List $24.00

Written by Walter Dean Myers - Audio book performed by Joe Morton - Unabridged Nonfiction - 4 CASSETTES - 5 hours

Publisher, Harper Audio (June 2001)

"...one of the most important writers of children's books...this glimpse into his own childhood is wonderfully valuable, fascinating,...inspiring." --Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2001

"Myers paints a fascinating picture of his childhood growing up in Harlem in the 1940s." --Publishers Weekly, April 9, 2001

"[A] superb memoir...funny anecdotes and tender moments. Young writers will find inspiration...[A] straightforward account of a colorful, unforgettable childhood." --School Library Journal, May 1, 2001

"A powerful read. Will make the reader laugh out loud & sigh with satisfaction." --Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

"Many of the individual scenes have power....and the author’s voice and heart are consistently heard and felt throughout." --The Horn Book

Into a memoir that is gripping, funny, heartbreaking, and unforgettable, Walter Dean Myers richly weaves the details of his Harlem childhood in the 1940s and 1950s: a loving home life with his adopted parents, Bible school, street games, and the vitality of his neighborhood. Although Walter spent much of his time either getting into trouble or on the basketball court, secretly he was a voracious reader and an aspiring writer. But as his prospects for a successful future diminished, the values he had been taught at home, in school, and in his community seemed worthless, and he turned to the streets and his books for comfort. Here in his own words is the story of one of the strongest voices in children's and young adult literature today.