What They Found: Love on 145th Street by Walter Dean Myers
Random House Children's Books, 2007, pp243, $15.99,
Adolescent Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780375937095
Walter Dean Myers returns to the world of 145th Street: Short Stories to show how love can be found, and thrive, in the most unlikely places. Myers explores fifteen short stories which explore the fundamental aspects of love. These stories contain humorous words, but the underlying fact is that being poor and black always offers tough situations and choices. Myers’ has created characters which take on dramatic and sensational roles for the reader. He takes on difficult topics like unemployment, the decision to buy a gun, death, violence, war and preteen pregancy. His goal is to capture life, relationships, romance and love in Harlem on 145th street.
It is astounding how the characters use love to overcome life’s experiences and its lessons whether dealing with hope, change, death or pain. For instance, Curtis finds love as he struggles to stay alive in a war he has no desire to fight, Letha discovers her own beauty in the love of her young child. Abeni deals with the trials and tribulations of her dying father who asks her to uphold his wishes upon his death. There is the "good daughter" who realizes there is only one way to help her family overcome a major dilemma. For
on-going daily drama Myers has incorporated the neighborhood beauty shop.
Learning hard lessons in life is difficult for all of us, but this author demonstrates how we can overcome what is put in front of us to the best of our ability. Young readers between the ages of 14 to 17 would enjoy this fiction book of short stories. Middle school teachers can utilize this book as a tool to demonstrate that students are capable of achieving and overcoming life’s disappointments and trials.
Interested in other adolescent fiction books by this author, then check out the following: 145th Street Short Stories and
Street Love
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