About the Book Originally published: New York: Delacorte Press, 2000. Book Synopsis From the award-winning author of Monster , this collection of powerful and poignant stories about 145th Street -- an unforgettable block in the heart of Harlem--celebrates African-American life in all of its glory. Myers is a master. -- The New York Times Book Review On Harlems 145th Street, things happen that dont happen anywhere else in the world. Get to know Big Joe, whos throwing his own funeral while hes here to enjoy it, and everyones invited. Meet Kitty and Mack, teens with a love story more real than anything theyve ever known. Follow Monkeyman, the quietest kid on the block and the last person youd expect the Tigros gang to target. And dont miss the block party of the year--the whole neighborhood will be there. From danger and despair to hilarity and joy, literary legend Walter Dean Myers captures every mood and every beat of life in this vibrant Harlem. This twentieth-anniversary edition of Myerss work features brand-new content, including historical information about Harlems rich past, an immersive map of the neighborhoods iconic landmarks, and touching tributes from authors, artists, and literary legends. Celebrating two decades in print, this edition honors Myerss enormous legacy and brings his work to a new generation of readers. An ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults AWARDS FOR WALTER DEAN MYERS: New York Times Bestselling Author 3-Time National Book Award Finalist Michael L. Printz Award 5 Coretta Scott King Awards 2 Newbery Honors National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature (2012-2013) Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement Childrens Literature Legacy Award Review Quotes Myers has a great natural style . . . and is completely at home in a Harlem depicted without adulation but with great affection. -- The Horn Book Magazine , Starred Readers will find that they could settle in for hours and take it all in . -- Publishers Weekly , Starred Fast, wry, and honest . . . the search for personal identity is at the heart of this lyrical collection, and so is the sense of the place. -- Booklist , Boxed About the Author Walter Dean Myers was a poet, a novelist, a playwright, a musician, and an avid collector of memorabilia. He was awarded the American Library Associations 2019 Childrens Literature Legacy Award, the inaugural Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, the inaugural Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, and the ALAN Award. His books for young adults have received numerous accolades, including two Newbery Honor Awards, eleven Coretta Scott King Author Awards and Honor Awards, and many more. 145th Street: Short Stories was a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book and an ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults and received starred reviews from the Horn Book and Publishers Weekly.