Review of Here in Harlem: poems in many voices by Walter Dean Myers

1. Bibliography
Myers, Walter Dean. 2004. HERE IN HARLEM: POEMS IN MANY VOICES. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0-8234-2212-8 (paperback)

2. Plot Summary

In this beautifully written book of fifty-four poems, Walter Dean Myers manages to cover a variety of voices from Harlem that he grew up with in the 1940s-1960s. He shows his audience that life is life, whether it be beautiful or difficult. The poems are written in “first person” point of view from actual people that Myers encountered while living in this part of New York. People are identified by their names, ages, and occupations. He collects their voices through verse, leaving the reader to interpret many of the phrases within the poignant poetry. The book covers testimonies from the twelve-year-old student to the mailman to the retired old man who has watched life pass him by. Beginning and ending with Clara Brown’s testimonies in Parts I-IV, the author captures every profession and a multitude of ages. In between these testimonies are everyday life stories of triumphs and disappointments, and Myers also covers simple encounters the people of Harlem experience that change them for better or for worse.

3. Critical Analysis

Walter Dean Myers captures the voices of the people of Harlem crisply and clearly. Some poems are written in free verse with a hint of a pattern; some are written in the form of a jazzy blues song or a fiery Sunday sermon, and others are written with clearly defined rhyme schemes, stanzas, repetition, and parallelism. Myers' use of figurative language allows readers to view the poems from different angles and grants open interpretations. Phrases such as, "prison of my skin" and "sap poisoned prison," are highly emotional and create opportunities for many deep conversations regarding the author's words and themes. Names such as Marcus Garvey and Langston Hughes and places such as Sugar Hill may leave students and readers confused if they have not heard of them. So, both the detailed table of contents with characters' names, ages, professions, and page numbers and the glossary of people, places, and names at the back of the book are particularly helpful resources in navigation and comprehension.  Clara Brown's testimonies are written mostly in prose form until the very end, adding a richness and variety (contrast) to the poetry voices in verse.


Myers does an excellent job of capturing Harlem's heritage and stories. There black and white photographs throughout the book that enhance the reading experiencing by adding an authenticity to the stories of the people of Harlem. The photographs are not depictions of the actual people in the poetry; they are simply images Myers chose to represent any particular voice. The front cover photograph is an image of Duke Ellington and two well-dressed ladies, creating an opportunity for a first discussion and/or prediction. The inside pages of the book are "yellowed" and have "tattered" edges giving it the feel of something classic, vintage, and personal - much like a diary. Here in Harlem is best suited for middle school and beyond because the ideas and language run deep, and most of the content and figurative language would be difficult for younger audiences to grasp. This collection of poems is an invitation for readers to see a very personal and up-close side of Harlem. This stunning book of verse will be an excellent addition to the classroom and library classroom and creates excellent opportunities for collaborating across the curricula.


Review Excerpt(s) and Notable Awards:

--SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review): "The rich and exciting text will give readers a flavor of the multiplicity of times and the peoples of Harlem."
--KIRKUS REVIEWS (starred review): "One of Myers' best - and that's saying a lot. Sure to be a classic."

Winner of/Honors:
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
ALA Notable Children's Book
Capitol Choices, the de Grummond Medal
the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award
CCBC Choices
Chicago Public Library
Best of the Best Books for Great Kids
IRA Notable Book for a Global Society
Claudia Lewis Award (Bank Street College)

5. Connections

A. The figurative language in this poetry book could be used to help students understand the meaning of the poems. Students could draw out the literal meaning of the phrase and then write out what Walter Dean Myers meant in a particular poem.
B. This book could be used during Black History Month in February to compare to other works by African American authors. The imagery, repetition, and figurative language lends itself to being compared to works such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s, "I Have a Dream" speech.
C. A poem such as, "Ann Carter/32 and Benjamin Bailey, 38, Switchboard Operator/Building Maintenance," could be read in two voices and discussed.

Other books of verse by Walter Dean Myers:
Myers, Walter Dean. HARLEM. Ill. Christopher Myers. ISBN 9780590543408
Myers, Walter Dean. BROWN ANGELS: AN ALBUM OF PICTURES AND VERSE. ISBN 9780064434553
Myers, Walter Dean. WE ARE AMERICA: A TRIBUTE FROM THE HEART. Ill. Christopher Myers. ISBN 978-0060523084
Myers, Walter Dean. JAZZ. Ill. Christopher Myers. ISBN 9780823421732

Other books of poetry about Harlem:
Muse, Daphne. THE ENTRANCE PLACE OF WONDERS: POEMS OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE. Ill. Charlotte Riley-Webb. ISBN 9780810959972


Image from Amazon.com