Walter Dean Myers, a renown young adult and children’s author, died on Tuesday, July 1, at the age of 76.

Walter Dean Myers Biography

Myers, who authored more than 100 books in 45 years, earned a reputation for being unafraid to portray the bittersweet realities of children growing up in cities. For example, one of his most famous books, Monster (2001), is about a 16-year-old who has been convicted of murder.

His narrators and protagonists are mostly African-American teenagers struggling to find their place in the world, and he often advocated for more diverse characters featured in print. In March, Myers exposed the huge discrepancy between the number of children’s books featuring white characters and those featuring minorities.

Myers began his career in 1969, when he won a contest for picture book writers. The contest, sponsored by the Council on Interracial Books for Children, lead to the publication of Myers’ first book: Where Does the Day Go?

A three-time National Book Award finalist, Myers often said his writing reflected his upbringing. He struggled growing up in Harlem and eventually dropped out of high school, despite his love of reading, and joined the army at the age of 17. When he returned from the army, Myers found purpose in his writing and was liberated by the revelation that he could write about his own life experiences.

“A turning point for me was the discovery of a short story by James Baldwin about the black urban experience. It gave me permission to write about my own experiences. Somehow I always go back to the most turbulent periods of my own life. I write books for the troubled boy I once was, and for the boy who lives within me still. It’s what I do,” Myers wrote on his official website.

"Reading Is Not Optional"

From 2012 to 2013, Myers acted as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, a position created by the Library of Congress. Throughout that time, he traveled across the country to promote literacy and reading among young people. As Ambassador, his slogan was simple: “Reading Is Not Optional.”

“Walter Dean Myers was a compassionate, wonderful, and brilliant man. He wrote about children who needed a voice and their stories told. His work will live on for generations to come. It was an honor to work with him for so many years,” remembered Myers’ literary agent, Miriam Altshuler.

Myers’ last novel, On A Clear Day, will be released in September. He is survived by his wife, Constance and their two sons, Christopher and Michael.

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