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Autobiography of My Dead Brother by Walter Dean Myers, ill. by Christopher Myers Myers once again brings Harlem to life in the pages of a book. Ostensibly the book is about the narrator's (Jesse) blood-brother Rise but it is really Jesse's story. Jesse is a 15 year-old budding artist growing up on the mean streets of uptown New York. Jesse has the loving support of his parents and has talent that can carry him far but that does not insulate him from the gangs, drugs, and violence of his neighborhood. The book opens and closes with the funerals of African-American teens and in between the violence and desperation of the streets infect the lives of the characters and seep into their homes. Jesse and his musically talented friend C.J. nearly succumb to the pressures of the 'hood despite their advantages, leading us to ask, if these two promising boys came so close to being pulled down what chance does the average kid stand? Rise, though two years older, has been Jesse's best friend since early childhood. Jesse has always felt comfortable around Rise and they shared the same values. But as the story begins Jesse begins to notice changes in Rise. Jesse feels them drifting apart and worries about his friend as he spirals downward into the life of a drug dealer. Rise commissions Jesse to write and illustrate his life story. But as the two drift further apart Jesse finds it harder and harder to capture Rise on paper. Jesse's drawing and his philosophical comic strip, "Spodi Roti and Wise," appear throughout the book (drawn by Myer's son Christopher) and help bring the prose alive. The machinations of Rise and another character, Mason, place Jesse and his friends in the middle of a confrontation between a street gang and a vicious group of professional drug dealers. The friends, all members of a revived decades-old social club, are portrayed by the media as gang members despite the fact that none of them has done anything wrong. Jesse and C.J. are both overwhelmed and confused by speed with which events spin out of control and are pulled along in the wake of Rise, Mason and other, bigger players. Readers will feel for Jesse and identify with his confusion and his inability to confide some things to his parents despite their close relationship. Most will hunger for a sequel, wanting to know if Jesse makes it and fulfills his great promise. Myers has written another great book. He and his son have vividly illustrated the violence and desperation of inner-city life and they did it without gratuitous scenes and without foul language. Highly recommended for grades 8-12. Anthony Doyle, Librarian Livingston High School Livingston, CA tdoyle@MUHSD.K12.CA.US Http://www.lhswolves.org/library/index.htm "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture; you just have to get people to stop reading them." Ray Bradbury -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------