Walter Dean Myers

Dean Myers was born into a large, poor family in Martinsburg, West Virginia. After the death of his mother, he was raised by the Deans, friends of his family, with whom he moved to Harlem, where most of his stories take place. Myers began to write fiction when he was only 10 or 11 and continued to develop his skills throughout his high school years, during his three years in the army, and after his discharge. Myers has written more than 20 novels and has won two Newbery Awards and four Coretta Scott King Awards.