145th Street: Short Stories
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| 145th Street: Short Stories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A salty, wrenchingly honest collection of stories set on one block of 145th Street. We get to know the oldest resident; the cop on the beat; fine Peaches and her girl, Squeezie; Monkeyman; and Benny, a fighter on the way to a knockout. We meet Angela, who starts having prophetic dreams after her father is killed; Kitty, whose love for Mack pulls him back from the brink; and Big Joe, who wants a bang-up funeral while he's still around to enjoy it. Some of these stories are private, and some are the ones behind the headlines. In each one, characters jump off the page and pull readers right into the mix on 1-4-5.
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"That's what 145th Street is like. Something funny happens... and then something bad happens. It's almost as if the block is reminding itself that life is hard, and you have to take it seriously." Walter Dean Myers's book of interconnected short stories is a sweet and sour mix of the comedy and tragedy of the human condition, played out against the backdrop of the Harlem neighborhood that is centered around 145th Street. In this 'hood, teens will become acquainted with the mysterious 12-year-old Angela, whose sad dreams seem to predict the future for an unlucky few, and the fast-talking Jamie Farrell, a smooth basketball player who's praying that his streak of good luck doesn't end before he can ask out Celia Evora, "the finest chick in the school." They will chuckle at the affable Big Joe, who wants to enjoy his funeral party while he's still alive, yet feel their hearts tighten when Big Time Henson senses his drug addiction drawing him closer and closer to an early grave.
Myers frankly discusses the consequences of violence, drive-bys and gang war through his articulate characters, but tempers these episodes with such a love of his fictional community that every character shines through with the hope and strength of a survivor. Changing his point of view from teen to adult and back again through each vignette, Myers successfully builds a bridge of understanding between adolescents and adults that will help each group better understand the problems of the other. A worthy and recommended read that beautifully illustrates the good that can come out of a community that stands together. Newbery Honor-winning Myers has written more than 50 books, including Monster and Fallen Angels. (Ages 12 and older) --Jennifer Hubert |
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| 03-21-06 | 3 | 1\1 |
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(Big Joe's funeral)
This book has many stories in this chapter it about big Joe's funeral. Many things happened in 145th that don't happen anywhere in the world. But of course ha, ha, ha, this is New York And it is 145th and anything happens there. When I heard about Big Joe's funeral it didn't take me by surprise. Joe's funeral took place on one of the most beautiful day of the year. And one of the hottest day of the year. That is why everyone was watching the fire works out their fire escapes and trying to catch a breeze with an ice tea in your hand. Ms. Peaches Jones who is fifteen year's old was definitely wrong because she didn't give Joe any respect. A person ought to have respect for other people all of the time, but especially at two times during their life. The first time is when they are born. When a baby is born you shouldn't say discouraging this about it like what my grandma use to say always respect the living at time of life because when they gone they gone for ever. Big Joe owns a Bar-B-que and burger restaurant. He decided to cancel his life insurance because he has been paying for it for twenty years. If he canceled his insurance the insurance company will pay him. Than when he got the check 2 weeks later for the amount of eighteen thousand dollars that is when he decided to have a funeral. It was funny that he was peeling potatoes in his own restaurant for his own funereal. No one know what Joe meant by having his own funeral party up to he explain it to people and it made sense to them, he throw himself a funeral the awesome people throw a party. Then he went to the funeral home to have someone arrange his funeral. At first Mr.tuener didn't think about it but when he saw that live people were having funerals would greatly increase his business and he said okay. This is call am doing my own funeral wall I am alive cuz I want it my way not celebrity my death way I am dead and Turing out a mess. (Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-14 22:50:38 EST)
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| 07-20-05 | 2 | 0\1 |
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I think i should give this to my sister cause she likes books with stories in it because im in to action books that involve drugs and guns and girls and robbings stuff like that dont get me wrong it was an ok book but i just dont like reading a story and then i get into to it but then it cuts into a whole other story i wouldved really liked it but it just cuts out the story and i dont like stories in a book i like it to be one main subject thru the whole book for u can get into to it and see what happens i knew what was gonna happen in this book it was gonna get good then it was gonna change stories
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-14 22:50:38 EST)
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| 10-04-04 | 4 | 0\1 |
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I liked the book because it was funny. All the short stories are a good length, and they all can make you laugh. My favorite story will have to be Monkey Man. Monkey Man had saved a girl from a gang named the Tigros. After that, the tigros wanted to get Monkey Man. Monkey Man told tem to met him in the park, and so the did. He was not serially hurt. Later he was stabbed. He survived. I would recommend this book to others because it was funny.
(Review Data Last Updated: 2008-02-14 22:50:38 EST)
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