Theme It Up
Point Of View
Central Idea
Character and Details
Grab Bag
100

Name one lesson Myers learns about reading or writing.

Reading opens new worlds and helps him discover his voice as a writer.

100

What point of view is Bad Boy written in?

First-person.

100

What is one central idea of Bad Boy?

Finding identity and purpose through reading and writing.

100

Who is the author of Bad Boy?

Walter Dean Myers.

100

What city does Walter grow up in?

New York City (Harlem).

200

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.

200

Who is telling the story?

Walter Dean Myers himself.

200

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.

200

Who encourages Walter to read more?

A librarian named Mrs. Conway (or the librarian at the Harlem library).

200

Define the word “memoir.”

A true story about someone’s own life written by that person.

300

What was the thing that everyone in the neighborhood was encouraged to do. 

Play sports. 

300

Why is first-person POV important for this memoir?

It lets readers experience Walter’s thoughts and feelings directly.

300

State a central idea about your life 

any answer 

300

What does a pronoun do ?

A pronoun takes the place of a noun. 

300

What did Walter keep his books in? 

A brown bag. 

400

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.

400

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.

400

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

400

Does the character think dancing is just for girls ? 

No he enjoys dancing himself which he expressed in the story. 

400

Before becoming a writer, what sport did Walter dream of playing professionally?

Basketball 

500

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.

500

Give a quote that proves it’s first-person POV.

Any sentence using “I,” such as “I loved reading more than anything else.”

500

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.

500

What famous library did Walter often visit?

The Harlem branch of the New York Public Library (135th Street branch)

500

From whose point of view is Bad Boy told?

Walter