Walter Dean Myers was born August 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. When he was two years old, his mother died, leaving his father to cope with eight children. Myers and two of his sisters were taken in by Herbert and Florence Dean, who, although poor, took good care of him.

In gratitude, he made Dean his middle name during the 1970s.

They lived in Harlem for most of his youth. He had a severe speech impediment that made his life difficult when he was required to speak. This may have made him somewhat shy and account for the solace he found in reading literature while still in elementary school. His love of books may also explain why he decided to be a writer.

After dropping out of high school, he bounced from job to job before joining the army. Upon leaving the army, he began...