Summer Time 2013

6/13/2013

It's summer time! Let's hope you're having fun, relaxing, staying safe and also keeping up with your reading.

Bad Boy is a great book by Walter Dean Myers. Read the book and share your thoughts about this very funny and engaging memoir.

Click below for a suggested booklist of additional summer time reading titles.
HAISLIN Booklist Summer 2013 Grade 7 -8

Author: Walter Dean Myers

Watch Author Walter Dean Myers: 'Reading Is Not Optional' for Kids on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

176 Comments

alberth17

6/13/2013 08:38:32 am

Walter was not used to death when his uncle died. He felt more distant than before. Walter is a troubled but smart boy in Harlem. He loves to study and play ball. He has problem when he talks, Walter loves to read and make poems. He may have made bad decisions before but he finally sees the world in a different point of view.

Bryson

6/16/2013 01:58:48 pm

Bad Boy is a great story about a young boy who lives in Harlem who is named Walter, Walter gets into alot of fights with teachers. He was then sent to a new teacher, Mr. Lasher who doesn't put up with fighting. After walters accident eith the teacher, Mr. Lasher brings out the intellegence in Walter.

Raymond_ca

6/13/2013 10:50:02 am

Bad boy is a story about a boy who is smart but has behavior problem he also has a speech problem , later on he experiences the dead of his uncle meets his biological dad , step mom, and half and whole siblings , he gets inspired by 3 of his teachers who help him with his problem such as academically and behavior

Raymond

6/18/2013 11:41:45 pm

In this chapter Walter is felling he is bean left out due that he goes to a new school in that moment the economy in his family is not going to well he can't even afford school uniform and he could not join track due that he could not afford it.

LaDasha Watson

6/13/2013 11:23:52 am

This is about a boy who gets experinces from three teachers. Walter has a lot of problems. He gets into fights alot with students and teachers. He also has a speech problem. Walter says he wants to be good but its hard to be good while you've been bad ever since you were growing. Walter loves to write poems and read books. Walter wants to to be good but live want let him.

asha ross

6/14/2013 05:50:56 am

nice job

Connor Watson

6/13/2013 11:38:36 am

the book bad boy is a memoir about Walter Dean Myers. In this book Walter gets in trouble from getting in fights however he isn't that bad. He likes reading and writing poems and he is very smart. He is made fun of because of speaking problems, and he get in trouble for retaliating and hurting the other person. His mother which isn't hid born mother keeps being told about his misbehavior and occasionally disrespects Walter. Walter has weird ideas as well he tried to make a jump off of a church, ride on the back of the cab, and ride his bike when he is hurt already. So far the book is good and i think it will get better at the end.

isla c:

6/13/2013 12:23:55 pm

Walter was not affected by his uncles death like his father was. Since he wasnt that close to him. his father didnt show his bond between him and uncle Lee out in the open . But when he passed . Walters father got depressed , that is the only way Walter got affected by it . Walter is a smart bad boy living in the streets of Harlem . He sees the world in a different way now thanks to the books and poetry he has read .

kedric

6/13/2013 08:49:30 pm

Walter was unfamiliar with death. He wasn't really close to him though. In this chapter he was in SP classes with other smart kids. Walter is a troubled, smart kid living in the streets of Harlem. He likes poetry and books.

Joshua sanchez

6/13/2013 11:03:41 pm

Bad boy is a book about a boy who has a ver intresting life. At the beginning its confusing but in the third paraghrap you could understand it better. Go ahead and read it

asha ross

6/14/2013 05:49:41 am

the book bad boy is very awsome and i can relate to the book because i have a uncle who died too but if i would have told my dad that my mom beat me up my mommy would go crazy on me that was just totaly uncalled for and im not tring to have that guilt on me i love my mommy its a relly great memoir and i strongly encourage you to put your eyes on the words in the great book

Isaiah Thomas link

6/16/2013 04:40:27 am

This book is so amazing. Walter went through a lot but stuck through it. If you love books that are filled with suspense read this book.

Jaime

6/16/2013 06:27:11 am

On chapter "Im not in the center of the universe" it shows about how Walter feels about his Uncle Lee's death. Even though he dont have much ties with Lee the funeral affected his father which then affects the entire family of his behavior after the funeral.

kedric

6/16/2013 12:38:05 pm

This chapter was intresting beacause it talked about Walter describing how he was in Harlem when he was 13. Also the chapter talks about how Walter sat outside on his door step and when a stranger or neighbor walked by, he wrote in a notebook and described the people who walked by. I find this particular chapter strange because what 13 year old boy would sit outside on a door step and write about random people walking by? Usually 13 year old boys play outside or they are on the phone.

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:29:58 am

Good Point Kedric

Jose_12

6/16/2013 01:34:28 pm

On "a writer observs" walter tries to look at his surroundings and write about it like other writers would, and he notices that where he is from he cant write anything good about it so he quits and thinks about the country

Bryson

6/16/2013 01:59:57 pm

sam rankins link

6/16/2013 03:22:19 pm

Bad Boy is an interesting book about Walter Dean Myers childhood. He grew up on 125th street in harlem. He got in a few fights in the book.

Marcus Mitchell

6/17/2013 12:16:01 am

In this chapter Walter was inspired by other authors to write about where he is fro. Walter thought he could get inspiration from his city but he only thought of Harlem as home. Since he couldn't write about Harlem he wrote about the people in Harlem. Soon after he started writing he got writers block and decided to put off writing for a while.

Isaiah Thomas link

6/17/2013 04:39:13 am

This chapter is about Walter going into the ninth grade and having a new teacher experience. He learns about sonnets and is very facinated with them and even writes a few of his own. He gets his ideas from Elizabeth Barret Browning. From then on he goes around the neighborhood and writes about what he sees.

asha ross

6/17/2013 06:58:18 am

this book has been great so far I can really relate but when walter dean myers went to 9th grade he was in a class full of belligerent people iv been in that situation but he turned out the national ambassador for young peoples literature so I think it all worked out it is a quite exquizit book and its a page turner so I would look into it.

asha ross

6/17/2013 07:02:30 am

for the project for ms andega go to google and type free professional helping movie maker download and when it loads click the 3rd one

PAndega

6/17/2013 09:13:19 am

Kudos Asha. Thanks for sharing .You're an awesome student!

sam rankins link

6/17/2013 11:17:15 am

The chapter we read in lass was about walter entering the ninth grade and the things that changed in his life.His uncle moved in with his family.

alberth17

6/17/2013 12:35:51 pm

Walter goes to ninth grade and learns a new type of writing. he gets inspired by Author Elizabeth Barren Browning to write sonnets. He would write sonnets and would then write them in a special journal.

Isaac gonzalez

6/17/2013 01:21:55 pm

Walter gets inspired and want to right different types of poems as he enters the 9th grade.He steps into the wrong path and soon starts chewing tabacco with his friends.

Jaime

6/17/2013 01:24:54 pm

In this chapter Walter goes up a grade and then learns about different sonnets of poetry. He reads poetry from Elizabeth and other British poems.

Bryson

6/17/2013 01:34:53 pm

Walter is promoted to the next grade and learnes about sonnets in poetry.

isla c:

6/17/2013 02:21:06 pm

in this inspiring chapter , Walter goes to the ninth grade . being only 12 years old. he had trouble fitting in a bit . he couldn't hang out with the older boys because they were already dating and what not . but Walter did play basketball with some older boys . his special class and him were bad . chewing tabbacco im class. also having a spit ball fight . this teacher was the only teacher he ever felt bad for . he learned about how powerful sonnets could be . he later wanted to be inspiration to other in his own some of his sonnets . thanks to Elizabeth Brownings poems .

Joshua sanchez

6/17/2013 03:01:47 pm

This chapter was good. I really really liked it. Walter had foucused more on school and sports. He was also growing up and looked up to other boys in his school. He still faught kids but not as much as he used to. (I hope this paraghraph is longer) and also i forgot more about the chapter but u can find out whats it about for yourself so go buy the book "bad boy" by Walter Dean Myers.

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:33:09 am

Joshua I hope others will take your advice and go get the book. :)

Jose_12

6/17/2013 11:44:51 pm

Walter goes to the ninth grade and they make a mess with tabacco and do spitballs wich gets them in a lot of trouble. Walter also learns to do sonnets and he writes them in a piece of paper then he writes them in his journal after he perfects it.

Isaiah 7 link

6/18/2013 06:31:05 am

This chapter is about Walter going into High School and its not easy. At school and at home. His grandfather comes into live with his family and the house falls apart. So that's what this chapter is about.

Adriana link

6/18/2013 08:27:08 am

Walter is now new to high school and for everyone eles. He had a lot of dislikes from the school and it was very hard for him to fit in with everyone eles. Walter has grown a lot and gotten many new things for him now that he is in high school. He was very unaware of how many different races would be at school.

LaDasha 7th

6/18/2013 08:44:50 am

As Walter goes into the ninth grade he realize its not easy. Walter like to do poetry and play sports. His favorite sport is basketball.At school Walter realize their other races at his school. Walter takes about how many races are there. later on in his life Walter's grandfather is moving in with him. Walter is experiencing more at school than any other place.

Bryson

6/18/2013 11:43:29 am

Bad Boy is basically about a little boy named Walter, who had speech problems and behaved badly in school. Walter knew that he would get a beating from his mom if he got red marks on his report card, yet he never changed his ways. Throughout his life he met at least three teachers that incouraged him. Walter was a foster child and later in the story around the second or third chapter he met his biological father. He also met his step mom, half siblings, and whole siblings. These are people in his life that he never suspected to meet in his life. Walter eventually became and great student and left all his bad habbits in behavior behind him.

P.Andega

6/18/2013 08:57:45 pm

This is a great summary Bryson.

alberth17

6/18/2013 12:25:17 pm

Walter is going through a hard time in school. He doesn't have enough money to but supplies and clothes for shoes. He trys just to focus on school but there are alot of problems for him right now.

kedric

6/18/2013 02:02:36 pm

Walter told the reader that poor people lived in Harlem and that they wanted a lot of things but they couldn't afford them. Walters grandfather arrived at their house and he didn't like the place to much.Walter wasn't happy that he attended an all boys high school.Walter never studied so he earned poor grades in high school.One day Walter was walking to school and Mickey and him saw an old lady getting mugged.

timmy

6/18/2013 02:32:56 pm

I think that this book will help learn about the difficult times Walter Dean Myers had in life like when he was always fighting or how he wasn't accepted by everyone because his actions but it will also show the reader how much he loves to read and write.

asha 7th

6/18/2013 02:38:47 pm

today we read about how walter dean myers was ill doing packages and how he was in a class full of people who were not so good of influences and he could have took a wrong path but the military helped him so he turned outalright hes still in highschool but hes doing good really good book and i hate reading so thats a look out you should try and find it at the library or the book store or the internet.

Marcus 7

6/18/2013 02:57:53 pm

In this chapter Walter went to an all boys and things started going bad. Then his technically blind grandfather comes over and everything falls apart. Then his school starts to affect him and he starts doing bad in school.

Marcus 7 adding to 6/18/13 blog

6/18/2013 03:08:58 pm

Things like skipping class and not studying.

Marcus 7

6/18/2013 03:06:45 pm

Tuesday's chapter was about Walter going to 9th grade and learning about Sonnets and is inspired by a English writer and writes poetry. He does better in school but is pulled in to doing bad things like chewing tabaco and spitting spit balls.

Lilly

6/18/2013 09:41:28 pm

"Heavy Days At Stuyvesant High" was about how Walter was now growing up as a teenage boy and now graduating 9th grade at 14. In the chapter, it also describes that Pap, Walter's "grandfather", moves into their apartment. Wyalter also describes Stuyvesant High was an all boys school, which he didn't know until after he came to the school. Walter again had to take speech therapy in Stuyvesant, which he never attended.

Jose_12

6/18/2013 10:55:24 pm

Walter is having a really bad time in school and at home. He tries to just focus on school and not worry about whats happening at home. Walter goes to a new school and figures out that the school is an all boys school. He cant afford the school uniform but he still dosnt consider himself broke.

isla c:

6/18/2013 11:24:25 pm

This chapter we read in class was very emotional . Walter goes to a new school. Everything is so different . He feels like an outsider due to the fact that he has not enough money to buy school uniform. Walter also does not get a chance to try out for the track team because of the same reason .

Isaac 7

6/19/2013 05:39:59 am

"Sonnets from the Portuguese"
This chapter is about Walter's intrist in poetry.He gets inspired by some famous poets and starts to write his own poems and uses the same tachnices that the famous people use.This chapter in my opinion was not the best or most interesting but i know it will get better.

Isaac 7th

6/19/2013 05:45:10 am

"The Garment Center"
This chapter makes Walter pay more attention to his life.He thinks about the school he is in and even collage.Even though he knows that he is too poor to go to collage he tries to save up money.He gives his hopes up and knows he doesnt have a chance.

Lilly

6/19/2013 06:55:05 am

"The Garment Center" is about when Walter gets a job at the Garment Center. IN the chapter, Walter stops going to school because of all the personal problems he was going through. Also in the chapter, Walter gets a part time job at a Garment Center to earn money to get a Type writer. With the money he gets, he gives it to his mother to save for him. Whenever Walter finally earned all the money he needed, Walter finds out that his mother was using his money to gamble.

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:36:33 am

Great Job Lilly

Connor Watson

6/19/2013 07:19:08 am

"The Garment Center" is a chapter that makes Walter pay attention to his entire life around him. He starts thinking about schooling and college even though he knows he doesn't have enough money to go to college. He ends up saving up money to go to college but starts to give up about going there.

Jaime

6/19/2013 12:09:31 pm

On "Garment Center" Walter is starting his junior year at age 15. And at the time he spent in school there was some racial problems involved and where he worked in the Garment center he was fired and was taken out of his place. Then from the money he earned at the garment center when he asked his mother the money so he can buy the type writer she lost all of it. This made him crushed when he heard that. He received that he was going very bad in school so he gave up and decided to stop coming to school.

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:41:13 am

Jaime you are right. That was very disturbing for him when he lost that job. I think it was another one of those turning points in his life.

Adriana link

6/19/2013 12:34:21 pm

"The Garment Center" talks about how Walter was forced to find a job at a young age. Therefore he is struggling with school and work. Walter writes letters to the school for the days he has missed except he forges his mothers signature on the letter so the school knows that Walter was out. Walter is saving up money for college. Later to find out that the funds he had saved are being used by his mother for useless things.

Ladasha 7th

6/19/2013 01:14:32 pm

"The Garment Center" is about Walter is trying to find a job at the Garment Center. Walter job was to pack boxes. The boss told him if he was strong enough, he could work st the ticketing machine.Walter was replace with a white kid. The boss let him to the ticketing machine because he was a strong boy. This chapter inspires me because I had a dream about working at the same place. I like the book so far. My prediction at the end is that Walter turns out to be a good boy. I'm not going to tell you the rest because I want you to find out.

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:44:10 am

Good commentary Ladasha. Thanks for not giving away the ending. :)

Joshua

6/19/2013 08:49:17 pm

This chapter was about walter getting a job and more. He found a job but there was not that many jobs for black people so he struggled. He was also in high school and is getting ready for collage. There is also not that many colleges for black people. But i also forgot the name of the chapter so sorry

Raymond

6/19/2013 10:40:21 pm

The garment center is about how Walter drops out of school because personal problems he then gets a part time job and erns money to buy a type writer in wich he gives the money to his mom and then finds out that the mom wasted all the money

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:49:07 am

Raymond, we can only imagine how devastating that was both for him and his mom when she lost the money for the typewriter.

Jose_12

6/19/2013 10:45:24 pm

"The garment center" Walter tries to find a job to raise money. He also gets in a new school trying to go to college. He wants a job to buy a typewriter. He raises enough money one day, but his mother spent it all.

isla c:

6/19/2013 11:20:25 pm

The garment center was very stressful and sort of emotional to read . Walter is looking for a job at the garment center .The boss gives it to him . But at the end Walter gets fired . Later the job of ticketing goes to a white boy . Walter struggles because of his race alot . but that's something he's going to have to learn to live with .

Marcus 7th

6/20/2013 12:32:23 am

The Garment Center was about when Walter got a new job, but he is fired from that job because of his race and the job is given to a white boy. He is moved down to moving boxes which earns him money for a type writer. He is devastated when he finds out that his mom used his money for the lottery which makes him and his mom feel very bad.

Isaiah 7 link

6/20/2013 01:03:51 am

The chapter today was about Walter getting a job. His job pays a little over minimum wage. Walter (even though he had a job) he was having a hard time. His family was crumbling into a complex pile of problems. Walter was saving up for a typewriter so he gives his money to his mama. Later he finds out that his mama spent all his money chasing the numbers. He is very Furious and his father was too. So his father bought him an old one. Walter doesn't like it, but he uses it to forge his mom's signature on the letters his school sends.

PAndega

6/20/2013 02:23:54 am

Excellent summary Isaiah

asha 7th

6/20/2013 01:32:22 am

walter got a job and he was replaced by a white kid and he wasnt happy but he needed the money so he just went with it it pays a little over minimum wage but he still apreciated it he got the idea of the job through his cousin so overall its a great book.

Isaiah 7 link

6/20/2013 08:09:17 am

Today's chapter was mostly about Walter's future. He was mostly thinking about his beliefs and school. He started going back and passed that semester. He had to discover himself, find out who he is. The funniest part in that chapter I believe was when Walter talked to his pastor but didn't get the information he needed so in his mind he thought "Is there a telephone line to God". That was really funny to me.

Adriana link

6/20/2013 10:29:48 am

In this chapter Walter gets caught for being truant and realizes that . getting an education is more important. He is now managing work and school, and is no longer struggling.However, Walter thinks about his future and how he wants to make his writing a success.

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:27:52 am

Great job Adriana.

Raymond 8 grade

6/20/2013 11:37:36 am

On this chapter he discover that school was more important then getting money he goes back to school finish the school year he know is more interested in his beliefs.

Timmy 7th

6/20/2013 11:39:54 am

In this chapter of the book it's talking about it the Garment Center. Walter Dean Myers applies for a job,but because of his race the job is given to a white boy instead he is gets a job where he's packing boxes. Walter Dean Myers is devastated when he learns that all his money for a typewriter is gone because his mother uses it on trying to win the lottery

P.A.

6/20/2013 11:42:18 am

Great Job Tim.

LaDasha 7th

6/20/2013 12:45:44 pm

"God and Dylan Thomas" is about Walter is trying to find good examples of how he can make his poem number one from Langston Hughes and Dylan Thomas. Walter has met the six feet basketball player named, Frank Hall. Frank and Walter had walked home from their basketball game. They were standing in front of Walter's house. Walter is still trying to figure out the business of race, so one day, Walter and his brother, Mickey, was walking along Seventh Avenue. They both saw a black skinned man name Langston Hughes Who was being interviewed by white people. So this chapter is really saying that God has praised Walter with the help of Dylan Thomas.

kedric

6/20/2013 01:32:13 pm

The Garment Center
Tonight for homework we had to read Chapter 11 The Garment Center. This chapter started off with Walter surrounded by people who were talking about colleges, jobs and what the future lies ahead for them. Walter, on the other hand had no idea what direction to go in or what direction he should go in, so basicly he was lost. Walter's cousin Joseph said that he could hook him up a job at the garment center where he worked. But Walter didn't want to work at the garment center. The garment center is a place to work for all races. People made and assembled clothing indoors that was then put into push behind trucks. Mostly black people worked outside pushing trucks to the post office. Walter Dean Myers then wrote about his Aunt Nancy owning a brokerage buisiness. She takes immagrant women and match them with American men so that they can apply to be an American citizen. After that he talked about applying for a job at school but they referred him to the New York State employment service. They gave him a job at the Friedman Coats, a factory at the garment center. He packed garments for shipping and if he was good enough then he could be taught how to use the ticketing machine. People in their junior and senior year were thinking seriously about their options about college and jobs.

P.A.

6/24/2013 04:03:28 pm

Way to go Kedric!

Jaime

6/20/2013 01:50:26 pm

"God and Dylan Thomas" : Walter needs to get his act together on coming to school since if he wont pass he wont get to go to move on. Somehow the classes he rarely comes to he passed them, maybe they were trying to get a way for him to pass. But when he learned about the passonate romances in poetry he was determined to get back to school and go good in the school year.

Joshua 7th

6/20/2013 03:07:42 pm

This chapter is about Walter getting more interested in his future life. He is trying to figure out his college and job. He is also getting inserted in girls. His friend is also a really bad influence to Walter in this chapter. Walter is trying his best to accomplish his goals in life. He is also thinking about joining a college basketball team. But theres more to it than it seems so read it for your self.

Jose_12

6/20/2013 03:14:42 pm

"God and dylan thomas" Walter gets busted and he has to go to school to pass on. He also see's a kid getting beat up so he goes and hits a guy that is hitting the kid. He said that he enjoyed hitting the other guy. He also tries to find Dylan, the person he looks up to, in the bar he asked a guy if he was their but got kicked out.

alberth17

6/20/2013 09:44:14 pm

'The Garment Center' walter gets a job to save up money for things he needs. He starts being careful and decides to give his mom the money, but later on he finds out that she wasted it all on trying o win the lottery. Walter is devasted, He worked soo hard for it.

alberth17

6/20/2013 09:48:46 pm

"God and Dylan" Walter starts to skip school by forging his mom's signature onto the excuses he sends the school. He gets caught and he has to go to pass. Walter also starts to think about god and of what he should do. Walter learns about the Author Dylan and trys to meet him at a bar but is kicked out instead. Walter meets a boy named Frank by helping him in a fight.

Lilly

6/20/2013 11:19:54 pm

In "God and Dylan Thomas", Walter, in the beginning, starts to miss school at the age of 15. In that chapter, Walter meets his new friend, Frank Hall, from saving him from a gang fight. Also, is when Walter tries to meet his favorite poet, Dylan Thomas, at a bar.

isaac 7

6/20/2013 11:35:39 pm

"God and Dylan Thomas"
This chapter talks about Walter's future.He starts thinking about college and his religion.He is lost and really feels like talking to god in person.Walter start getting interested in girls .The book is really grabbing my attention so far and I am really liking it.

Marcus 7th

6/20/2013 11:36:07 pm

"God and Dylan Tomas" was about Walter getting in trouble for skipping school and by some miracle he passed. Walter started thinking about what he wants to do with his life. He also starts wondering about his beliefs in God and asks reverend to help him and is suprised when he doesn't get the answer he was looming for. Then he meets a boy named Frank who was a bad influence to him in this chapter. Finally at the end of the chapter Walter tries to meet his favorite poetry writer in a bar, but is kicked out because of his age.

isla c:

6/21/2013 12:05:22 am

In god and Dylan Thomas Walter explains how his game isn't on . he seems depressed . but once he starts to get his hope back he seems to determined to be better in school . the way he did this was get closer to god and he met Dylan . but unfortunately his resolution only lasted 3 weeks .

Isaiah 7th link

6/21/2013 05:10:56 am

Today's chapter was about Walter's school life. As the new semester started Walter started to go for the first three weeks but stopped going after that. He was walking around the parks and writing. One day Walter was almost ready for school when his mother came so they could go to school. When they got to the school they talked to the counsler and the mom told the counsler about Walter's time he had scarlet fever which made him a very nervous child.

asha 7th

6/21/2013 12:42:01 pm

in this chapter walter got something called scarlet fever and was in the hospital for about 3 weeks and when they releaced him he went to school but they said he couldnt stay because of his desease unless he saw the counsler about his problems and feelings overall its a really great book it will catch you by surprise so you should read it sometime soon.

Jaime

6/23/2013 11:38:54 am

"Marks on Paper" Walter again is getting worse in school. He wants to someway get his effort up or he might be in major trouble. But now when he asked his mom why she's dressed up. He now knew that the office asked for his mom. After a while of talking they might have something to get Walter going to school and all the excuses.

LaDasha 7

6/23/2013 12:14:44 pm

"Marks on Paper" is about Walter is being interviewed by an interviewer about how he like the book he read that previous year and how good he writes. I like this chapter because it shows how Walter accomplished his writing.

Adriana link

6/23/2013 01:58:58 pm

In this chapter, Walter is beginning to take his education more serious.Walter realizes that staying in school is the key to being a successful writer. It is what he wants most in life. Walter is seeking somthing more than success, He finds that God is very full filling and is staying focused on his future. Walter is determind to make his dreams come true.

Bryson

6/23/2013 03:28:46 pm

God and Dylan Thomas- this chapter is about walter trying to do better this year. He also meets a new friend named frank, he help him when he was getting jumped on the basketball court. Walter also tries to meet his favorite poet Dylan Thomas.

Joshua 7th

6/23/2013 04:53:17 pm

I am so sorry but i really forgot what was the chapter about but i do remember a little. This chapter was about Walter looking for a job and birng interviewd. He really wants to get a job. I think he had also been getting more intrsted in girls and his future. But you should go read it for your self and understand it more than i did.

Sam 7th link

6/23/2013 06:53:44 pm

In this chapter Walter made a new friend, Frank, after Walter saves him from being beaten up by a few kids. Walters mom doesn't like Frank, she thinks he's a bad influence.

Lilly

6/23/2013 10:49:50 pm

"Marks on paper" was about how Walter was starting to have trouble in school. Again, Walter stopped going to school because he wasn't doing good in School. From time to time Walter would attempt to go to school. Walter soon dropped out of school to pursue reading. In the fall of 1953, Walter wanted to start writing stories.

Jose_12

6/23/2013 11:45:00 pm

"Marks on paper" walter stops going to school again because he was having trouble since he hasnt bee going to school.he reads books that the teacher recomends for him and he also writes stories. Eventually he drops out of school because he was having trouble and had too many things going on in his life.

Marcus 7th

6/24/2013 12:46:19 am

"Marks On Paper" was about Walter having school problems and going to a councilor. When Walter started skipping school he was inspired to write like one of his favorite authors. After not going to school for almost 30 days Walter and his mom went to the school and talked about when Walter had

Marcus 7th

6/24/2013 12:49:28 am

"Scarlet Fever" when he was 8 years old and Walter thinks that his mom told them he had Scarlet fever. I thought it was a great chapter because Walter started reading again but bad because he started skipping school again.

Bryson

6/24/2013 03:29:34 am

The Stranger- This chapter was about Walter talkin to Frank more in the park. they talk about Franks life through out Harlem, Frank also talks about his new job in which he has to get a package from a men and deliver it to someone. I think frank is delivering iligal items and hes going to get Walter in trouble.

isaac 7

6/24/2013 06:26:13 am

"The stranger" this chapter was mainly about walter's bad decisions.Some include hanging out with frank,being around drugs,working with drug dealers and even thinking about living with frank.Frank is a bad influence to walter.in my opinion, this is the part of the book were its climax start to rise.I think the story is getting interesting by every chapter.

Sam 7th link

6/24/2013 07:12:17 am

What is the story board about? How do we start it? Is it about my life? And if it is what part do we get to chose? Do need to have something about the book in it? A summery?

Sam 7th link

6/24/2013 07:38:20 am

"The Stranger" is about Franks telling Walter about how he killed people when he had blacked out. They also picked up a package for money. The place was dirty and there were drugged up people there. Walter when to the hospital to get some tests done.

Sam 7th link

6/24/2013 07:40:53 am

Walter went to the hospital to get some tests done.

kedricccccc

6/24/2013 10:09:06 am

Marks On Paper
Tonight for homework we had to read chapter 13. Chapter 13 is first starts off with Walter doing horribly in school . So he was sent to the guidance counselor once again. Once the guidance counselor was done talking sternly to him, Walter walked out of school. When he left school he went to a creative writing class. At school everyone was talking about college. Like what school they're attending, this and that. Walter was getting really nervous about this. He lied sometimes about what college he was going to attend.For the writing class he had to read the Penguin Island book and to himself he made connections with it.

Jaime

6/24/2013 10:13:28 am

"The Stranger" Walter was with Frank on the side of the street. Frank was asked by a guy to deliver a package to another person. When Walter and Frank went over to the guys house to get the package to deliver, Walter seen people in the house being dopers and after they left to deliver Walter asked how Frank hurts people when he blacks out. After the delivery Walter was sent to the hospital to get tested

Marcus 7th

6/24/2013 10:48:25 am

In "The Stranger" Walter was being interviewed because of his grades...again. Then Walter goes into depht about his friend Frank, his strange job, and possibly living with him. Walter then talks about his book called "The Stranger" by one of his favorite his favorite authors which is about a killer and compares his life to him. I thought it was an amazing chapter and you should read it.

LaDasha 7th

6/24/2013 11:11:48 am

"The Stranger is about Walter is experiencing of What his life is going to be when he gets older. Walter his mother that he promised he would be home early but he needed someone to talk to in a bad way, so he met Frank that night. The more Walter hangs out with Frank the more Walter knows about his stories. I think Water should shouldn't be haning out with Franks because he's a bad influnence. Frank drinks but Walter doesn't. So you can tell that Frank is a bad influnence. Walter had to go to Belleve for testing. After he completed his test, he was told to go see Dr. Holiday. Walter feltr like like Mersualt, the character of The Stranger which is a book, because he had to go see a stranger.

P.A.

6/24/2013 03:56:22 pm

Good Job on your analysis Ladasha.

Adriana link

6/24/2013 11:46:16 am

"The Stranger', Walter was having some issues and was needing some guidance. Walter decided to go to his only friend Frank for some advise, and tells him how he felt and what was going on. Frank was also telling Walter about his past and how he spent some time in jail, and is still having issues. When Walter listens to Frank he begin to realize that his friend was not a good influence. Walter began to think about how he was going to resolve his problems, he prays and hopes for the best.

Timmy 7th

6/24/2013 12:11:51 pm

"The Stranger" was about how Walter was going through a tough time with deciding on how he is going to deal with the stuff that has been going on so he go's to Frank for some help. As Walter is listening to him about moving in with him he decides that it's not a good idea to move in with him.

asha 7th

6/24/2013 12:37:34 pm

the stranger
todays chapter was about how frank went to jail and his mom bailed him out for the second time and how frank told walter to go with him to his job and frank ended up getting in trouble that reminds me of the time I went with my brother to work and he got in trouble because I was eating up all the food so he got fired then I told my mom he did and he threw me in the pool

P.A.

6/24/2013 03:53:42 pm

Hilarious text to self connection Asha.

isla c:

6/24/2013 01:46:28 pm

"The stranger" was about Walter not doing so well in school. He gets told that if he continues with this behavior he could be elegable in a juvenile center. After this he goes to the park to meet up with his friend frank. Walter tell his mother he is going to get home early. But his plans change. Frank starts telling Walter if he would like to get a place with him. He tells Walter how a guy on 125th avanue street offered him a job. at 9 frank is sopposed to meet them. Walter offers to go with him . when they get there the background is dopers injecting heroin into theyre vains. About 15 to 20 mins. after waiting . they hand Walter and frank a package. And that if something were to happen to that package. They would be in big trouble.

P.A.

6/24/2013 04:07:36 pm

Good summary Isla. How do you feel about the friendship between Walter and Frank?

Joshua 7th

6/24/2013 02:29:17 pm

"The stranger" This chapter was very confusing for me. At the beginning I was really confused. Then it all started making sense. But Walter was getting in trouble a lot in school and if he kept on getting in trouble he would have to go to juvenile or get suspended. Later on Walter was at a bus and one person would not get off so he got stabbed and woke up in a hospital but that part was confusing

alberth17

6/24/2013 09:57:46 pm

"the stranger" Walter was still not doing that good in school. He had to go to a guidance counsler who told him he may be eligable for juvenile detention. Walter also meets Frank. Frank tells him about his life and why hes not happy. He also asks Walter if he would like to go with him to do a quick delivery. I think Walter likes Frank but he doesn't want to end up like him. Walter also compares himself to mersualt, who is one of his favorite authors.

Lilly

6/24/2013 10:56:36 pm

In "The Stranger", Walter got into trouble for dropping out of school again and was sent to someone at the city of bureau for an interview. Walter also describes how well he knew his friend, Frank's, story. Walter describes how there was a horrible incident one night. Frank and his mother were on a bus. Frank's mom was very loud on the bus. The bus driver had decided to put an end to it and kick them off the bus. Frank's mom refused to get off the bus. Frank hadn't remembered much of what happened after that but what he does remember is waking up in a hospital bed, secured. He later learned he stabbed the driver and another passenger to death. When Frank was 16, another incident happened. This time is was an argument and Frank passed out. Again, there was a dead victim, but there was only one. Also in the Chapter, Walter went with Frank to go to the apartment the Frank stayed at. When they git there, Walter noticed someone putting little packages in to a brown paper bags and another person against the was, that looked as is he was shooting heroin.
Analysis: I think that Walter is thinking that Frank is a drug dealer but, Walter still wants to be friends with Frank.

Jose_12

6/24/2013 11:51:01 pm

" the stranger" walter is having a bad time at school and the counselor tild him that he may be elligable for juvenile center. He also meets frank in the park and they go to franks job. They tell frank to delliver something to some place in downtown. Walter starts thinkin about getting hus own place without his parents, but he dosn't want to turn out like frank. He thinks about getting his own place because he thinks that one day he might bring a girl over.

Isaiah 7 link

6/25/2013 01:06:11 am

"The Stranger" This chapter was mostly about Frank. He was telling Walter about his life. He was saying that one time he had stabbed a bus driver and two passengers because the bus driver was trying to kick them off the bus. So Frank and Walter had been hanging out a lot then and so on this one time They went to this creepy guy's house to take a package to this other house.

The point I was getting at was Walter was hanging out with Frank a lot so I was getting worried for him. So I was thinking, what if something happened.

alberth17

6/25/2013 02:40:34 am

" Dr.Holiday" - Walter again starts to attend school but then starts to also skip it. He also starts to get more distant from his mom, but he is grateful that she had given him his first reading voice. He also goes to see Dr.Holiday. She asks him questions like "Are you angry about something?" and "What kind of problems are you having?". He answers them and then leaves. He also starts to imagine his "execution" at school during his graduation because he knows he may fail. He also runs into the gang who attacked Frank.
Analysis: I think Walter may fail but he looks like he doesn't care. His visits to Dr.Holiday leaves him thinking that hes smart and he knows it. I think Walter should be more careful with his actions.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:39:54 pm

Alberth you've really zeroed in on the conflict of emotions he was having with regards to his mom also. He had somehow lost that bond they had when she first set him on the path for his reading journey.

Isaac 7th

6/25/2013 03:49:06 am

"Dr. Holiday" This chapter talks about walter's experience in school and with Dr. Holiday.He isn't doing his very best in school,and he knows he can do better because he hasn't attended school everyday.He also goes to Dr.Holiday's appointments.He tries go impress her by acting smart and end up getting away with it.He soon ends up liking her.
Walter aslo finds himself with the same gang that beat up frank.He then thinks about what the future will bring when he finds them again.
:I think he needs to pay more attention in what he is doing,and that he needs to catch up in school before graduation.

Bry$on

6/25/2013 04:11:38 am

Dr. Holiday- Walter was spending more time in the Central Park instead of going to school. Most of the he spent it reading. For a little while Walter went to school but the teachers barely called on him. Walter felt very bad that his mother didn't know what was going on with Walter. When Walter had to get to Dr. Holiday's office he had to go back to the hospital. Dr. Holiday asked questions to Walter. Walter was really glad to hear that he was bright. Dr. Holiday was confused about his name. She kept calling him Walter Dean instead of Walter Myers. Walter had to go back there next week. Walter kept reading and writing. Once when Walter was in the central park he ran into the attackers that had attacked Frank. Then he had to go back to Dr.Holiday for a session. She asked him if he ever had sex with a girl. He answered that he had but he actualy didn't. Also at he end she asked him " Do you like being black ? '' Questions I have are ,why would Dr. Holiday ask Walter if he liked being black? Why do you think that even with all of the warnings Walter has recieved, he still skips school? I think walter going to go to his parents to tell them that he was asked do you like being black. I also think something will happen to his mothe because of her drinking problem.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:43:34 pm

Bryson even though it was a quirky question about race, I think Dr. Holiday sensed that Walter needed to answer that question for himself in order to move forward with his life.

Connor :|

6/25/2013 05:20:57 am

"The Stranger"In this chapter of Bad Boy Walter thinks about his life, when he meets this guy Frank. Walter thinks of Frank as a friend but doesn't want to be like him when he gets older.Frank drinks and ships drugs to places, it is a bad influence on Walter, and Walter knows that he is. Walter later goes to a place where he sees a person names Mersault who is known to him as "The Stranger". After seeing The Stranger he learns that in the next chapter he has to see a person named Dr.Holiday.

Connor :|

6/25/2013 05:26:57 am

"Dr.Holiday"Walter goes to Dr.Holiday's office in Belleve to find out that it is a girl he came to see. While in the office he talks to her about his life so far. She asks him if he liked school or if he liked his parents. She asked him many questions but the one that really set Walter into thinking is "Do you like being black?"
Analogy:I really wish to know if he does like to be black or if he doesn't like it at all. I ask this because at some point everyone at one point wonders what it would be like to be a different race.

P.A.

6/26/2013 02:29:18 am

Good observation Connor. At some point in their lives, everyone may have to ask themselves if they love the skin they're in.

Sam :D link

6/25/2013 07:17:14 am

"Dr. Holiday" Walter started to go back to school for a few days ,but soon began to skip again. On warm days he would go to the park to read. He went to Dr. Holiday's office at the hospital. He had to walk down a long hallway to get there. Dr.Holiday asked walter questions about his life and how he feels. She also askes him "Do you like being black?". Walter also runs into the gang that attacked him and Frank.
Analysis: When Walter skips school again he is just hurting his self. Does Walter like talking to Dr. Holiday. I think part of the reason Walter stoped going to school again was how much he likes to read and write.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:07:16 pm

Sam you're right about him liking to read and write. There is a real dichotomy between Walter's actions and his desire to go to school. He really does want to go to school but somehow he finds himself dropping out repeatedly.

LaDasha 7th

6/25/2013 09:19:51 am

Summary: "Dr.Holiday" is about how Walter increases his writing and reading skills, Walter has been spending most of his time in Central Park instead of goimg to school because he like to read, so he reads three to four books a week. When he started going back to scool, he would limit his the time he reads.
Walter was experincing his surroundings on his way to Dr. Holiday's office. when Walter walked into Dr. Holiday's office, she asked him whats wrong because Walter looked sad ad he answered nothing.
Walter had picked up a book of Uylsses, by James Joyce. Walter could not stop reading, but he only stop for spagetti that his mother made. He read until midnight. Walter had heard that Uylsses wasmvery dificult to read but Walter wanted to read it so he can understand it and love it. One day, Walter had ran into a gang that had attacked Frank. Walter was reading in Central Park, at the sailboat lake, when four of them came along. One of them recognized Walter and pulled out a knife, Walter also pulled out a knife and headed for the gang. The white people that was on the benches were moving away. Walter was told to stay put while thet go get a gun. Walter didn't mind hurting people, but that wasn't his leading goal. Walter went to his next session with Dr. Holiday. The most important question Dr. Holiday asked Walter was do you like being black. I think Walter should forcus on schol more before diong any other activities and I think Dr. Holiday can help Walter with his problems. For example: being bullied and school problem.

P.A.

6/25/2013 11:52:22 am

So proud of you Ladasha!

k3driccccccccccc

6/25/2013 01:17:40 pm

The Stranger
The stranger first talks about Walter having to report to the city bureau for an interview because he has been skipping school. The guy Walter had to talk to told him that if he he continued to stay out of school he would be eligible for a juvenile facility. He had him agree to a bunch of statements and was being very strict with him. When he was leaving his stomach was churning, but instead of going straight home and to be early like he promised Mama he met Frank that night. He needed someone to talk to but there was nothing Frank or anyone one else could do to help him. Frank told Walter his story about his Dad being a singer\dancer and everyone being nice to him then, but when he died everyone one was mean to him. Things just got worse from there. Frank's mom would get drunk and when people would try to get her off the bus for example Frank "blacked out" but in the process stabbing more than one innocent person. As Walter and Frank were talking Mr. and Mrs. Dodson walked by and asked Walter if he was ok and if he wanted to go home with her. He realized that that "The Wicked Witch" being kind but then thought that Mama could have told her about his situation.
Analysis:

k3driccccccccccccccc

6/25/2013 01:30:21 pm

He started skipping school and was on his way to juvenile if he continued. Frank had blacked out because he had stabbed 3 people.

P.A.

6/25/2013 08:49:32 pm

Kedric, you are improving by leaps and bounds. I'm impressed.

k3driccccccccccccccccc

6/25/2013 01:25:28 pm

Dr.Holiday
Walter smiled whenever he was in trouble.Walter didn't really care about school.Billie was drunk and tried to perform for a long time. He didn't tell anyone that he had trouble about trouble telling different colors a part. Walter had ran into a gang and they walked away instead of fighting him. Dr. Holiday asked Walter did he like being black
Analysis: i think that Walter really stopped caring about life from what i'm reading

P.A.

6/25/2013 08:51:49 pm

I agree. Walter was now somewhat disconnected from life.

asha 7th

6/25/2013 02:03:55 pm

dr.holiday

In this chapter Walter is still going to his therapist and he was rarely seen at school and it stated in the chapter that he didn't care about any of the other subjects but when he wasn't at school he was the same place he always was at the park reading. Personally I think some of the books he was reading were probably a setback in his therapy because of the content of the book. He was also still hanging with frank and I think he was torn between being his friend and not being his friend and he couldn't decide .He was startled by a couple gang members one of them which pulled a knife he pulled his out to like you want to get heated I can get heated to lets go and at the end of the chapter the lady asked him if he liked being black? I would have said power to the people . I think this whole chapter cleared some things up and brought some things forth for previous chapters and chapters to come.

P.A. link

6/25/2013 08:57:18 pm

Way to go Asha.
I don't know if it's the content of the books so much, or it was the way he used the books as an escape route. Ironically, the books had become an excuse not to show up for his life.

Jaime

6/25/2013 02:07:09 pm

"Dr. Holiday" Walter is getting problems on school again and doesn't really care much anymore. After that Walter walked to Billy Holiday's office and Dr. Holiday asks only some simple questions to Walter. Walter says how he couldn't tell from certain colors which is his problem to know.
I think Walter has so much stuff he gets himself in bad situations.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:11:07 pm

Jaime, you are right. There was a lot going on in Walter's life. He had a lot to contend with at home, his speech impediment, anger issues and also the social climate at the time.

Joshua 7th

6/25/2013 02:46:13 pm

"Dr.holidays" is about Walter not going to school much but going to Central Park to read and write. He would write sad poems describing his life. Walter talked alot to his doctor, Dr.holidays and she kept on giving him compliments about his smartness. She also asked him lots of questions about his life.

Analysis-This chapter was like 7th and 5th grade to me. I Reyes as hard as i could on my work but i got off tasks easily. I talked to my doctor and he said i had this thing that made me really hyper. But I still tryed and never gave up and eventually i passed 5th grade and hopefully i will pass 7th grade to.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:17:16 pm

Very powerful text to self analysis Joshua. You are right about persevering. Perseverance is definitely very high on the list of 'Habits of Success' that we discussed in class.

Timmy 7th

6/25/2013 02:56:01 pm

"Dr.holiday" Walter starts to go to school but doesn't care about it anymore.Walter goes to Dr.Holiday as he asked him some question.He talks to her about his disadvantages with colors.In the park Walter sees the gang that beat up frank,they pull out a knife he also pulls out a knife on them.
:I think the chapter was about Walter deciding what he would do next.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:32:21 pm

Timmy, I think Dr. Holiday really gave Walter some food for thought when they had the discussion about the issue of race and color. Myers was struggling with the complexities of the racialized society in which he lived. At the same time he knew he was so much more than just a color.

Isaiah 7th link

6/25/2013 04:25:59 pm

"DR.HOLIDAY" In this chapter was writing a lot more than usual. Instead of going to school he was going to central park more often to read and write. He was reading a lot and when school started again he tried to read less, but to him it felt impossible. He couldn't do his school work and was between a rock and a hard place. In one part of the chapter he goes to the future to talk about his mom's death and how his dad would have memories about her. He talks about how his mom gave him his reading voice. After that he comes back to the present to talk about Dr.Holiday. She talks to him about his life and sees if he is struggling. He talks about the newspaper, about executions and people letting him down. He says even God had. At the end of the chapter he gets into a fight with the same guys who had attacked frank. He pulls out a knife and the guys run.

"My words" Walter had yet to discover himself. He was spending more and more time out of school. I believe this could have affected Walter in a way that he could be mentally off balance. He was reading a lot of books lately and saying that he is on-and-off balance. I believe this is very bad for him. One question I do have is why in the world would Dr.Holiday ask if Walter liked being black? Very mind disabling to me. That knocked me off balance for a little bit.

P.A.

6/25/2013 09:24:15 pm

Wow Isaiah, you are making me laugh and cry at the same time. I'm crying because I'm so proud of the effort you've put into this commentary. You are so right about Walter being between a rock and a hard place. Those were really trying times for him. I'm laughing because of your brilliant way with words. I hope you've got your balance back now because you've got work to do. I think you're going to be a writer someday like Walter Dean Myers.

Lilly

6/25/2013 11:05:32 pm

In "Dr. Holiday", Walter tells us how his writing pace had increased. Instead of going to school, Walter, would spend most of his time in Central Park reading. Walter would also read 3 or 4 books a week now. When walker attempted to go to school again, Walter would try to limit the amount of books he read to 2 books. And when Walter wasn't reading, he would write. Walker began not to do his homework assignments. Walter would also open his textbooks but would always be drawn back to away from it to go back to reading our writing. For a while, Walter started to go to school again everyday, but soon began missing days again. Walter was very unhappy and began writing droppily sad poems about death and isolation that reflected the way he felt.

Analysis: I can relate to Walter when it came to not doing homework assignments but I wonder why he chose not to do to them, just as I did the same. I would ask Walter if I got the chance why he chose not to do his homework and why he was also very unhappy.

P.A.

6/26/2013 09:16:52 pm

You are right Lilly, Walter certainly had a lot of internal conflict. This is a good example of the man against self dilemma.

Jose_12

6/25/2013 11:43:52 pm

"Dr. Holidays" walter improves in his writing ability by reading about four books a week. When he wasn't reading he would be writing and instead of going to school he would go to central park and reed or write. When he did go to school he didnt get picked on by the teacher because he didn't know everything since he hasn't been going to school. When walter would get homework, he wouldnt do it because he would rather read or write than to do it.
Analysis: I think that another reason walter didnt do his homework was because he didnt understand it. I can be simillar to walter because i didnt do my homework because i didnt want to sometimes. Other times i didnt understand the homework and i didn' t even try to do it.

P.A.

6/26/2013 09:21:56 pm

Jose, as you can see, Walter's life is a classic example of what not to do when you are facing challenges in school. I believe author Dean Myers penned this memoir partly to help young children learn from his own mistakes.

Marcus 7th Dragon

6/26/2013 12:34:05 am

In the chapter "Dr. Holiday" Walter's writing increased dramatically while his reading skills decreased. The all happened while he was in Central Park instead of school where he was suppose be after school had started. He started reading less so he could try and focusing on his work but when ever he tried he would always find himself reading or writing. The affect of this resulted in Walter doing bad in school again. Walter then talks about this author who he immediately thought he knew him. He started comparing

Marcus 7th dragon slayer

6/26/2013 12:51:09 am

(Sorry for some reason when I tried to back it wouldn't let me type anymore).
He started comparing his life with the authors. While he is comparing he goes a little bit into the future and talks about his mothers death his father starts trying to teach him how to be a man. He talks about how his mother gave him his first reading voice and how great she was. He then goes back to the present and his interview with Dr. Holiday.They start talking about his grades and how he feels. After the interview he starts thinking about his life and how he might be executed because he had read so many people being executed in the paper. At this point he had lost thought that everything had let him down even God. At the end of the chapter he is confronted be the gang who attacked Frank. One of the members pulls out a knife but then Walter pulls out his and scares them off.

Analysis: At the beginning I was disappointed in Walter for not attending school again, but I was happy he was becoming a better writer. I was sad about his mothers death and why Walter never told his mom the truth about everything that had happened in his life like the taxi cab incident. I was a little angry when his dad tought him how to be a man AFTER his mother had died. At the end of the chapter I wanted to see Walter beat up the gang and watch them go to jail. I personally think it was an amazing chapter and I can't wait to read more.

P.A.

6/26/2013 02:25:56 am

Marcus, This is an excellent analysis. I can see that you have become even more engaged with the text. It really does seem like writing will ultimately be Walter's saving Grace.

I S A A C 7th

6/26/2013 04:04:02 am

"Black Black"
In this chapter walter mostly writes about the situation with Dr.Holiday asking him if he likes being black.He answers "yes" without thinking twice,but soon starts thinking really hard about it and finds the true meaning to being black.Walter didnt really have muck problems about his race,but he starts seeing things and meditating on them and starts to dislick the fact of his race's history.
I think that he deserves to be mad but should never look back at the negative in these situations,he should always look at the bright side.

P.A.

6/26/2013 01:59:48 pm

Isaac, I really like the point you made about not looking back at the negatives of the past. We can't change the past but we can certainly use it to make informed decisions about our future.

I S A A C 7th

6/26/2013 04:05:35 am

I meant "being black"

asha 7th

6/26/2013 05:32:12 am

Being Black &1954

In these chapters Walters therapist was helping him trying to figure himself out but he's still not going to school regularly and he tries to escape his life by reading in the second chapter which is 1954 he finds out that he didn't graduate and college wasn't an option

analysis: I think Walter could have went for a really different direction but his love for reading and writing really saved him. I felt bad for him because I would want to go to college to persue my dream . I wonder if he went to college when he got money to go.

LaDasha 7th

6/26/2013 08:37:13 am

Summary: "Being Black" is about how Walter experienced what being black is all about. Walter did not know what being black meant, so while he was younger he fought alot and try to hurt other kids. Walter thought about how he uesd to hurt, he realize that being black means you are muscular and being man.
Analysis: I think Walter like being black because he didn't care of what skin color he was, except white, and he didn't care of what people said about him. I had that same feeling. I was asked that same question, did I like being black? My answer was yes beacause I didn't care what other people said about my skin color. I was proud of my skin color.
"1954" is about how Walter didn't graduate and that college wasn't an option. Walter therpist was helping him trying to figure himself out but he's still not giong to school regularly and he tries to escape his life by reading.
Analysis: I think Walter is trying to run away from his life becase he doesn't lie it. I can feel Walteris pain by not giong to scool.I didn't want to go to school either because I wanted to read but my mother made me go because she wanted me to get a good education.

P.A.

6/26/2013 09:34:26 pm

Ladasha, you have hit the nail on the head. Walter spent a lot of time simply running away from his life. Good analysis.

kedric

6/26/2013 09:26:27 am

Being Black
Chapter 16 Being Black started off with Walter answering the question he was asked from the previous chapter given to him by Dr. Holiday. Dr. Holiday's question was "Do you like being black?". Walter responded by saying "Yes of course I do". Dr. Holiday did not question him but accepted his reply. For the rest of the chapter Walter was thinking to himself about his maleness, his race and careers. For example he said he didn't know what being black really meant. In his teens' Walter wanted to know where he fit into the world. Walter also stated that people around him wouldn't let him forget the importance of telling the world who he was or intended on being. It said that to Walter careers and maleness were alot clearer to him than race was. A career in his community was defined as a good job or a bull job. A "bull" job to Walter was a job that took more physical strength. But at his school Stuyvesant a career to his fellow classmates was something totally different. To them a career meant choosing a "branch of science that they knew about, choosing a college and doing well". In Harlem being a man meant that you were good in sports, you were strong and you had money. Apparently it also meant that " A real man paid a lot of attention to women". Walter didn't see anybody especially a real man taking an interest in a writer as a career. When Walter thought of major careers he thought of white people. When he thought of black people he thought about their muscles. Walter also discussed that he didn't really know what being a "Negro" meant until he was rejected from parties and such because of his race. He then saw a lot more racism with which places excepted them and which did not. The most clearest thing to him was that being black had no advantages at all.

P.A.

6/26/2013 09:28:27 pm

You have said it all Kedric. You've really delved into some of the really troubling issues Walter wrestled with such as the issue of career options, masculinity and race.

Bry$on

6/26/2013 09:57:47 am

Being Black- begin when Walter was answering the question he was asked from the last chapter, Dr. Holiday was asking him questions. she asked "Do you like being black?". Walter said "Yes of course I do". Dr. Holiday just accepted his answer. Later in the chapter Walter was thinking about his maleness, his race and careers.As a teenager Walter wanted to know where he fit into the world. He didn't understand what being black really meant. At that time he lost thought that everything had let him down even God. At the end of the chapter he is confronted by the people who jumped Frank. One of the members pulls out a knife but then Walter pulls out his and scares them off.

1954-
Walter wanted to make his last term at Stuyvesant important. All of his classmates were worried about grade point averages and their acceptance letters to a college. Walter just wanted a miracle to happen to him. He was also still interested in sports. Walter said that “You can love baseball without worrying if it loves you back”. Another thing that happened in the chapter was that Frank came over Walter’s house and was impressed at how many books he had. When he left Mama told Walter that he looks strange and she was afraid of him. Walter said that “Frank looked the way I felt, he was an alien on this planet but because of this I was drawn to him”. Walter wanted to be something different. He wanted to make up a new world, one that didn’t fail him. Walter was also discovering that it was getting harder for Walter to understand writing, even his own. His books were just getting too hard for him. A different event that occurred in the book was that the same gang that tried to beat up Frank came after Walter. Walter out ran them and escaped thankfully but later he hated “the gang thing with passion”. He said “they were idiots intruding my life but like the idiocy of racism there was nothing I could do about it”. A different event that happened was that Walter was staying out of school again and when the school would call he would just make excuses. But he one day he got the bravado to go down to school once more to see what was going on. But when he got there the doors were locked and the school was basically empty except for a janitor who said school doesn’t open until September. Walter not only missed the last weeks of school but lost the chance to see people graduate and all of the senior activities. On his way home he cried.

Analysis: Frank might be killed by the peolple that jumped him, because thier scared of Walter so they might go for his friend.

P.A.

6/26/2013 09:32:05 pm

Good work Bryson. The book has many interesting and thought provoking quotes and here you have zeroed in on a number of them, such as the 'idiocy of racism'.

isla c:

6/26/2013 01:10:30 pm

"dr holiday" is about Walter not being able to focus in school. He rather read than do his homework. He reads up to 4 books. And when he does go to school he reads 2 . But when he starts getting side track and spends his time at Central Park reading. Walter still continues his therapy though. analysis ~ i think Walter needs to try to focus on school. i know its hard because he finds himself in his own writing.

Timmy 7th

6/26/2013 02:05:36 pm

"Being Black" is about how Walter is not often attending school instead he just goes to Central Park and read.Walter is also dealing with Dr.Holiday who asked him the question "Do you like being black?", but what Dr.Holiday does not know is that Walter loves being black.
Analysis:I think that Walter is kinda struggling because he is stuck between good and bad.

Joshua 7th

6/26/2013 03:49:05 pm

"Being black" is about Walter being black. When he was young people would ask him what did he want to become in his future career and Walter would respond by saying ,"a lawyer". Later on in high school he wanted to accomplish his future goals. He would always think negative about his raise and think he could not accomplish any of his future goals or careers. He would think bieng black would stop him from bieng a poet or an author. He also thought white people had the best jobs. He would also think he would become a janitor eventually. "1954" the end of the school year started in panic. Everyone wondering what they would accomplish. Many kids were sending there collage applications and many got accepted. Later on, Walters mom met frank and did not like him at first sight. Walter showed frank his room and Walters room was covered with books. Then, frank started talking about beating up a junkie. Dr.holidays asked Walters mom if Walter had ever thought of suicide. Also Walter was scared of the school calling his mom because of all the weeks he has missed

Analysis- This is also like me. I was panicked at the end of the year. I was really scared if i would fail 7th grade. I really got worried and all nights i would think about that. I would also be late to all of my periods and my mom would get really mad at me and i was also getting really worried and hoped that the school would not call.

alberth17

6/26/2013 10:22:05 pm

"being black" Walter thinks backs when he was little. He remembers of what he wanted to be when he grew up. He saw a diffrent definitions of both career and maleness. He also understands that being a man is power. He looks back to when he was raised and his desire of what he wanted to. He was also pround to be and american. He loved being black and the history of iy astonished him.
Analysis: Walter thinks about his race and history. I dont think walter understood the question that much.

alberth17

6/26/2013 10:29:25 pm

"1954" Walter thinks hes diffrent from everyone. He felt Frank was an alien in his mind and he was drawn to him for that reason. He thought about what he should do with his mind's expansion. He though about God,School and the violence of war.He mostly thinks about school, a teacher asked him if was still writing and he said yes, but he was having difficulty understanding it that much.The school is still sending his mom letters,which he sends back saying she'll call them even tho she actually won't.Later on,He decideds to go to school only to discover its been closed for the year. Walter is devastated and goes home crying.
Analysis:Walter now has alot of problems.I think Walter should have been studying for school if he wanted to be successful. I also think Walter will get more distant from his family and start doing bad stuff.

kedric

6/26/2013 10:51:53 pm

1954
Chapter 17 1954 first says that Walter wanted to make his last term at Stuyvesant important. All of his classmates were worried about grade point averages and their acceptance letters to a college. Walter just wanted a miracle to happen to him. He was also still interested in sports. Walter said that “You can love baseball without worrying if it loves you back”. Another thing that happened in the chapter was that Frank came over Walter’s house and was impressed at how many books he had. When he left Mama told Walter that he looks strange and she was afraid of him. Walter said that “Frank looked the way I felt, he was an alien on this planet but because of this I was drawn to him”. Walter wanted to be something different. He wanted to make up a new world, one that didn't fail him. Walter was also discovering that it was getting harder for Walter to understand writing, even his own. His books were just getting too hard for him. A different event that occurred in the book was that the same gang that tried to beat up Frank came after Walter. Walter out ran them and escaped thankfully but later he hated “the gang thing with passion”. He said “they were idiots intruding my life but like the idiocy of racism there was nothing I could do about it”. A different event that happened was that Walter was staying out of school again and when the school would call he would just make excuses. But he one day he got the bravado to go down to school once more to see what was going on. But when he got there the doors were locked and the school was basically empty except for a janitor who said school doesn't open until September. Walter not only missed the last weeks of school but lost the chance to see people graduate and all of the senior activities. On his way home he cried.

Lilly

6/26/2013 11:27:22 pm

"Being Black" was about when Dr. Holiday asked water if he enjoyed being black. Walter answered that he did. Walter talked about that when he was a teen, he was trying to find who was and his place that he fitt into to world. He also questioned what the definitions of everything but what being a male and having a career meant. He was more clear with what being male and having a career meant than the idea of race. Walter talked about how being a man means something different in Harlem from the rest of the world. That in Harlem, being male stood for having some sort of power. Walker described that in Harlem, power was expressed through muscle, in being someone who wouldn't take nonsense or who was good at athletics. He also described that people who had a lot of money or expensive clothes also had power.

Analysis: I can relate to Walter for what it means to be female and have a career. Being female in Mexican culture, means you really don't have power, except over your children, and really you're just a house wife that is to cook and clean. Having a career is great because then, you'd be able to provide. I feel in a way I could relate to Walter when it comes to talking about power and having a career.

Marcusn7

6/27/2013 01:01:44 am

In "Being Black" Dr. Holiday asked Walter if he liked being black and he said yes. He then talks about being black and explains why there was no advantages to being black in that time era.

It was a great chapter and I learned from it. I with there was more about being black from his point of view I could learn from

Marcus 7 Dragon Slayer

6/27/2013 01:54:26 am

in the chapter "Being Black" Dr. Holiday asks Walter if he likes being black. Walter responds with a yes. He wasn't telling the truth. he really didn't want the disadvantages of being black. Walter had never thought about being black before. He wasn't aware of racism on a regular bacis. He was only aware of the fact that he was a male. He soon realized that being a black male meant that you had to do labor work. In his mind he is thinking about being black didn't matter as long as you were bright. He is then crushed with the idea that he wont get a good job or get into a good college because of racism. He starts to tell all the disadvantages of being black.

Analysis: Walter should have told Dr. Holiday how he really felt. Thats what i would have done. I would have tried to think about positives about being black to counteract the negatives. He should have just been happy to be a male that got paid. This chapter reveals Walter a little and answered a few questions i was thinking about him.

raymond

6/27/2013 08:52:25 am

"Being black" is about Walter being black. When he was young people would ask him what did he want to become in his future career and Walter would respond by saying a lawyer Later on in high school he wanted to accomplish his future goals He would always think negative about his raise and think he could not accomplish any of his future goals or careers.

"1954" is about how Walter didn't graduate and that college wasnt an option Walter therapist was helping him trying to figure himself out but he's still not going to school regularly and he tries to escape his life by reading.

"Dr.holiday" Walter starts to go to school but doesn't care about it anymore.Walter goes to Dr.Holiday as he asked him some question.He talks to her about his disadvantages with colors.In the park Walter sees the gang that beat up frank,they pull out a knife he also pulls out a knife on them.

kedric

6/27/2013 09:39:25 am

Sweet Sixteen
Chapter 18 Sweet Sixteen first with Walter saying that he was sixteen and had no plans whatsoever. He didn't even tell his parents that school was over but he kept going out early every morning to Central Park with a notebook and a book. He didn't read or write there because things weren't clear to him anymore. Walter would also just spend more and more time in his room. His father would get upset but Mama would stick up for him. Walter also had another experience with Frank. One day Frank wanted to know if Walter wanted to go on another job with him. He agreed to but when they got to the pick up place Frank was beaten up and jumped in the bathroom by the supposedly hired dealer. Walter and Frank got away form that weird scene thankfully and not to hurt. When Walter told Dr. Holiday the story she wanted a lot of details. Although Dr. Holiday said she wouldn't tell anyone about the incident Walter suspects she told Mama because she was acting funny toward him for a while. Frank decided to do something very risky. Frank said that he was going to Philadelphia until things cooled down but if the city found out he could be institutionalized again. (He was still under the city's watch.) Walter was upset that he was leaving because he was the only one he could really talk to. After Frank's bus left Walter decided to stop at the army recruiting stand and ask some information about it. After little thought he decided he would join the army when he turned seventeen. Mama was very upset about it but Dad just said it would make a man out of him.

The Typist
Chapter 19 The Typist is mainly about what Walter did after he came back from the army. He said when he was a child he never considered being a writer for a job, but that is exactly what he has become. When he came back from the army he worked a series of low paying jobs. Some of these jobs included working in a factory, post office and a construction site. As he was working at the construction site, he realized that he didn't want to do that for the rest of his life. From there on he started writing again and didn't stop. He even got to meet some black poets including John O. Killens and James Baldwin. Walter had the advantage of the ability to read over other people looking for jobs because it allowed him to get better ones. He was also making some but not much money writing articles for magazines. Since 1968 Walter Dean Myers has been publishing books for young readers.One day when he was visiting his parents in Morris town, New Jersey where they moved to, when his parents asked what he did for a living. When he did, his parents didn't seem convinced but later Mama was proudly telling her friend that "her son types stories for a living"

Timmy 7th

6/27/2013 01:22:37 pm

"Sweet Sixteen" is about how Walter is struggling because he does not know what to do first his only friend frank left to check on a friend and now he hasn't told his mom or dad about not going to school

Joshua 7th

6/27/2013 02:19:38 pm

"Sweet sixteen" is about Walter having more problems. First, he has no plans for his birthday and he is worried. Also, he is hanging out with Frank to much and Walter thinks Frank is a bad influence for him. Walter was at the subway with Frank when Frank had to go to the bathroom. Walter thought Frank toke to long so Walter went to go check up on Frank when suddenly frank was in a fight. Walter tried to help Frank by hitting the other guy in the neck. Then frank said that they had been set up and got really ferocious. Later on, Walter had nothing to write about; he could not think of anything to write about. He would still go to Central Park but he would not read and write. Finally, Walter decided to go to the army. He had lied about losing his parents. He also signed up on his birthday. When he told his parents his mom got really depressed and his dad was anxious that Walter was becoming a man. But Walter was also depressed that his mom was depressed as well. She was sad that Walter joined the army and that he lied about his parents death. His brothers would ask him what it was like and he mad up story's about the life in the army.

My analysis-i had never ever lied to my parents about them dyeing but i have laird to my brothers like Walter did. My brothers would ask me how being on a soccer was like. I would lye by saying it was the life and i was the most competitive and the most athletic person in the group.

alberth17

6/27/2013 11:08:29 pm

"sweet sixteen" Walter is now sixteen but he doesn't know what to do in life now. He didn't tellhis parents that school ended and he would just look like he was going but he was actually going to the park to read. Walter goes with frank for another delivery but Frank gets jumped by the man they were supposed to deliver the package. He tells the doctor and she imeadeatly thinks Frank is bad.
Analysis: I think Walter should have told his parents about school and they could have helped him.

Lilly

6/27/2013 11:21:06 pm

"Sweet Sixteen" was about how Walter discovers that his dad cannot read. Once, Walter made a book for his dad when he was in the hospital and when Walter gave the book to him, Walter was so excited and wanted his dad to pick up the book and start reading it. But he didn't. Also, Walter goes with Frank to deliver a package on a train, but Frank gets jumped. Walter soon sees a Army recruiting stand. On Walter's birthday, Walter went to the recruiting office in the Bishop Building on 125th street. There was an entrance test and he passed it. Walter was told to call in three days to see if he was accepted, and he was. On the day Walter left, Walter's dad gives him a New Testament that he carried when he was in the Navy, and a money belt.

Analysis: I wonder why Walter chose to join the Army. If I could ask him, I would ask him why he wanted to join the Army.I would also ask him why he wouldn't teach his dad to read, after he found out.

Summer Time 2013

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