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Handbook for Boys
Jimmy and Kevin could really use a guide to life.
Their activities almost land them in juvenile detention until Duke employs them in his Harlem barbershop. Duke has rules for everything. But is he offering good advice or just more aggravation?
In the groundbreaking tradition of the award-winning Monster and Bad Boy: A Memoir, Walter Dean Myers fashions a complex, layered novel about the rules for success. Handbook for Boys is the book that he wishes he could have read while growing up. It is also the book young people need to read today.
Ages 10+
Their activities almost land them in juvenile detention until Duke employs them in his Harlem barbershop. Duke has rules for everything. But is he offering good advice or just more aggravation?
In the groundbreaking tradition of the award-winning Monster and Bad Boy: A Memoir, Walter Dean Myers fashions a complex, layered novel about the rules for success. Handbook for Boys is the book that he wishes he could have read while growing up. It is also the book young people need to read today.
Ages 10+
211 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
28 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
232 books1,181 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
November 18, 2007
my love of walter dean myers has passed, mostly because i think he writes to an audience that doesn't exactly exist. well, i don't know. this did not appeal to my students at all, and to be honest? i didn't like the fact that this stereotyped the "readers" of the book. also, i suppose it goes back to all the old debates on ebonics and the related, but why should these targeted kids read books with terrible grammar in the dialogue? i understand this is how they speak, but how are they supposed to break out the mold if they can't even put together a proper sentence, especially in a society that make such quick judgments about people?
and the whole thing was a little pedantic and annoying. i don't blame the main character for being annoyed with cap and mr. morales. but that's something else.
however, Monster is still genius. Shooter is a higher level than my kids can deal with, but is really smart. Fallen Angels is next on my list, because at some point, i want to do a unit on wars since vietnam.
and the whole thing was a little pedantic and annoying. i don't blame the main character for being annoyed with cap and mr. morales. but that's something else.
however, Monster is still genius. Shooter is a higher level than my kids can deal with, but is really smart. Fallen Angels is next on my list, because at some point, i want to do a unit on wars since vietnam.
June 2, 2020
Like other reviewers have said, this book doesn’t have much of a plot—rather, it’s a series of conversations that take place in a barbershop. However, the lessons in it are good, and I think this would be a good read for kids in danger of falling into the wrong crowd.
October 22, 2010
The book, Handbook for Boys: A Novel, is about how to make the right decision in life before you actually do something. In the book, Jimmy Lynch is a 16 year old teenage boy who have made some bad decisions, but is given another chance by Duke (a neighbor). Duke gets Jimmy out of juvenile detention by making an agreement that Jimmy will start working at his barbershop. Duke also hires Kevin, a 17 year old teen, and wants Jimmy and Kevin to learn about hard work, responsibility and also how to not regret the things you do in your life. Many people who come in to the barbershop are people who make bad choices that they know are bad. And when they leave Duke will ask Jimmy and Kevin what bad choices they have decided to do. Around the end of the story, Kevin made a bad decision to smoke pot and even though he was kind of the victim, he had to go to juvenile detention for a couple of months. At the end, Jimmy learned so much from the barbershop and he has changed from to a troubled boy to a responsible young man.
This book is one of my favorite books because it can teach you a lot of things that will encourage or inspire you to work hard and to not make bad decisions in life that you know are bad to do. I think that if people are struggling to make choices, they should decide to read this novel because this novel will show them what's the good and bad in life. Jimmy is a dynamic character because in the beginning, he was a teenager who made bad choices even when he knew it wasn't a good thing to do and there woudl be consequences. But then, when at the barbershop he learned from many people, especially Duke, to think before you want to make a decision that will ruin you. I would recommend this book to everyone!
This book is one of my favorite books because it can teach you a lot of things that will encourage or inspire you to work hard and to not make bad decisions in life that you know are bad to do. I think that if people are struggling to make choices, they should decide to read this novel because this novel will show them what's the good and bad in life. Jimmy is a dynamic character because in the beginning, he was a teenager who made bad choices even when he knew it wasn't a good thing to do and there woudl be consequences. But then, when at the barbershop he learned from many people, especially Duke, to think before you want to make a decision that will ruin you. I would recommend this book to everyone!
February 5, 2022
If you didn't like this book, then you might not be the intended audience. This book is written for Black boys living in the hood. The "plot" is whether Jimmy and Kevin will take control of their lives or end up in jail. Because I work with a lot of children like Jimmy and Kevin, I found that a very compelling plot.
My students are wary of people telling them what to do without knowing their situations. Myers nailed the main character, Jimmy. Even though this book is 20 years old, the only thing that has changed is some of the slang. Jimmy could easily be a student sitting in my classroom today.
I can also tell you that the adult African Americans in my school are desperately trying to tell all the students exactly what Duke is saying in this book. The message is just as relevant and authentic today as it was in 2002.
My students are wary of people telling them what to do without knowing their situations. Myers nailed the main character, Jimmy. Even though this book is 20 years old, the only thing that has changed is some of the slang. Jimmy could easily be a student sitting in my classroom today.
I can also tell you that the adult African Americans in my school are desperately trying to tell all the students exactly what Duke is saying in this book. The message is just as relevant and authentic today as it was in 2002.
February 10, 2017
This book is about a kid named jimmy who assaulted a kid at school and is put on parole.He starts to work at Dukes barbershop.Duke gives jimmy some life lessons and advice about life.Jimmy starts to change his personality(not the ending). I personally do not like how the story is slow and boring,and does not have any action. But i did like how the book starts with him at the court and goes back to the present. I recommend this book to people who like books that are slow and that like it when the main character changes his personality
April 9, 2019
Jimmy and Kevin get into some trouble, resulting in working at a barbershop owned by Duke. He becomes their mentor and helps guide them through their decision making ages, as they are 16 and 17 respectively. Duke helps open their eyes with all the time the boys spend with him in the store. They discuss right and wrong. Duke makes a learning opportunity out of ordinary moments, like seeing someone addicted to drugs and talking about the consequences. These boys are taught lessons from costumers' life stories between their chores of cleaning up around the barbershop. They learn to enjoy their time together and develop friendships, though at first the boys were hesitant about the situation.
The book was slow at the beginning, and I was a little uninterested. It did start to get better though as it went deeper into the stories so that there was a variety and things going on rather than just talking at the reader. It was interesting how the book taught lessons by helping out troubled boys through a series of people coming and going. It was like a series of mini-lessons. It provided an interesting look into African American culture and social rights during a time while some segregating was going on. It raises some interesting thought-provoking questions about fairness, consequences, mindset, and life in general. It had a major theme of "life is what you make it."
Content warnings: the topic of sex is referenced a couple times in discussions between characters but it isn't anything in depth, it's just referenced; a couple bad words but very sparingly, crime and drugs referenced but not in detail
The book was slow at the beginning, and I was a little uninterested. It did start to get better though as it went deeper into the stories so that there was a variety and things going on rather than just talking at the reader. It was interesting how the book taught lessons by helping out troubled boys through a series of people coming and going. It was like a series of mini-lessons. It provided an interesting look into African American culture and social rights during a time while some segregating was going on. It raises some interesting thought-provoking questions about fairness, consequences, mindset, and life in general. It had a major theme of "life is what you make it."
Content warnings: the topic of sex is referenced a couple times in discussions between characters but it isn't anything in depth, it's just referenced; a couple bad words but very sparingly, crime and drugs referenced but not in detail
May 3, 2018
Jimmy Lynch has gotten himself into some of trouble in school. Duke, the proprietor of the nearby barbershop, takes the boy under his wing to keep him out of a juvenile facility. With another boy named Kevin, he does weird jobs and listens to the crazy and thoughtfully given advice from the Grandpa like Duke and his elderly friends, the irrepressible Cap, an ex-courtroom guard who thinks he has seen everything. Also on hand are a bunch of other men, some wise and some foolish, including the philosophical Mr. M.; Pookie, whose wife has caused him to be evicted; and Peter the Grape, a millionaire who comes into the shop for a small haircut and a lot of gossip. The patient and compassionate Duke may stagger on the edge of saintliness, but in my eyes he remains human enough to remind you of someone you know, like a favorite uncle, cousin, or the guy who really does run the barbershop on the corner. Cap is often barbed-tongued, and Kevin, an honor student before he was busted for smoking marijuana, has the big pride of a boy who knows way to much for his own good. Jimmy, who narrates the story, is the real gem. He's 16 and although close to six feet tall, still retains much of a little boy's enthusiasm and innocence. Duke Said, “The trick to other whole thing is to pick your own road in life”. He dont want another young kid to get messed up in the system.
April 18, 2018
Duke, a local barbershop owner, runs a casual mentorship program for the neighborhood boys. When someone gets in trouble, Duke will take them under his wing. Jimmy is no exception. His temper got the best of him one day, and he was facing charges. In court, Duke said he'd allow Jimmy to work in his shop instead of getting jail time or probation. While Jimmy is working in the barbershop, Duke and his friends teach Jimmy (and another boy named Kevin) about the "rules" of life, what Duke calls a "Handbook for Boys." These stories and lessons really make Jimmy think and also make him more aware of the world around him.
I imagine this setting would be much like a neighborhood barbershop is like - the older men sitting around and reminiscing while young guys and boys pick up on the lessons and camaraderie of the shop. Since Myers is one of my favorite YA authors, I will add that this stays true to his writing style and topics. A well written story about getting the most out of life and becoming a better person, too.
I imagine this setting would be much like a neighborhood barbershop is like - the older men sitting around and reminiscing while young guys and boys pick up on the lessons and camaraderie of the shop. Since Myers is one of my favorite YA authors, I will add that this stays true to his writing style and topics. A well written story about getting the most out of life and becoming a better person, too.
May 26, 2018
This book is about two kind of different boy, to guide their own life, this book, it’s beginning at the juvenile detention and Harlem barbershop, this is kind of difficult beginning, the author write this book, is really difficult, sometimes I can’t understand what he writes about.
June 4, 2018
This book is about many stories happened in a barbershop. And the boss of barbershop are always talking his life and others. It told me many ways to figure things out and how to stay out of troubles.
May 22, 2019
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook, because it was like being at a family gathering and listening to my uncles have a conversation that starts with “that’s what’s wrong with these kids these days...”
But the book is dated, and I’m not certain who the audience would be. It’s too preachy for kids and it’s not appealing to me as an adult.
But the book is dated, and I’m not certain who the audience would be. It’s too preachy for kids and it’s not appealing to me as an adult.
April 3, 2024
I’ve always have been a huge fan of Walter Dean Myers (no relation). His early work was emotionally raw and real. He has always been a good storyteller with great characters.
The Handbook for Boys is insightful, real, and fast paced. I want to hang out with Duke, Cap and Mr. M too!
The Handbook for Boys is insightful, real, and fast paced. I want to hang out with Duke, Cap and Mr. M too!
February 14, 2019
This should be required reading for all young boys and girls in middle school. Great message!
July 13, 2019
All kids should read this book....good advice!!
November 9, 2019
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2020
Good advice, a bit like a series of essays, but covers a lot of ground simply. Love this author.
April 26, 2020
Really great advice and guidance for life.
September 19, 2023
I think the book was great and taught many lessons and made many good points
June 8, 2013
There comes a day when the good face a decision. This decision will determine not if they are a good person, but if they were persistent. Some stay on their path to success, but some go astray, and give in to the hatred. Sometimes, they give in to some sort of awkward hatred, and feel rebellious against the law. Young Jimmy got involved within the wrong idea at the wrong time. “Handbook for Boys” by Walter Dean Myers…
When being sentenced to a juvenile detention center for crime related activities, Jimmy finds a rescuer in an unlikely place. A random stranger was willing to offer Jimmy community service at his barbershop if he refrains from criminal activity. It was either that job or juvenile detention. He chose the barbershop. It turned out to be that this barber is named Duke. Duke is an old man with a witty and obnoxious sense of philosophy. This is Harlem…a predominately Black neighborhood. Duke turned out to have saved another delinquent, Kevin. Though caught up in a taste of crime, he seems to be a studious kid. Jimmy sees him as a know-it-all. This barbershop is far from just the place to get the best cuts. This is the epicenter of gossip. Mister M, Cap, and Duke seem to always be speaking about the town. They never seem to keep their mouths shut. Jimmy feels like showing him a piece of his mind by shutting them up, but his liberty from the law seems to be far more important. Jimmy’s ignorance dies along the way, but the perpetual work seems redundant. Jimmy learns to absorb some knowledge, but he never really exposes his thrive for more insight of his community. Everyday, as each customer walks in, there is a new history, and a new conversation. It is as if they analyze each and every man, to see f they have unlocked the key to life…to control their own life. “The trick to the whole thing, is to pick your own road in life.” They question themselves and ask for others opinions. This is far from a barbershop…this is life.
This book is speaking to no specific gender, really. However, the only reason why it says boys in the title would be the fact that Kevin and Jimmy are the first youths to receive this advice. This book is a five star book. On the outside, it seems to be a simplistic transparent book, in which it is predictable in every single sequence. However, this book has great depth, great reread potential, and great metaphorical statements. It has you questioning, do you have the reigns to the horse that is your life? Is it someone else? This book appeals to everyone. Everyone has a soul, even though some may try to hide it. This is not a book about any particular topic. It is about all in life. You question the validility of your happiness and how you want to be in life. If a book causes you to think so much about your own life, not the character’s life, it certainly deserves a 5-star rating, no questions asked. Would I recommend this to a friend? OF COURSE! If they live, they are going to like this book…
Grading System
1 Star- The book was torturous! It wasn’t worth the time that you spent reading it.
2-Stars-The book had a 2 chapter’s worth of enjoyable context. I don’t really recommend it.
3-Stars-It was a great book, but lacked one special element that would enhance the read. It would depend on the book if I were to grade it or not.
4-Stars-It was an excellent book. The majority of this book had great context. However, it is not the book for everyone.
5-Stars-The book was almost perfect! I cannot say anything negative about this book. It was worth every nanosecond that you had spent on reading this book. It would be worth reading again.
When being sentenced to a juvenile detention center for crime related activities, Jimmy finds a rescuer in an unlikely place. A random stranger was willing to offer Jimmy community service at his barbershop if he refrains from criminal activity. It was either that job or juvenile detention. He chose the barbershop. It turned out to be that this barber is named Duke. Duke is an old man with a witty and obnoxious sense of philosophy. This is Harlem…a predominately Black neighborhood. Duke turned out to have saved another delinquent, Kevin. Though caught up in a taste of crime, he seems to be a studious kid. Jimmy sees him as a know-it-all. This barbershop is far from just the place to get the best cuts. This is the epicenter of gossip. Mister M, Cap, and Duke seem to always be speaking about the town. They never seem to keep their mouths shut. Jimmy feels like showing him a piece of his mind by shutting them up, but his liberty from the law seems to be far more important. Jimmy’s ignorance dies along the way, but the perpetual work seems redundant. Jimmy learns to absorb some knowledge, but he never really exposes his thrive for more insight of his community. Everyday, as each customer walks in, there is a new history, and a new conversation. It is as if they analyze each and every man, to see f they have unlocked the key to life…to control their own life. “The trick to the whole thing, is to pick your own road in life.” They question themselves and ask for others opinions. This is far from a barbershop…this is life.
This book is speaking to no specific gender, really. However, the only reason why it says boys in the title would be the fact that Kevin and Jimmy are the first youths to receive this advice. This book is a five star book. On the outside, it seems to be a simplistic transparent book, in which it is predictable in every single sequence. However, this book has great depth, great reread potential, and great metaphorical statements. It has you questioning, do you have the reigns to the horse that is your life? Is it someone else? This book appeals to everyone. Everyone has a soul, even though some may try to hide it. This is not a book about any particular topic. It is about all in life. You question the validility of your happiness and how you want to be in life. If a book causes you to think so much about your own life, not the character’s life, it certainly deserves a 5-star rating, no questions asked. Would I recommend this to a friend? OF COURSE! If they live, they are going to like this book…
Grading System
1 Star- The book was torturous! It wasn’t worth the time that you spent reading it.
2-Stars-The book had a 2 chapter’s worth of enjoyable context. I don’t really recommend it.
3-Stars-It was a great book, but lacked one special element that would enhance the read. It would depend on the book if I were to grade it or not.
4-Stars-It was an excellent book. The majority of this book had great context. However, it is not the book for everyone.
5-Stars-The book was almost perfect! I cannot say anything negative about this book. It was worth every nanosecond that you had spent on reading this book. It would be worth reading again.
November 7, 2008
The book I'm reviewing is called Handbook for Boys by Walter Dean Myers. The book is realistic fiction. The main character name is Jimmy, and he is learning how to make choices before he does things. Jimmy learns the hard way, That your responsible for what you do, and at the end of the day you make your own decision. What ever happens next it's all on you, so be ready, and make sure it's the right one.
The book is trying to help young boys to say out of trouble, and be wise about things. the main character learned how to box. The coach told him not to box on the outside. It can cause real trouble. One day this kid was talking trash to Jimmy. Jimmy was with his boys, and so they hyped him up, and Jimmy knew what could happen next if he fought. Jimmy did it anyways, and almost killed the boy. Jimmy got on probation for it, then chad his coach kicked him off the team. He realized what he did was wrong. He had a chance to do right, but he didn't. Now he's gonna have to pay for what he done... Jimmy really did end up turning his life around. He doesn't even chill with the same people anymore. People always have a choice, and at the end of the day who ever is telling you to do this, or that. You make your own decisions.
The book made me think people can change, and try to make a difference. No matter what had happened. I feel as though people shouldn't do bad to realize they can do good. If that what it takes then hey, everyone learn from their mistakes, and Jimmy really trying his hardest to do the right thing, but he need to understand if you do something wrong your gonna have to pay for what you've done.
I like this book gives you something to think about. Like The African- American Struggle For Freedom by Walter Dean Myers, but each time I read it I can picture what is happening. It's like I'm just watching everything in the background. The book made me look at a lot of stuff a little differently. I believe this book has a big effect on me, and people ages 10 and up. This book is made for young boys, but mostly teenagers. You would like it cause it have a lot of stuff that would make you go wow, and it also can teach boys from right to wrong. I do know any parent wouldn't mind if their child read this book. It's a good book, and people could really learn from it. You can use what you know from the book, and put it to the real world. It's one of those books, when you pick it up you can't put it down... So so read it, and find out what I'm talking about.
The book is trying to help young boys to say out of trouble, and be wise about things. the main character learned how to box. The coach told him not to box on the outside. It can cause real trouble. One day this kid was talking trash to Jimmy. Jimmy was with his boys, and so they hyped him up, and Jimmy knew what could happen next if he fought. Jimmy did it anyways, and almost killed the boy. Jimmy got on probation for it, then chad his coach kicked him off the team. He realized what he did was wrong. He had a chance to do right, but he didn't. Now he's gonna have to pay for what he done... Jimmy really did end up turning his life around. He doesn't even chill with the same people anymore. People always have a choice, and at the end of the day who ever is telling you to do this, or that. You make your own decisions.
The book made me think people can change, and try to make a difference. No matter what had happened. I feel as though people shouldn't do bad to realize they can do good. If that what it takes then hey, everyone learn from their mistakes, and Jimmy really trying his hardest to do the right thing, but he need to understand if you do something wrong your gonna have to pay for what you've done.
I like this book gives you something to think about. Like The African- American Struggle For Freedom by Walter Dean Myers, but each time I read it I can picture what is happening. It's like I'm just watching everything in the background. The book made me look at a lot of stuff a little differently. I believe this book has a big effect on me, and people ages 10 and up. This book is made for young boys, but mostly teenagers. You would like it cause it have a lot of stuff that would make you go wow, and it also can teach boys from right to wrong. I do know any parent wouldn't mind if their child read this book. It's a good book, and people could really learn from it. You can use what you know from the book, and put it to the real world. It's one of those books, when you pick it up you can't put it down... So so read it, and find out what I'm talking about.
September 25, 2010
Talk about taking me back to the days of hanging out in the barber shop and crackin’ on all the goofballs from the neighborhood that come in to get their hair cut (wait, that was a movie not my life). Jimmy gets himself into a bit of trouble that could land him in jail but he is “rescued” by a man named Duke who mentors youth by having them work at his barbershop. Jimmy and another guy, Kevin, are made to keep the place clean (even though it is almost always spotless) allowing them time to spend with Duke and the other guys that hang out at the neighborhood barbershop. People with problems come and go through the barbershop and their stories provide the jumping point for life’s lessons that Duke and his buddies pass on to the boys. Jimmy is forced to think about the way he views life because of the things that he sees and hears while working in the shop.
This book cracked me up from the very beginning. The three old guys in the shop are always clownin’ and teasing the boys but always in a way that challenges the way that they are living their lives. This book made me wish that I had a barbershop to hang out in with old wise guys, or wiseguys depending on who you are, that dish their knowledge about life in a way that kids can relate to. It’s reminded me a lot of my classroom, except I’m not really old and wouldn’t consider myself to have the same level of wisdom that age has brought these guys. Okay, so I guess I’m mostly the wiseguy part working toward the wise guy. I have read a number of the parts again and again because they still make me crack up. This was another one of those books that made me think about life while making me laugh. I think I’ll ask a couple of my students to take it for a test drive and see how the story rolls out for them. If you like to laugh and learn and long for your version of Barbershop then pull up a stool and a broom and take a seat. Or you could scrape some gum off the floor while you listen, which ever you prefer.
This book cracked me up from the very beginning. The three old guys in the shop are always clownin’ and teasing the boys but always in a way that challenges the way that they are living their lives. This book made me wish that I had a barbershop to hang out in with old wise guys, or wiseguys depending on who you are, that dish their knowledge about life in a way that kids can relate to. It’s reminded me a lot of my classroom, except I’m not really old and wouldn’t consider myself to have the same level of wisdom that age has brought these guys. Okay, so I guess I’m mostly the wiseguy part working toward the wise guy. I have read a number of the parts again and again because they still make me crack up. This was another one of those books that made me think about life while making me laugh. I think I’ll ask a couple of my students to take it for a test drive and see how the story rolls out for them. If you like to laugh and learn and long for your version of Barbershop then pull up a stool and a broom and take a seat. Or you could scrape some gum off the floor while you listen, which ever you prefer.
March 29, 2013
Superb! I've been a fan of Walter Dean Myers books since high school, and this one I enjoyed immensely. The characters of Jimmy and Kevin I was able to relate to, being a young African-American man myself who is learning about life and experiencing and taking in the lessons and realities of it. Duke and Mister M remind me a lot of my grandparents, friends of theirs, my uncle and mother who always impart their words of wisdom and talk about their lives growing up. Like Jimmy and Kevin at times I understood what they meant and others I either didn't take heed or understand. While reading this novel, I found a lot of it I related in my own life growing up and learning what being a man really means. This is a book not only young African-American men, but those of different nationalities and backgrounds should get into. Kids who are going through life and are convinced it is hopeless and that they will not amount to anything will find encouragement, strength, and good advice on life and how to live it the right way. One of my favorite quotes from this novel was made by Duke to Jimmy was in the chapter "Sister Smith on a God Tip", "it takes a big man to admit he needs some help, Duke said "To let everybody look at you and know you have some areas of weakness . . . Imagine how much better they would feel if they just went on and learned to read" (Myer 170). Very deep and true quote which personally is true to my own life, in which math was my weakness. Instead of letting it rule over and get the better of me, I worked hard at it and did my best. I also agreed with Duke's comment regarding reading. Reading is not boring, it empowers the mind and opens up so many doors for people. Everyone should learn to read because with a healthy various amount of knowledge there are no limits to what people can accomplish. I totally recommend this book!
February 18, 2013
I really liked this book, and I'm surprised at the number of teachers who either don't like it or say their students didn't like it. That makes me wonder if I really am out of touch. This is not a novel. It is a series of life lessons woven onto a framework of the happenings in a Harlem barbershop. The story is still from the POV of Jimmy, a teenager who agrees to work in the barbershop rather than be sent to a juvenile detention facility for fighting. The shop's owner, Duke, and his friends try to mentor boys who come to work in the shop, offering them insights they may not get elsewhere. Jimmy, another boy, Kevin, who's also serving his time in the shop, and the regulars discuss the various people that pass through. There's the man who's lost his wife and his apartment because he didn't pay the rent. There's the guy facing jail time for possessing stolen goods, while he claims he had no way of knowing the $1,000 watch he bought for $30 was hot. There's the guy who has fathered three children by three different mothers. And there's the man who has become a millionaire by doing what others weren't willing to do. Each leads to a discussion of what the person is doing right or wrong and what lessons can be learned for them. It's a totally corny premise, but it raises some very good points and should be the topic of some good discussion. What is success? Does everyone have a right to three meals and a roof over their heads? Why do people do something wrong even when they know it's wrong? Jimmy offers some counterarguments and also opens his mind to a different way of thinking. I listened to the audio version of this book, narrated by Peter Francis James. I thought he did a wonderful job with the different voices.
July 3, 2013
Multi-cultural book talk:
Jimmy Lynch beats up another student in school and is charged by the police. Instead of going to juvenile detention, a gentleman named Duke has volunteered to mentor him while Jimmy is on probation. Duke is also mentoring another kid named Kevin who is in a similar situation for drugs. Duke has promised to pay for Kevin's first two years of college. Duke owns a barber shop in Harlem. Cap and Mr. M hang around the shop with Duke, and help give the two boys a hard time. The boys think that the old guys have no idea about how things are, but Jimmy soon realizes that maybe they just might know something. Duke and the guys share their wisdom through their conversations with each other and the customers. They never pass up an opportunity to give the boys a hard time. Kevin's friends are a bad influence on him, and eventually get him in trouble which results in him being sentenced to juvenile detention. After Kevin is taken away, Duke takes on a new mentee named Ernesto. I found myself laughing out loud many times through this book. I loved how they taught the boys lessons and the boys did not even know they were.
This book is targeted towards boys of all ethnicities. I think many students will make personal connection to the stories and events. This would be an excellent book for a student who is beginning to make the wrong decisions or is making poor life choices. You could do some things with inference and innuendos also.
Jimmy Lynch beats up another student in school and is charged by the police. Instead of going to juvenile detention, a gentleman named Duke has volunteered to mentor him while Jimmy is on probation. Duke is also mentoring another kid named Kevin who is in a similar situation for drugs. Duke has promised to pay for Kevin's first two years of college. Duke owns a barber shop in Harlem. Cap and Mr. M hang around the shop with Duke, and help give the two boys a hard time. The boys think that the old guys have no idea about how things are, but Jimmy soon realizes that maybe they just might know something. Duke and the guys share their wisdom through their conversations with each other and the customers. They never pass up an opportunity to give the boys a hard time. Kevin's friends are a bad influence on him, and eventually get him in trouble which results in him being sentenced to juvenile detention. After Kevin is taken away, Duke takes on a new mentee named Ernesto. I found myself laughing out loud many times through this book. I loved how they taught the boys lessons and the boys did not even know they were.
This book is targeted towards boys of all ethnicities. I think many students will make personal connection to the stories and events. This would be an excellent book for a student who is beginning to make the wrong decisions or is making poor life choices. You could do some things with inference and innuendos also.
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January 9, 2009Book review
Christopher Jordan 1/8/09
This book that I have finished reading is called Handbook for Boys. This is by the award winning Walter Dean Myers once again. This story is a novel and the theme of this story is to make choices before you do things.
The main character in this story is named Jimmy Lynch he is 16 years old. This whole story takes place in New York. Jimmy has mad some bad choices in the past with the law and suffered the consequences so a man that is well known around the neighborhood named Duke gets him out of juvenile detention by making a agreement that he works in his barbershop. Duke can be looked as a role model because he enjoys helping kids, he also helped another teenager named Kevin he is 17 years old, he is in the same predicament as Jimmy, and they begin to form a relationship together.
I think this novel by Walter Dean Meyers is pretty good I can relate my life to this character in many ways and I know I’m not the only one that can. When you read this book you really get to know who he is.
I would recommend this book to anybody that like Walter Dean Myers a troubled teenager begin to make the right decisions.
I really enjoyed this book an really look forward to reading some more books published by Walter Dean Myers
Christopher Jordan 1/8/09
This book that I have finished reading is called Handbook for Boys. This is by the award winning Walter Dean Myers once again. This story is a novel and the theme of this story is to make choices before you do things.
The main character in this story is named Jimmy Lynch he is 16 years old. This whole story takes place in New York. Jimmy has mad some bad choices in the past with the law and suffered the consequences so a man that is well known around the neighborhood named Duke gets him out of juvenile detention by making a agreement that he works in his barbershop. Duke can be looked as a role model because he enjoys helping kids, he also helped another teenager named Kevin he is 17 years old, he is in the same predicament as Jimmy, and they begin to form a relationship together.
I think this novel by Walter Dean Meyers is pretty good I can relate my life to this character in many ways and I know I’m not the only one that can. When you read this book you really get to know who he is.
I would recommend this book to anybody that like Walter Dean Myers a troubled teenager begin to make the right decisions.
I really enjoyed this book an really look forward to reading some more books published by Walter Dean Myers
July 14, 2010
Handbook for Boys: by Walter Dean Myers
Date Finished: June 2010
Snapshot: Jimmy is a young boy on the path to juvenile detention—if he doesn’t straighten out. That’s what the older men at the barbershop set out to do. Duke, the owner of the barbershop, hires Jimmy and Kevin, another troubled teen, to do custodial work. However, the real reason he hires the boys is so they can soak up the wisdom and values of hard work, responsibility, education, and success from the men that hang out there. Though Jimmy is resistant and hostile at first, he begins to think and talk about what he hears in the barbershop. Gradually begins to adopt the same views about life.
“Hook”: This book opens up an explicit discussion about the difficult parts of being an urban youth, which many of our students can relate to.
Challenges: There is not much plot; it’s more of an ongoing interview so some students may find it boring.
Student in Mind: Male or female student who is trying to stay on the road to success.
Conference Notes: discussion about the conversations in the barbershop—does the student agree/disagree with the messages the men are giving the youth? Which ones? Why?
Level: easy 6th
Other: success, danger, drugs, worth ethic
Date Finished: June 2010
Snapshot: Jimmy is a young boy on the path to juvenile detention—if he doesn’t straighten out. That’s what the older men at the barbershop set out to do. Duke, the owner of the barbershop, hires Jimmy and Kevin, another troubled teen, to do custodial work. However, the real reason he hires the boys is so they can soak up the wisdom and values of hard work, responsibility, education, and success from the men that hang out there. Though Jimmy is resistant and hostile at first, he begins to think and talk about what he hears in the barbershop. Gradually begins to adopt the same views about life.
“Hook”: This book opens up an explicit discussion about the difficult parts of being an urban youth, which many of our students can relate to.
Challenges: There is not much plot; it’s more of an ongoing interview so some students may find it boring.
Student in Mind: Male or female student who is trying to stay on the road to success.
Conference Notes: discussion about the conversations in the barbershop—does the student agree/disagree with the messages the men are giving the youth? Which ones? Why?
Level: easy 6th
Other: success, danger, drugs, worth ethic
October 29, 2013
This is that type of book where you would say, don't judge a book by it's cover. The genre of this book is realist fiction. I really didn't like this book because it wasn't my type of book. I read the first page and thought i would fall in love with it.
The setting of this story is at a barbershop. The narrator wanted to find out about life, but he didn't like school so he went to the barbershop instead, so they taught life lessons, then he caught on. The conflict is person vs society because the person has problem's with the people in the world. The narrator in the story is smart but he still needs to figure some thing's out.
I didn't like this book because it didn't really explain what i wanted it to. What i did like about the book is that it explained life lesson's. The reason i think that is because it really explains what you need to do in life. the story is text to world because it can teach a lot of people right from wrong. this story can related to my life because it taught me a lesson or two.
I think this is a decent book. I would give the book a 5 because it is a good lesson but could be better. I would recommend this book to people who have something wrong going on in life. A lesson can be taken away good or bad.
The setting of this story is at a barbershop. The narrator wanted to find out about life, but he didn't like school so he went to the barbershop instead, so they taught life lessons, then he caught on. The conflict is person vs society because the person has problem's with the people in the world. The narrator in the story is smart but he still needs to figure some thing's out.
I didn't like this book because it didn't really explain what i wanted it to. What i did like about the book is that it explained life lesson's. The reason i think that is because it really explains what you need to do in life. the story is text to world because it can teach a lot of people right from wrong. this story can related to my life because it taught me a lesson or two.
I think this is a decent book. I would give the book a 5 because it is a good lesson but could be better. I would recommend this book to people who have something wrong going on in life. A lesson can be taken away good or bad.
March 22, 2013
This book definitely surprised me I thought it was going to be similar to Part-Time Indian but it was incredibly different. The book is about a boy who gets charged for assault. While in court a man named Duke speaks out on his behalf he saves him from going to jail. He sees hope in the boy and he feels as if he can make him a better person. Duke owned a barbershop in Harlem, New York (where the story takes place) thats where the boy does most of his community service. He usually would sweep around the shop or water the plants stuff like that. Duke was a middle aged man. He was determined to turn this boy into a man. He shows that you don't have to commit crimes to make money. He shows the boy to appreciate things and to work hard for stuff, not steal them. I would recommend this book to anyone who doesn't know what life outside there state is like, or if they just want to read a good and well written story. I have read 2 books by Walter Dean Myers and I would say he is the king of dialog. I was reading the book as I was really saying it. Its an awesome book.
October 13, 2009
I like the way the author showed in a way how some people were the main character and some are not. This is important because in many books the main characters and the back round character are hard to see who's who. I didn't agree with the court saying that kevin had to go to a juvenile prison. Because he had possession but his friend gave it to him. I want to know why the shop had got another boy to tell lessons to. Because kevin the boy before him just went away to a juvenile prison. I understand why the main character jimmy at the end of the story said listen to mister m duke and cap. Because if he didn't he wouldn't not learn anything and would be bet up .
November 8, 2008
I just finished reading Handbook for books and I liked it a lot. It had my attention through the whole thing. It just was really interesting to read. This book was about a boy named jimmy lynch who got in trouble and he had to serve community service in a barbershop.
What surprised me about this book was that you got to know all the characters really well. Walter dean Myers did a good job describing all of them and you could almost feel as if you were them. What I liked about this book was that it was a good young adult read. I can relate to it easily because the characters are all my age and it was just a relatable topic book. I recommend this book to young adults because after you read it you will walk away with a valuable lesson.
What surprised me about this book was that you got to know all the characters really well. Walter dean Myers did a good job describing all of them and you could almost feel as if you were them. What I liked about this book was that it was a good young adult read. I can relate to it easily because the characters are all my age and it was just a relatable topic book. I recommend this book to young adults because after you read it you will walk away with a valuable lesson.
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