Bad Boy audiobook

What a surprise! What a find! I got Walter Dean Myers' memoir "Bad Boy" for fifty cents in the kids' section at a church rummage sale Saturday. I thought I was buying it to add to my small, yet growing, classroom library. And many of my students have read Myers' "Monster."Though kids might enjoy learning more about Myers because they've read his work, I'm not sure they'll appreciate the very thing in the book that I loved: Myers' thoughtful exploration of identity, in particular, the identity of one who is a writer. Myers is painfully honest about growing up in the 1940s and 1950s in Harlem as a bit of a "wild child." Though he was an avid reader and eventually a writer, school wasn't his thing. His identity as a reader and writer made him feel isolated from those around him, including his parents. And he struggled to figure out how race---Myers is African American---made him who he was and who he wanted to become. Myers' writing at the beginning of the book is uncomplicated. As he chronicles his growing up, the writing becomes more complex, something that contributed greatly to how much pure pleasure I got from reading "Bad Boy."Because of "Bad Boy," I know I've got to read more of Myers' work---I read "Monster." And I urge readers to do the same.

In one word: Important.You need to read this book right now if you are any or all of the following:1. A writer2. A parent3. A teenager4. A former teenager5. A teacherMyers' book "Monster" is required reading in a lot of secondary English classes, but I haven't heard of "Bad Boy" being on many lists. It should be. This is one of those very few and far between books that I want to re-read the minute I finish it. I wish I would've discovered it sooner. I can connect with "Bad Boy" on so many different levels and at every stage of my life thus far. I could be wrong, but I don't recall having said this about a book since I picked up "Me Talk Pretty One Day" ... This book changed me.

I am so glad to have read this book with my 6th-grade students! What honesty he exhibits about his life and struggles! I love that there is a happy ending, and it was actually quite easy for my students to arrive at a message he was communicating to them. There were parts I would not read aloud with them from Myers' teen years, but it was all part of his complete honesty about his life. Many students were so engaged in this book for its honesty and its right in your face approach to the racism Myers encountered when he grew up. Every parent should read this book and then let their middle or high school aged kids read it.

Myers' style is so easy, so fluent that you don't notice it. Some books are all style, the author is always in your ear saying "look what I can do." I often like that kind of book. Myers, however, tells the story of his childhood simply, without razzle dazzle. Like Yeats says, ya gotta make it look easy, and Myers does. I'm told this is a YA book, and I would not have read it if it hadn't been book of the month for a non-fiction book club I joined recently. At no time. however, did I think I was reading below my grade level -- except maybe at the very end when he seems to force a resolution, wrapping up all his life from age 17 to age 61 in a few sentences. The rest of the book is so compelling I can't really complain.Myers draws a picture of himself as both brawling street kid cutting school for weeks at a time and book worm who cuts school to sit in a tree in the park and read books. He reads well above his grade level, tackling Joyce, Camus, Keats, Shelley etc at 15 & 16. To me, however, the most astounding of his reading choices is Elizabeth Barrett Browning.Mrs. Finley introduced us first to the life of Elizabeth Barrett. Here was a sickly woman who lived most of her life alone and who wrote poetry from the time she was a child. The poems we read in class were her expressions of love to Robert Browning, her husband. The poetry was personal, and I was able to understand it as a personal expression by the writer rather than as what had seemed to me to be the impersonal writing of the earlier poems I had read. Perhaps someone could be so moved by a Grecian urn that he would instantly sit down and write a poem about it, but the idea of writing to someone you loved was immediately attractive to me. The poetry had come from Browning as well as being written by her.Sonnets from the Portuguese used form and meter with an ease and grace that I envied. I wanted to write like Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I wanted to sit by my window, my small dog on my lap, and write this intensely personal poetry. The sonnet form allowed me to make my poems look and feel like real poetry without being as distant as some of the other British poetry I had read. When I was in college, an English major whose learning was mainly controlled by the New Criticism of Brooks and Warren, Elizabeth Barrett was given grudging recognition as Robert's wife and the millstone around his neck who wrote soppy sonnets.Who would have thought she would have had such an impact on a mixed-race boy growing up in Harlem in the 1950s?

Each of us is born with a history already in place. ...While we live our own individual lives, what has gone before us, our history, always has some effect on us. Bad Boy was Walter Milton Myers’ memoir and a perfect example of poor parenting and horrific teachers where positive communication was not practiced.Walter Milton Myers was the fourth of five children and whose mother, Mary Dolly Green, died after the birth of her fifth child. George Myers, Walther’s father, who had two children from a previous marriage, was unable to cope with the raising of seven children, sent Walter to live with his first wife, Florence Dean. In school, when Walter moves to Mr. Lasher’s class he excels because Mr. Lasher knew how to teach and parent Walter.I did not read a “Bad Boy” in Walter Dean Myers what I read was a young boy who was a victim of circumstances who was not taught the skills or the know how to dig his way out.We also learn how those who came before us allowed racism to beat them down rather than find ways to make it work for them and because they didn’t they taught us to follow in their tradition of riding the pity train and the only way off is death.Walter Dean Myers was an extraordinary boy who despite the odds and disadvantaged environment had wonderful mentors whose grandness he didn’t recognize until adulthood as with all children.We learned the reason for so much failure in the communities of Americans who are Descendants of Freed Slaves and how some of those failures could be rectified if the adults in these communities were dedicated in self-education.Bad Boy is a book that readers of all ages and all cultures can appreciate.

This is a memoir of Walter Dean Myer's early life and probably targeted to middle school students; however, his is a compelling story of growing up in Harlem mid century that would speak to someone of any page, particularly since he ties his own story to an explication of his history as a reader/writer. Particularly interesting is a comparison he makes between himself and Mersault from The Stranger.

Pop Sugar Challenge 2021: book with less than 1,000 reviews I really enjoyed reading about Myers’ early life in his own words. He reminded me so much of some of my students: stereotyped as “bad” when it was really a defense mechanism or a reaction because of an issue he had (like his speech impediment). I loved that he highlighted the educators in his life that didn’t let him down or cast him aside and how he discussed how literature built him and influenced him. A great start to 2021!

This certainly wasn't the most enjoyable Myers book to read or the best written, but I think it's always difficult to examine one's own life, and after learning more about about Myers' story, I can only imagine that his process was infinitely harder. Despite a few flaws though, the writing is brutally honest and thought-provoking. Most importantly, the perspective is interesting and possibly even more important now than when the book was originally published.

In this memoir, you are taken on the early life of a young buy, Walter. As Walter grows older he realizes that everywhere is not as racially fair as his home of Harlem, New York. Going through school, he frequently gets in trouble for his short temper and will to fight. Will he be able to go above the racial standards and grow to reach his full potential and follow his dreams? I like this book cause it showed a good inside point of view of racism. . I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in memoirs or someone looking for a different style of writing like a memoir.

This Book is truly inspiring to me. I say This Because I hide a lot of talents I have because I fear I wouldn't do anything with them as I get older. Talents such as poetry and singing I hide a lot because I feel I wouldn't make anything out of them. This book truly made me realize that I don't have to hide anything. I can express the way I feel or anything I want to express in my own way not caring who has to see me or who has to say something. The difference from me and the main character is that he is a Male And I a Female. It would be harder for different sexes to respond to different judgements of things people say about them. This book is truly amazing in my eyes.

I thought this was a great book. At first I was expecting it too be too young for me, but it turned out to be very well written and told in a somewhat intricate but also clear way.

easy read, talked of segregation and depression, growing up in a poor family, nice

Thank you to my sister, Khris, for giving me this book and helping me to discover this author.Walter Dean Myers chronicles here his early years and how he seemed to struggle to find his own identity in the world. His intelligence catapulted him to broader educational opportunities in the NY city school system but he never had proper guidance to let him know how to use the opportunities. The one constant was reading poetry and literature. Later writing became a solace. I understood how he felt reading a book that meant a lot to him and wondering why anyone would read his books if they had this great books to read. Inspiring is a word over-used at times but Mr. Myers is that.

Walter Dean Myers portrayed his life beautifully in Bad Boy: A Memoir.When reading this nonfiction book you find yourself truly in this boy’s life.You’re thoroughly intrigued by wondering what will happen next. The story is a first person view of Walter, a young black boy living in Harlem. You travel through Walter's life as he finds his path. You start the book by describing Walter’s family. Walter lives with two white parents after his mother dies. As a young boy, Walter is much bigger than the other kids. He also has a speech deficiency. When teased or taunted(by mostly white kids)Walter finds himself fighting. Walter is labeled as a “bad boy”. As he grows older Walter starts to enjoy reading and writing. Despite not being able to speak well, Walter spent many hours reading lots of literature from comic books to famous poetry. Walter does better in school and is put in higher level classes and a smart high school. Then, he finds out about prejudice against him and realizes the thing he loves is frowned upon by his peers. Walter has to decide whether he will continue following the rules or if he will go back to his old ways. Anyone who is confused about where they fit in the world, loves reading, or is a teenage boy will love Bad Boy: A Memoir. Myers writes as if he is in that moment and you are captivated. I found myself thinking and doing the same thing that young Walter did. You will definitely relate to the struggles and triumphs of adolescent life.This wonderful book makes you think about the way you judge people and what it’s like to be yourself,while interesting you in a true story.

Young Walter is a mess! He was an intelligent young, even though he started off a little late. He always fought and got into tons of trouble, but eventually grew out of his childish ways and grew up. I actually thought the book was going to be about a random kid, but who would’ve thought Walter Dean Myers, an excellent writer, had been a bad boy. He reminds me a lot of me because I always used to get into trouble too. I remember when I saw my little cousin lie to his mom about the bruises on his arms and said his step-dad had done it. He told me he was actually fighting, and his step-dad had got put out. I read about someone like him in a recent book No More Dead Dogs named Wallace Wallace. I remember when he had got attached to the back of the taxi. I could picture the cuts, bruises, and dried up blood. The visualization helped me understand more because I didn’t understand some of the words.I enjoyed everything about this book. From the Roots chapter all the way to the Books I've Typed chapter.I loved the way Bunny showed him he wasn't big and tough, and when the jewish boys took the to the alley. Hilarious.I'd have to rate this 5 stars because this is about the best book I have ever read. I learned about Walter's life and how it was in Harlem back in the 1950's. I love everything about this book. Since I'm done with this book and realize how Walter Dean Myers is such a great writer, I'm going to seek out another book of his.