Walter Dean Myers (1937–2014)

So I confess, I read this book because I encountered it on a list of book someone felt young people should not read (because of the references to violence and prison rape, apparently). As I'm a little rebellious, I took note of the titles which sounded particularly dicey and requested this one from the library. After finishing this book, I must say that I completely disagree with the opinion that this book should not be read. Monster chronicles a young man accused of a crime through the show more creative means of a diary and screenplay he writes about his trial. Yes, there is violence and rape in this book, but even more powerful is the critique of the social system - which might have been the real reason this book ended up on a Do-Not-Read List. On the contrary, I found it well-worth the read. show less

Walter Dean Myers knows a great deal about writing. He has successfully written and published over 100 books, most targeting young readers.
“Just Write” also seeks young readers as its primary audience, but like so many really good YA books, it appeals to older people, too, even really old people like me.
The book is a great guide to writing. Simple, down to earth, well structured and enormously practical, “Just Write” offers tremendous help to young (or old) people who want to write show more but just don’t know how to get their ideas translated into something others would want to read. I wish I had read this book many years ago since one of the greatest regrets of my life is that I did not pursue a career in writing.
Myers’ advice is divided into two primary areas: how to write fiction, especially a novel, and how to write non-fiction. The techniques and tools he describes are quite simple, yet there is a world of difference between simplicity and ease. In other words, the tools are simple and making them work in an actual application is not easy because being a writer is work, it is difficult no matter what tools are being used, and it takes perseverance.
“Just Write” lays out a roadmap of the steps for how to go from idea to product, and the map is excellent.
For me personally, I have written down lots of ideas and notes about things I would like to write about, and many I have even turned into compositions, stories and essays. My greatest challenge has not been what to write about or why to write it, but how to develop the idea fully. Even more challenging for me has been to see how to end a fictional piece. The tools in this book gave me very practical ideas about how to overcome these stumbling blocks of mine.
Teachers in high school and even early college classes could easily find Meyers’ ideas excellent and practical tools for their students who hope to be writers. show less

Walter Dean Myers knows a great deal about writing. He has successfully written and published over 100 books, most targeting young readers.
“Just Write” also seeks young readers as its primary audience, but like so many really good YA books, it appeals to older people, too, even really old people like me.
The book is a great guide to writing. Simple, down to earth, well structured and enormously practical, “Just Write” offers tremendous help to young (or old) people who want to write show more but just don’t know how to get their ideas translated into something others would want to read. I wish I had read this book many years ago since one of the greatest regrets of my life is that I did not pursue a career in writing.
Myers’ advice is divided into two primary areas: how to write fiction, especially a novel, and how to write non-fiction. The techniques and tools he describes are quite simple, yet there is a world of difference between simplicity and ease. In other words, the tools are simple and making them work in an actual application is not easy because being a writer is work, it is difficult no matter what tools are being used, and it takes perseverance.
“Just Write” lays out a roadmap of the steps for how to go from idea to product, and the map is excellent.
For me personally, I have written down lots of ideas and notes about things I would like to write about, and many I have even turned into compositions, stories and essays. My greatest challenge has not been what to write about or why to write it, but how to develop the idea fully. Even more challenging for me has been to see how to end a fictional piece. The tools in this book gave me very practical ideas about how to overcome these stumbling blocks of mine.
Teachers in high school and even early college classes could easily find Meyers’ ideas excellent and practical tools for their students who hope to be writers. show less

This powerful graphic novel follows Steve Harmon, a 16-year-old on trial for murder. Told through his own screenplay-style journal, we watch Steve struggle with his identity and fear as he’s labeled a “monster” in court. The illustrations bring his emotions and the courtroom tension to life in a vivid, unforgettable way.