Theme It Up
Name one lesson Myers learns about reading or writing.
Reading opens new worlds and helps him discover his voice as a writer.
What point of view is Bad Boy written in?
First-person.
What is one central idea of Bad Boy?
Finding identity and purpose through reading and writing.
Who is the author of Bad Boy?
Walter Dean Myers.
What city does Walter grow up in?
New York City (Harlem).
How does Walter show that education can change a person’s future?
He keeps reading, writing, and learning even when others doubt him, which leads to his career as an author.
Who is telling the story?
Walter Dean Myers himself.
Give one example that supports the central idea of identity.
Walter struggles with being seen as a “bad boy” while discovering his love for books and poetry.
Who encourages Walter to read more?
A librarian named Mrs. Conway (or the librarian at the Harlem library).
Define the word “memoir.”
A true story about someone’s own life written by that person.
What was the thing that everyone in the neighborhood was encouraged to do.
Play sports.
Why is first-person POV important for this memoir?
It lets readers experience Walter’s thoughts and feelings directly.
State a central idea about your life
any answer
What does a pronoun do ?
A pronoun takes the place of a noun.
What did Walter keep his books in?
A brown bag.
Identify a theme connected to Walter’s love of books and explain it with evidence.
Theme: The power of books and imagination. Evidence: He spends hours in the library exploring stories and poetry.
How would the story change if told in third person?
We’d lose the personal voice and emotional connection; it would feel more like a biography.
How do Walter’s experiences with school help show the central idea about dreams?
School challenges him, but teachers and books inspire him to dream of becoming a writer
Does the character think dancing is just for girls ?
No he enjoys dancing himself which he expressed in the story.
Before becoming a writer, what sport did Walter dream of playing professionally?
Basketball
Discuss how following your passion is a theme in the book. Give two details that support it.
He keeps writing stories and poetry even when teachers or friends don’t understand, and he sends his work to magazines as a teen.
Give a quote that proves it’s first-person POV.
Any sentence using “I,” such as “I loved reading more than anything else.”
Explain how Walter’s struggles with identity connect to the central idea of self-discovery.
He feels torn between being tough for his friends and loving books; in the end, he embraces his true self as a writer.
What famous library did Walter often visit?
The Harlem branch of the New York Public Library (135th Street branch)
From whose point of view is Bad Boy told?
Walter