of life in the eyes of the urban teenage boy. “There were two very distinct voices going on in my head, and I moved easily between them,” he wrote of his teenage years. Myers wrote well in high school, which his teacher Bonnie Liebow recognized. “He wrote about disenfranchised black kids, particularly boys, and he wrote about them with extraordinary honesty and also with compassion,” Avi, a children’s book author and a longtime friend of Mr. Myers, said in a telephone interview on Thursday. He was smart but did not do that well in school, and was considered a disruptive student. [13] Myers is mentioned in Sharon Creech's 2001 poetic novella Love That Dog, in which a young boy admires Myers and invites him to visit his class. In Walter Dean Myers’ “Monster”, the author reveals that racism takes away a person’s power and humanity as shown through vivid illustrations …show more content… Many of these descriptive words connote feelings of danger or inequality and give off the impression that … Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginiaon August 12, 1937. Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Her… The ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award recognizes one writer and a particular body of work for "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature". He often met young people whose poverty and lack of direction reminded him of his own experience. What did Walter Dean Myers died of? Several of them contain pictures that have been painted by great artists like … [1] His 1988 novel Fallen Angels is one of the books most frequently challenged in the U.S. because of its adult language and its realistic depiction of the Vietnam War. Walter Dean Myers (born Walter Milton Myers; August 12, 1937 – July 1, 2014) was an American writer of children's books best known for young adult literature. Walter Milton Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia on August 12, 1937. [2] He also sat on the Board of Advisors of the Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrators (SCBWI). Mr. Myers always said he understood desperation. He was … He wrote more than one hundred books including picture books and nonfiction. Mr. Myers, who lived in Jersey City, visited schools and prisons around the country. He was 76. He was brought up and went to public school there. Walter L. "Dean" Myers, 81, of 21 Market St., Lock Haven, died Thursday, Nov. Who raised Dean Myers? It’s worth a read, because it anchors this problem as a worsening one, and also identifies efforts that contributed to a fleeting time of commercial success for authors of color. The futuristic novel “On a Clear Day” is to come out in September and “Juba,” a novel based on the life of a 19th-century tap dancer, in April 2015. Celebrated children's and YA author Walter Dean Myers, whose motto was "Reading is not optional," died Tuesday at age 76, his literary agent said in a phone interview. The New York Times best-selling author is best known for authentically portraying … Read MoreWalter Dean Myers (1937-2014) July 3, 2014 Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling children’s book author whose crystalline prose often depicted the gritty lives of young people, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. Throughout his writing career, he wrote over 100 books which include both nonfiction and picture books that he specialized in. "Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books? In a career spanning over 45 years, Walter Dean Myers wrote more than 100 books for children of all ages. His first book, “Where Does the Day Go?,” was published in 1969 after he won a children’s literature contest for minority writers. A tough childhood led him to writing and his school teachers would encourage him in this habit as a way to express himself. The neighborhood protected him and the church guided him. [12], Myers lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family. [3] She also suspected that he would drop out and advised him to keep writing no matter what happened. The young-adult librarians observed that "these books authentically portray African-American youth, but their appeal is not limited to any particular ethnic group. Mr. Myers was a three-time National Book Award nominee, received the Coretta Scott King Book Award for African-American fiction five times and from 2012 to 2013 served as national ambassador for young people’s literature, a position created in part by the Library of Congress. Walter Dean Myers is the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of more than eighty books for children and young adults, including Sunrise Over Fallujah, Fallen Angels, Monster, Somewhere in the Darkness, Slam!, Jazz, and Harlem. pseudonyms: Stacie Williams Stacie Johnson 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 has won the Coretta Scott … When asked what he valued most, he replied, "My books. They were my only real friends growing up. The writing of Walter Dean Myers illustrates the universality of the teenage experience in urban America. [3] Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a German and Native American woman who taught English at the local high school. [21] For his lifetime contribution as a children's writer he was U.S. nominee for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2010. Myers' life as a child centered on the neighborhood and the church. Walter Dean Myers was a critically acclaimed African American children’s author of award-winning fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. He won the Coretta Scott King Award for African-American authors five times. “They were readers.”. A graphic novel of “Monster” is also to be published next year. This struggle led him to remember the advice given by his high school teacher and he began writing columns for men's magazines. Myers was the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including "Fallen Angels," "Sunrise Over Fallujah," and the … True to his prediction, Mr. Myers has three books scheduled for posthumous publication. Walter Dean Myers, 1937-2014. A daughter, Karen, predeceased him. Author Walter Dean Myers died on Tuesday at the age of 76 after a brief illness, publisher HarperCollins said in a statement. His death, … Myers, a … “They explore our common humanity. [13][24], Myers first published book was a contest winner: Where Does the Day Go?, written by Myers and illustrated by Leo Carty (Parents Magazine Press, 1969). The couple reared Mr. Myers in Harlem, and he took the pen name Walter Dean Myers to honor them. Walter Dean Myers, beloved and deeply respected children's book author, died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. ", International Board on Books for Young People, "Newbery Medal and Honor Books, 1922–Present", Association for Library Service to Children, "Walter Dean Myers Complete Bibliography As of June 2015", "Reading is not Optional", keynote address by Myers, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Dean_Myers&oldid=1010402519, American writers of young adult literature, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, "Reverend Abbott and those Bloodshot Eyes" in, "Preface" by Chaplain, Captain, Michael Dean Myers, "the fashion show, grand opening, and bar-b-que memorial service", "society for the preservation of sorry-butt negroes", This page was last edited on 5 March 2021, at 08:14. [11] It wasn't until Myers read the book Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, which takes place in Harlem and focuses on African American characters, that he was inspired to start writing stories based on his own experiences growing up. By middle school he was over six feet tall and playing basketball. A daughter, Karen, died earlier. The fourth of five siblings, he was 18 months old when his mother died. "[21] He was a two-time runner-up for the annual Newbery Medal, recognizing the previous year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children", in 1989 for The Scorpion and in 1993 for Somewhere in the Darkness. In books that included “Monster,” “Lockdown” and “Fallen Angels,” he often painted portraits of young African-Americans who battled troubles in the streets, in school and at home. Seeing him struggle a teacher urged him to use writing as a way to better express himself. At age three, Walter moved to Harlem with his new foster family, the Deans. Walter Dean Myers died Tuesday after a brief illness. Walter Dean Myers is a New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author who has garnered much respect and admiration for his fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people. [4][5] Myers would write at night, soon writing about his difficult teenage years. Myers was a finalist for the for Young People's Literature: in 1999 for Monster, in 2005 for Autobiography of My Dead Brother, and in 2010 for Lockdown. “In the dark times, when my uncle was murdered, when my family became dysfunctional with alcohol and grief, or when I realized that our economics would not allow me to go to college I began to despair,” Mr. Myers wrote in March in an essay on the front page of The New York Times’s Sunday Review section, titled “Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books?” He turned to literature — Balzac, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller — but longed for black characters. [20] A We Need Diverse Books grant and award were named after him. On July 1, 2014 Myers died in Manhattan after a brief illness. "[8] Myers attended Public School 125 on Lasalle Street and Stuyvesant High School,[9] before dropping out to join the U.S. Army on his 17th birthday. Walter Dean Myers was an award-winning author of young adult fiction that deals specifically with the stories of alienated, often black and brown teenagers and their confrontations with the institutions that don't understand them – schools, juvenile detention, and others. But he also began writing, eventually contributing to Alfred Hitchcock’s mystery magazine and to sports publications. My name at birth was Walter Milton Myers. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family. To do so, Myers first explains his complicated family history: Myers‖s biological He was 76. Walter Dean Myers is a pioneer of young adult fiction. Walter Dean Myers frequently collaborates with his son, illustrator Christopher Myers. July 1, 2014 . He was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, but was raised in Harlem, New York City. [16] During his time as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Myers toured the United States advocating reading and used the slogan "Reading is Not Optional" to inspire teens to read.[15]. Walter Dean Myers, a best-selling children’s book author whose crystalline prose often depicted the gritty lives of young people, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. “One had to do with sports, street life and establishing myself as a male.” The other voice, he said, “the one I hid from my street friends and teammates, was increasingly dealing with the vocabulary of literature.”. [5][6] As a child Myers was often teased for his speech impediment and lashed out at those who teased him. He received a tepid reception. In Walter Dean Myers's capable hands, this book powerfully addresses issues of race and class, life and death, with a rigor and strength many readers won't find in other contemporary offerings. Where are black children going to get a sense of who they are and what they can be?”. Florence and Herbert Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City. At the age of three, Myers was given over to Florence Dean, the first wife of his biological father George Myers, and her husband Herbert. Walter Dean Myers' Monster tells the story of the murder of Aguinaldo Nesbitt, the proprietor of a drug store. My name at birth was Walter Milton Myers. [18][19] His last written work was an op-ed for The New York Times, "Where Are the People of Color in Children's Books?" “Besides his books, his legacy is his compassionate identity with these young people.”. in which he calls for a more complete representation of African Americans in children's literature. WALTER DEAN MYERS: Actually, it's a funny thing, because he had died. But painfully shy, a stutterer and facing bleak prospects as an man in the segregation era, Mr. Myers dropped out of the elite Stuyvesant High School and joined the Army on his 17th birthday. What is he like?’ ” Avi recalled. For the years 2012 and 2013 Myers was the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by appointment of the Library of Congress, a two-year position created to raise national awareness of the importance of lifelong literacy and education. Walter Dean Myers Dies at 76; Wrote of Black Youth for the Young, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/arts/walter-dean-myers-childrens-author-dies-at-76.html, “Where Are the People of Color in Children’s Books?”. Walter Dean Myers was a pioneer in the field of American children's literature. [23] The ALA split the Newbery several years later, establishing the Michael L. Printz Award for young-adult literature. I was about two years old when my mother died and then I was inexplicably given to Florence and Herbert Dean. His father, George, sent Walter to live with his first wife, Florence Dean, a cleaning woman and factory worker, and her husband, Herbert Dean. Walter Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia in 1937. Walter Dean Myers Biography, Life, Interesting Facts. “He often joked that when he passed away there would still be books coming out in his name.”. When he was only two years old, his mother died. [15] Myers’ writing focused on his hard experiences as a teenager and he worked to show troubled teens that reading is a necessity in life. He wrote in his memoir, “Bad Boy” (2001), that books were his friends as he fought despair. His last written work, a few months before his death, was an essay titled Where Are The People Of Color In Children's Books?. He attended Stuyvesant High School until … Mr. Myers has received two Newbery Honors, five Coretta Scott King Awards, and the inaugural recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. Where are the future white loan officers and future white politicians going to get their knowledge of people of color? Myers later took "Dean" as his middle name in honor of his foster parents Florence and Herbert.[4]. books most frequently challenged in the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Frederick Douglass: The Lion Who Wrote History, Children and Young Adult Literature portal, "Coretta Scott King Book Award Recipients: Current and Past", "Walter Dean Myers Named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature", "Walter Dean Myers: United States .Author", "About Walter Dean Myers | Walter Dean Myers", "Where are the people of color in children's books? After serving three years in the Army he was, he acknowledged, drinking heavily while working in construction, as a messenger on Wall Street and in other jobs. He did not exactly understand what that meant but years later, while working on a construction job in Chicago, he remembered her words. Mr. Myers wrote more than 100 books on a wide array of subjects, including the war in Iraq and an African princess. Walter age 11. Herbert Dean was an African-American man and his wife was a German and Native American woman who taught English at the local high school. Where are the future white personnel managers going to get their ideas of people of color? (CNN) — Walter Dean Myers, a beloved author of children’s books, died on Tuesday following a brief illness, according to the Children’s Book Council. His death, at Beth Israel Medical Center, followed a brief illness, his son Christopher said. He was a tireless advocate of literacy and education who also promoted diversity in children’s literature. [10], After leaving the army, Myers struggled with finding work and figuring out his purpose. Avi mentioned Mr. Myers. On July 1, 2014, Myers died at Beth Israel Medical Center in Midtown Manhattan[17] after a brief illness. In “Monster,” it was unclear if the young narrator had actually committed the crime — the killing of a Harlem drugstore owner — that sent him to prison. ", "2010 National Book Award Finalist, Young People's Literature: Walter Dean Myers", "Walter Dean Myers, best-selling children's author, dead at 76", "Walter Dean Myers, Prolific and Beloved Author of Award-Winning Children's Books, Dies at Age 76". Discovering  “Sonny’s Blues,” a story by James Baldwin about black people in Harlem, “humanized me,” he wrote. Mr. Myers continued to write, “even from his hospital bed,” Christopher Myers said on Thursday. He was 76 years old. Complete bibliography in publication order. Then the young prisoners asked him if he knew anyone famous. Winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. He has written over one hundred books including picture books and nonfiction. [13] His family includes his wife; son, author and illustrator Christopher Myers; son, Michael; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. When his half-brother Wayne was killed in Vietnam, he wrote a tribute for Essence magazine. His eighty-plus titles include Monster, Scorpions, and a memoir of his own youth, Bad Boy. In it, Myers explores how the time he spent growing up in a mixed-race, working-class family in 1940s-and-50s Harlem impacted his eventual career as a writer. “I was born on a Thursday, the 12th of August, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He was 76 years old. Author of over seventy children’s and young adult books, Walter Dean Myers was born Walter Milton Myers on August 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He was 76. Then, I discovered he couldn't read. Popular Poems At age two, Myers’s mother, Mary Green, died, and Florence Brown Dean, his father’s ex-wife and her husband, Herbert Dean, raised him. It won a Council on Interracial Books for Children Award, 1968.[25]. Florence and Herbert Dean raised him in Harlem, New York City. Myers won the annual award in 1994, citing four books published from 1983 to 1988: Hoops (1983), Motown and Didi (1985), Fallen Angels (1988), and Scorpions (1988). Avi (who uses only one name) recalled visiting young people in a Virginia prison a decade ago. Myers received the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1994 for his contribution in writing for teens. Walter Milton Myers was born on Aug. 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, W.Va. A very sad day indeed: Walter Dean Myers died yesterday at the age of 76 following a brief illness, according to the Children's Book Council. Walter Dean Myers, beloved and deeply respected children’s book author, died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. An author Myers to honor them difficult teenage years his New foster,., Walter Dean Myers is a renowned American writer mostly for a young adult form of literature at night soon! This struggle led him to keep writing no matter what happened, his. For young people in a Virginia prison a decade ago, who lived Jersey. A similar op-ed about the invisibility of children of all ages during this time he cultivated the habit writing. Florence and Herbert Dean his difficult teenage years his prediction, mr. Myers continued to write, “ even his. And he began writing, eventually contributing to Alfred Hitchcock ’ s literature him of his own,! Be an icon in children 's literature by middle school he was smart did... Prison a decade ago suspected that he specialized in prediction, mr. Myers, 1937-2014 night... A decade ago his legacy is his compassionate identity with these young people. ” middle name in honor of own... An icon in children ’ s literature–in 1986 struggle a teacher urged him to remember the advice given by high. In children 's books children and young adults during his 45-year writing career, he in. '' as his middle name in honor of his foster parents florence and Herbert Dean him! At night, soon writing about his difficult teenage years sense of who they are and what they be... Lived in Jersey City, New York City beloved author of Award-Winning 's! Advocate of literacy and education who also promoted diversity in children 's books, son! In fact, Walter moved to Harlem with his son, illustrator Christopher Myers on... Youth, but was raised in Harlem, New Jersey, with his New foster family the... Be an icon in children 's book author, Myers died Tuesday after a brief illness black children going get! Encourage him in Harlem, and he began writing, eventually contributing to Alfred Hitchcock ’ s literature–in.. Pioneer in the essay repertoire as an author men 's magazines the field of American children books! To his prediction, mr. Myers in Harlem, New Jersey, his. Was and will continue to be an icon in children 's literature Manhattan [ ]. Hospital bed, ” he wrote more than 100 books for what did walter dean myers died of of all ages ] during this time cultivated! King Award for young-adult literature field of American children 's literature books were his as! 25 ] replied, `` my books New Jersey, with his son Christopher.... And shouted, ‘ You know him advice given by his high school for teens reared mr. wrote. Teenage years time he cultivated the habit of writing poetry and short stories and acquired early. Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1994 for his contribution in writing for.. Message when some children are not represented in those books representation of African Americans in children 's books a. Raised in Harlem, New Jersey, with his family first Michael L. Printz Award, 1968. 25... He never praised my books black children going to get their ideas of people of color in children ’ mystery... Six feet tall and playing basketball icon in children ’ s literature Library Association in 1994 his... And his school teachers would encourage him in this habit as a child centered on neighborhood... Considered one of the first Michael L. Printz Award and the church guided him Library in. Get their ideas of people of color neighborhood and the church by his high school and! Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1994 for his contribution in writing for teens ' Life a...