Walter Dean Myers was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, August 12, 1937. When he was two years old, his mother died in childbirth. This left his father with eight children to care for, so he arranged for Florence and Herbert Dean of Harlem to take Walter. Living with the Deans meant that he would be well cared for, while Harlem provided him with rich resources of cultural experience and education.

His severe speech handicap caused him frustration, anger, and embarrassment, especially when he was required to read aloud at school. While working through this problem in speech therapy, he began to write what he wanted to say. This was the beginning of his love for writing. After reading the works of the most noted European writers and trying to imitate their style, he read works by black writers Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, which helped him...