145th Street:
Short Stories
Walter Dean Meyers pulls another great
book from up his sleeve. This one
contains, as the title suggests, a collection of stories that all take place in
Harlem. Each story focuses on a
different character, but recurring characters give each one a familiar feel. Meyers’ stories are remarkable in that they
are full of tough issues. Poverty,
discrimination, police violence, and poor work conditions are all present in
this vibrant collection of stories.
However, the focus always comes back to the community’s or an individual’s
strength to respond to any situation.
Meyers’ narrative voice hooks his reader and pulls them into Harlem and
the lives of its residents. How could a
reader not have an emotional connection to Billy the boxer who is willing to
risk his own wellbeing so that he can be a good father and husband for his
family? Or with Big Joe who just wants
to pull a Tom Sawyer and attend his own funeral? Or Peaches Jones who thinks
Big Joe has gone too far and must be defrauded?
This is a fantastic piece of literature,
especially considering it was written for middle school students. It is an extremely accessible book. The first page hooks the reader and the rest
is history. I would highly recommend this
book to any middle school teacher for his or her classroom. Although 5th through 7th grades would probably be best. It would make an excellent catalyst for
discussions about race, poverty, and many other issues.
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