Myers, Walter Dean. (2003). Somewhere in the Darkness. New York: Scholastic Inc., 176 pp.

Grade Range: 6-12

Genre: contemporary fiction

Summary and Critique

Jimmy Little, a fourteen-year-old boy, and his estranged father are reunited after nine years. The father is dying of a kidney ailment and has escaped from prison to share the truth of his past and to re-establish a relationship with his son. Jimmy embarks on a physical and psychological journey as he and his father explore their pasts. Because his mother died when he was a baby and because his father has been in prison, Jimmy never had the opportunity to learn about his roots until being reunited with his father. Jimmy is initially reluctant to develop a relationship with his father, but he soon opens his heart and mind and learns from his father the mistakes he does not want to make in his future. Although Jimmy realizes his father is unable to depart from his illegal ways, he comes to believe that his father was falsely accused and did not kill anyone. When Jimmy's father revisits an ex-partner-in-crime, he is betrayed again, captured by the police, and dies cuffed to his hospital bed with Jimmy at his side. Throughout the novel, Jimmy transforms from confused teenager who is bright but often daydreams and skips school to a mature young adult. He gains insights into what it means to be an adult and more importantly, a father.

An intense, emotionally charged work, Myers' novel is told with gritty realism. Myers describes the tough Harlem tenement building with junkies and drunks where Jimmy has grown up and the harsh realities that are part of his everyday life. These elements, along with the mature themes of death and crime, should be considered in introducing the book to middle school students who grow up in environments different from Jimmy's. Some discussion before and after reading can help readers develop a clear understanding of the characters and their lives. All ages will appreciate the direct writing style and the intimacy that Myers establishes with the main character. Somewhere in the Darkness has received critical acclaim, garnering good reviews from such reputable sources as School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

Awards

Newbery Honor Award

Themes/Topics

Families

Friends and Enemies

Generations

Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

Challenges and Triumphs

The Individual vs. Society

Author/Illustrator/Editor Information

Myers is one of the most prolific, well-respected authors in his field. He has received countless awards for his young adult fiction and his works are on numerous recommended book lists. Although famous for his writing for Teens , he has dabbled in other genres as well, including picture books, poetry, and plays. His book, Monster, was the first recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award as well as a National Book Award finalist, Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book. His book, Bad Boy: A Memoir, is an autobiography that offers insight into his life and work.

For more information on Walter Dean Myers:

http://www2.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/authorstudies/authorhome.jhtml?authorID=67&collateralID=5250&displayName=Biography The Scholastic Books Web site provides an in-depth interview with the author, including a biography he has written addressing his life and work and the transcript of a question and answer session with young students. It also provides a list of his books with brief annotations.

http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-myers-walterdean.asp This Web site gives biographical information and interviews as well as book reviews.

http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/myers.html Although the information on this site is dated, having been written in 1996, it is very comprehensive up to when it was written. It includes biographical information, a bibliography, sources, awards, and reviews.

Media Connections

Movies/Documentaries

Crooklyn (1994) This story of an African American family growing up in a tough New York neighborhood in the 1970s portrays life in a neighborhood like the one in Somewhere in Darkness.

Joy Luck Club (1993) A film about generations of mothers and daughters and their complex relationships.

Matchstick Men (2003) With psychological twists and turns, this film examines the dilemma of fatherhood and a life of crime.

Mi Familia (1955) An honest portrayal of a Mexican-American family living in a poor East L.A. neighborhood.

Paper Moon (1973) Taking place in 1936, this story is about a father and daughter relationship that contends with issues of illegal activity. Nine year old Tatum O'Neal won a Best Supporting Actress award for this role opposite her real life dad, Ryan O'Neal.

Tortilla Soup (2001) This heartwarming film looks at the relationship between a father and his daughters in a Mexican-American family.

Vice Versa (1998) An updated male version of Freaky Friday, this movie explores the nuances of father-son relationships and role reversal.

Television

Good Times – any episode (African-American families, life in Harlem)

Silver Spoons – any episode. A father and twelve-year-old son get to know one another after the father's absence from the boy's childhood.

Music/Audio Recording

"Dance with My Father." Luther Vandross. From Dance with my Father. J-Records, 2003. After his father's death, a son reminisces about what hi s father meant to him.

Online Resources

http://www.authorchats.com/archives/viewArchive.jsp?id=20020103WalterDeanMyers.jsp&t=Walter+Dean+Myers Read a live chat session between Walter Dean Myers and the Carver branch of the Austin Public Library that took place January 3, 2002 sponsored by the Author Chats Web site.

http://www.familybuzz.com/ A site that offers families a place to communicate online, there are opportunities to create a family photo album, calendar, message board, file cabinet (to store documents), a phone book, and live chat room.

http://www.fosterclub.com/index.cfm An online resource for children and Teens in foster care, the Foster Club is a nonprofit organization and a national network. The site gives young people information about their situation and opportunities to communicate with one another. There are sections for Teens and adults as well.

http://www.globalindex.com/kwanzaa/ This Web site gives information about Kwanzaa, the holiday that celebrates African-American culture and honors seven key principles that emphasize family and community.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov1997/jessesgone/index.html Ready to Live: Art and Life Beyond Street Violence is a site for victims of street violence and their family and friends. Young people are encouraged to contribute meaningful stories, songs, or artwork to the site. Also provided is a good list of community resources in cities across the nation.

http://www.unicef.org/voy/index.php The UNICEF Voices of Youth site reaches out to young people all over the world. It is especially intended for youth in need and offers resources, education, and communication opportunities on issues involving children's rights.

Related Texts

Bishop, Rudine Sims. (1990). Presenting Walter Dean Myers. Boston: Twayne, 123pp. A biography about the author intended for young adults.

Curtis, Christopher Paul. (1999). Bud, Not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press, 245pp. In 1936, a ten year old boy goes out in search for his father. Winner of the 2000 Newbery Award and Coretta Scott King Award, this novel takes a mature theme and makes it accessible and appealing to younger readers.

Creech, Sharon. (1994). Walk Two Moons. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 280pp. The main character is a thirteen year old girl who needs to connect with her mother and travels cross country, taking a psychological journey along with the physical one.

Gallo, Donald R. (1997). No Easy Answers: Short Stories About Teenagers Making Tough Choices. New York: Delacorte, 323pp. Prominent authors of young adult literature contributed to this anthology of short stories about the hard issues facing modern day Teens . The open-ended style to the stories lends itself to discussions and several review journals recommend this collection for teachers to use with their students.

Park, Linda Sue. (2001). A Single Shard. New York: Clarion, 152pp. In 12^th century Korea, a homeless orphan boy aspires to be a potter's apprentice. He proves himself through his courage and perseverance, eventually learning the craft and becoming accepted into a new family. Along the way, he faces challenges like privation, a long and arduous journey to the city, and the death of the surrogate father figure who loved and cared for him. In 2002, the book received the Newbery Medal.

Myers, Walter Dean. (2000). 145^th Street: Short Stories. New York: Delacorte, 151pp. This anthology gives glimpses into life in a Harlem neighborhood.

Paterson, Katherine. (1973). The Sign of the Chrysanthemum. New York: Crowell, 132pp. In medieval Japan, a teenage boy lives an impoverished life and sets out to find his father after his mother's death leaves him alone in the world. His journey teaches him about life, family, honor, and becoming a man.

Tom, Karen and Kiki. (2001). Angst! Teen Verses from the Edge. Workman Publishing Inc., 133pp. Poetry contributed to the Planet Kiki Web site for teenage girls. The topics are, naturally, issues important to Teens, told in their own voices.

Teaching Ideas

(1)"Memory Chain" Have students think about a person (a relative or friend) who played a significant role in their lives. Ask them to jot down the following information related to the individual:

Name

Outstanding characteristic

A time and place you remember being with the person

Colors, sounds, and smells that come to mind

What the person used to say and what you said to the person

How you felt

What the person meant to you

Use the notes to write a paragraph about a page long about what the person meant to you. Then, use the paragraph as a springboard for a poem or story.

[Adapted from "Memory Chain: An Important Person in My Life" by Lucia Leonardelli in Ideas Plus Book 13. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 12-13.]

(2) "Researching the Year I Was Born" Students will use the fictional character Jimmy Little from Somewhere in the Darkness to complete this assignment. Return to 1988 when Jimmy Little would have been born and let them choose a birthday for the character. Ask the students to research the answer to the following questions:

Search the fictional birth date on the Internet and find out what events were happening that year.

Look in periodicals like Time and Newsweek to find out what was happening in the month and year of the birth date.

Create fictional interviews with important people in Jimmy Little's life about Jimmy's birth and his first year of life.

Students can include all kinds of information about the birth year: sporting events, movies, music, ad slogans, political events, et cetera. All information should be recorded in a journal. Use the information to write a brief paper about the fictional Jimmy Little and the year he was born, citing any sources used. [Adapted from "Researching the Year I Was Born" by Patricia Schulze in Ideas Plus Book 18. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 80-82.]

(3) "Lessons Learned" Discuss the lessons Jimmy learned in Somewhere in the Darkness. Then, ask the students to think and talk about lessons they have learned from challenging events in school. Have the students come up with three pieces of advice they would give to younger kids getting ready for high school. It doesn't have to be specifically about school as long as it is related to school. Students should give details about the lessons they've learned and how they came to their conclusions. It's all right to use humor and be creative. The written advice can be passed down to the next class who comes in to ninth grade or can be given directly to middle school teachers who can share the information. [Adapted from "Researching the Year I Was Born" by Patricia Schulze in Ideas Plus Book 13. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 26-27.]

(Review written by Christina McGehee and edited by Jennifer E. Moore)

Books R 4 Teens Project

INF 382E: Materials for Children

Dr. Barbara Immroth

November 29, 2004

Christina McGehee