145th Street: Short Stories

Amazon.com
"That's what 145th Street is like. Something funny happens... and then something bad happens. It's almost as if the block is reminding itself that life is hard, and you have to take it seriously." Walter Dean Myers's book of interconnected short stories is a sweet and sour mix of the comedy and tragedy of the human condition, played out against the backdrop of the Harlem neighborhood that is centered around 145th Street. In this 'hood, teens will become acquainted with the mysterious 12-year-old Angela, whose sad dreams seem to predict the future for an unlucky few, and the fast-talking Jamie Farrell, a smooth basketball player who's praying that his streak of good luck doesn't end before he can ask out Celia Evora, "the finest chick in the school." They will chuckle at the affable Big Joe, who wants to enjoy his funeral party while he's still alive, yet feel their hearts tighten when Big Time Henson senses his drug addiction drawing him closer and closer to an early grave.

ANNOTATION

Ten stories portray life on a block in Harlem.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A salty, wrenchingly honest collection of stories set on one block of 145th Street. We get to know the oldest resident; the cop on the beat; fine Peaches and her girl, Squeezie; Monkeyman; and Benny, a fighter on the way to a knockout. We meet Angela, who starts having prophetic dreams after her father is killed; Kitty, whose love for Mack pulls him back from the brink; and Big Joe, who wants a bang-up funeral while he's still around to enjoy it. Some of these stories are private, and some are the ones behind the headlines. In each one, characters jump off the page and pull readers right into the mix on 1-4-5.

SYNOPSIS

A salty, wrenchingly honest collection of stories set on one block of 145th Street. We get to know the oldest resident; the cop on the beat; fine Peaches and her girl, Squeezie; Monkeyman; and Benny, a fighter on the way to a knockout.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

In a starred review, PW called this collection of 10 stories set in Harlem, "a kind of literary Rear Window. Myers creates snapshots of a pulsing, vibrant community with diverse ethnic threads, through all of its ups and downs." Ages 12-up. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

Myers weaves a fine tapestry from the multifaceted life of Harlem with its shiny, shady and hazy ways. The marvelously developed characters in these ten short stories really pack a wallop. First, there is the very funny story of Big Joe staging his own funeral. Myers then takes the reader to the other extreme with his grim tale of an innocent child shot by the police. One discovers the desperation of Billy Giles who returns time and again to the boxing ring, and the reactions of a superstitious community to Angela Colón's "second sight." Elderly Mother Fletcher imparts wisdom and warmth in "A Christmas Story." Myers' use of first person narrative gives immediacy to these tales. His apt phrasing and the rhythm of the stories have a mesmerizing affect. Some special people await the reader here on 14th Street. And what stories they have to tell! Make sure you don't miss out. 2000, Delacorte Press, Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo

VOYA

These ten powerful stories create a vivid mosaic of life in the Harlem neighborhood of 145th Street. Memorable characters range from outgoing Big Joe, who decides to stage his own funeral party in Big Joe's Funeral, to book-loving Monkeyman, who outsmarts the Tigros gang. The character of vibrant, fifteen-year-old Peaches, who is anxious about her mother's impending marriage to Big Joe, appears in several stories. In Fighter, Billy Giles determines--despite his pain--to continue boxing for the sake of his wife and child. Big Time Henson, despondent and dependent on drugs, summons up the courage to save a boy's life. The stories are wide-ranging in topic and mood. Readers are told of the tender love in Kitty and Mack: A Love Story; of Jamie Farrell's lucky streak in The Streak; the disturbing visions of seventh-grader Angela in Angela's Eyes; and quiet despair in The Baddest Dog in Harlem, in which a child is killed by police gunshots. Myers builds a sense of community through his stories, such as The Christmas Party, in which O'Brien and his family accept elderly Mrs. Fletcher's invitation to Christmas dinner. Neighbors help sixteen-year-old T. J. and his homeless mother in the concluding story, Block Party--145th Street Style. Beautifully told, Myers's stories offer an enticing collection for teens. Although each tale is unique, they contribute to the collective saga of the neighborhood. The stories give voice to the bad things that can happen, but they also tell about love, courage, and survival. VOYA CODES: 5Q 3P S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Will appeal with pushing; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Delacorte, Ages 16 to 18, 151p, $15.95.Reviewer: Hilary S. Crew

Alan Review

The scene is New York City--and specifically, 145th Street. In the heart of the community known as Harlem, 145th Street is the street where, as Walter Dean Myers says, if ordinary people, "had a good chance, they would be okay." Yet, anger and despair too often mar the lives of the people living there. The ten short stories in this remarkable volume are about the tragic twists and turns of the residents of 145th Street. We meet the fighter, the dreamer, the lover, the loser, and the survivors in this haunting collection of life inside America's premiere inner city renaissance of good and evil. Walter Dean Myers knows 145th Street. He knows Harlem's locals, language, culture, traditions, clothing, food, and above all, rhythm. Using his consummate writing skill, he brings the reader into his short stories, holding us spellbound as he weaves his tales of intrigue, despair and hope. An excellent complement to his many award-winning novels. Genre: Inner City/Street life. 2000, Delacorte Press, Ages 12 up, $15.95. Reviewer: Angela M. Ferree

Mary A. Centa