Walter Dean Myers, 73, spoke with his son, Christopher Myers, 36, about his efforts to make an impression on his father. Walter Dean Myers grew up in Harlem, the son of a janitor. He became an author, writing young adult fiction that's especially popular with teenage readers.
After leaving the army, Myers struggled with finding work and figuring out his purpose. ... It wasn't until Myers read the book Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin, which takes place in Harlem and focuses on African American characters, that he was inspired to start writing stories based on his own experiences growing up.
