false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175977025m/579976.jpg 579976 6 "That's what 145th Street is like. Something funny happens... and then something bad happens. It's almost as if the block is reminding itself that life is hard, and you have to take it seriously." Walter Dean Myers's book of interconnected short stories is a sweet and sour mix of the comedy and tragedy of the human condition, played out against the backdrop of the Harlem neighborhood that is centered around 145th Street. In this 'hood, teens will become acquainted with the mysterious 12-year-old Angela, whose sad dreams seem to predict the future for an unlucky few, and the fast-talking Jamie Farrell, a smooth basketball player who's praying that his streak of good luck doesn't end before he can ask out Celia Evora, "the finest chick in the school." They will chuckle at the affable Big Joe, who wants to enjoy his funeral party while he's still alive, yet feel their hearts tighten when Big Time Henson senses his drug addiction drawing him closer and closer to an early grave.<p> Myers frankly discusses the consequences of violence, drive-bys and gang war through his articulate characters, but tempers these episodes with such a love of his fictional community that every character shines through with the hope and strength of a survivor. Changing his point of view from teen to adult and back again through each vignette, Myers successfully builds a bridge of understanding between adolescents and adults that will help each group better understand the problems of the other. A worthy and recommended read that beautifully illustrates the good that can come out of a community that stands together. Newbery Honor-winning Myers has written more than 50 books, including <I>Monster</I> and <I>Fallen Angels</I>. (Ages 12 and older) <I>--Jennifer Hubert</I> 1523439 9 10 2001 145th Street: Short Stories total:180|5:5|4:4|3:3|2:0|1:0| 180 696 253 46 5 1 false false Sun Sep 21 16:14:31 -0700 2008 Tue Oct 28 14:07:49 -0700 2008 more...]]> 2 0 false false Fri Apr 03 05:39:02 -0700 2009 Fri Apr 03 05:47:43 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Nov 15 14:58:54 -0800 2009 Sun Nov 15 15:09:33 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Sep 03 07:30:54 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 03 07:31:49 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon Apr 13 07:03:59 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 13 07:16:26 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Jun 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 12 17:16:49 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 12 17:34:30 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 07:03:58 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 08 05:24:18 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 true false Mon Aug 24 09:50:41 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 24 09:50:53 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Jan 25 10:13:55 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 25 10:18:31 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 15 20:33:58 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 02 18:58:18 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Nov 28 18:38:34 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 02 11:44:59 -0800 2008 1 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jan 05 20:40:25 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 05 20:42:42 -0800 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 15 19:54:45 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 15 19:54:45 -0700 2009 Once This Story was good and it was kinda sad since the man had died. This story reminds me of when we was over my Grandma's house and my whole family was arguing with one another the police had to come but no one was hurt only a coupl...more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri Nov 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 17 19:13:06 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 20 23:39:24 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 07 17:01:05 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 07 17:06:44 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jun 23 07:39:23 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 23 07:43:40 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Thu Feb 26 06:53:29 -0800 2009 Thu Feb 26 06:56:46 -0800 2009 2 0 false false Tue Feb 24 14:59:18 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 24 15:01:47 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Mon Sep 08 15:08:35 -0700 2008 Mon Sep 08 15:13:10 -0700 2008 2 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed Nov 26 20:19:45 -0800 2008 Wed Nov 26 20:20:23 -0800 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=579976