Childhood In Walter Dean Myers's Bad Boy

In the book, Bad Boy, Walter Dean Myers talks about his family’s background. In the first chapter, Walter described his mother on page three, Walter talks about having no feelings for Florence Dean, and his mother died during childbirth. Roots, the title of chapter one helps us to understand Walter’s childhood. Even though Marry Dolly Green was Walter’s birth mother, he considered Florence Dean to be his real mom. Walter had several family members that lived in his house. His father was raising seven children. On page three, Walter talks about his sisters from another couple named Geraldine and Viola. His father also took care of Walter. His family also included a brother George.

In chapter two, Walter describes his life in Harlem. Paragraph

two,” It was a magical place, alive with music that spilled onto the busy streets from tenement and full of colors and smells that filled my senses and made my heart beat faster”. Walter liked music the most in Harlem. Paragraph five, “There were radios everywhere, and the little girls jumped double Dutch to Duke Ellington, Cob Calloway, and Glenn Miller”. These little details help to describe Harlem, and its arts.
Chapter three discusses Walter’s school life and his problems. For example, Walter got a lot of his favorite things taken, all because of a woman named Mrs. Dodson. Page twenty-three,” She was considered an educated Negro and many listened to her. My cap pistol was taken from me, and despite my tears, put out with the garbage”. Another example on page twenty-five,” I would become very angry if kids laughed at my speech, or even if I thought they were laughing”.
Chapter four, a more suspenseful chapter in this book, Walter is facing more problems that are serious. A kid named Bunny hit Walter, and ironic enough Walter hit his teacher. All of this can be found on page 31 where it says,” She saw me getting ready to throw the book and jumped to one side. The book hit her on the shoulder; and she screamed”.