Walter Dean Myers had “Romeo and Juliet” on his mind when he wrote Street Love, the story of Damien and Junice, star-crossed lovers in Harlem. The setting and story are totally today, but like Shakespeare's story, it is told through poems and rap, in a rhythm Myers picked up by listening to real NYC teens talk.
Damien is steps away from a fabulous future his parents worked hard for--he’s been accepted to Brown University and knows his life is pretty much planned out for him. Junice, on the other hand, is struggling to keep her family together. Her mom just got 25 years for selling drugs, her grandmother can barely remember who she is, and the city wants to take her little sister away from her. As different as their lives are, Damien and Junice fall in love and fortunately, unlike Shakespeare’s teens in love, these two have a shot at a happy ending.
Walter Dean Myers has been writing full time since 1977 and has written more than 80 books! He has received the Coretta Scott King Award (five times!), two Newbery Honors, has been a National Book Award finalist twice, received the American Library Association's Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime contribution to young adult literature in 1994 and his book Monster was the first book ever to receive the Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature.
Myers grew up in Harlem and is deeply committed to interacting with inner city teens today. This spring, he visited with students at Passages Academy in the Bronx, a school for teens in the juvenile justice system.
Check out what Myers has to say about writing Street Love. And don’t forget to check out your own copy.
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