leilah_grace's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
maryanne19's review against another edition
3.0
Book with a great message but sometimes gets a little too lofty.
kebojo's review against another edition
3.0
Acclaimed young adult author Myers (Monster, Shooter)describes his childhood and teenage years in Harlem, couching his narrative in family history and sensitive reflections about sports, books, school, racism, and getting into and out of trouble on a regular basis.
I love Myers' crisp, straightforward style, and his reflections about his growing-up years are poignant, especially his battle with a speech impediment and his growing awareness of racism as a system embedded in institutions. I appreciate that Myers does not rely on overly dramatic action sequences to move the plot forward, instead spinning leisurely yarns, almost as though he is repeating events as they came to mind.
Overall, though, I did not enjoy Bad Boy as much as Myers' fiction. At times the pacing is tedious and the stream of consciousness disjointed. Certain facts or observations are repeated over and over, which I found distracting. Still, Myers' autobiography and his way of relating it are clearly important, and I would recommend this book to readers looking for a slow ride down a lazy river – with a few surprising twists and bends along the way.
I love Myers' crisp, straightforward style, and his reflections about his growing-up years are poignant, especially his battle with a speech impediment and his growing awareness of racism as a system embedded in institutions. I appreciate that Myers does not rely on overly dramatic action sequences to move the plot forward, instead spinning leisurely yarns, almost as though he is repeating events as they came to mind.
Overall, though, I did not enjoy Bad Boy as much as Myers' fiction. At times the pacing is tedious and the stream of consciousness disjointed. Certain facts or observations are repeated over and over, which I found distracting. Still, Myers' autobiography and his way of relating it are clearly important, and I would recommend this book to readers looking for a slow ride down a lazy river – with a few surprising twists and bends along the way.
kevinhendricks's review against another edition
3.0
I guess it’s appropriate that a memoir from a YA and children’s author only covers his life until age 17. It’s interesting and engaging, but I was itching for more. He joined the army as a 17-year-old in 1954, months after the Brown vs. Board of Education. I can only imagine the 1960s civil rights era was formative. His childhood was fascinating, but I’d love to hear more about his transition into writing.
hrmason's review against another edition
5.0
Straight-forward memoir about his struggles with school, race and growing up. Great read for boys, esp. those who are trying to rise above something.