“I am living on the dark side of the moon,’ says Darius of the duality of his world - one consisting of violence, desperation and abandonment, the other in the interior of his mind, as he tries to escape from the time and place he finds himself in, in order to become a writer. Darius, the writer, and Twig, the runner, are united in their pursuit of dreams amid adversity and the realities of a world which is all too real. With many young adults making connection via smartphone these days, it is refreshing to see a story of friendship grounded in the here and now. It’s also a story of hope, even if it’s only found in patches of blue sky between urban buildings. According to the summary notes of the book “Two best friends, a writer and a runner, deal with bullies, family issues, social pressures, and their quest for success coming out of Harlem.” It’s a tale of endurance, perseverance, and a strong friendship. Such is the case in Walter Dean Myers’ coming of age novel, Darius & Twig. Its about two friends growing up in Harlem, one a writer, one an athlete, facing daily challenges and trying to dream of a brighter future.Friendships can bring seemingly unlike people together to sometime form a strong bond. The two friends must face down bullies, an abusive uncle, and the idea that they'll be stuck in the same place forever.Maria Russo, writing in theNew York Times, includedDarius Twigon her list of 'e great kids' books with diverse characters.'e She commented: 'e The late Myers, one of the greats and a champion of diversity in childrens books well before the cause got mainstream attention, is at his elegant, heartfelt best in this 2013 novel. But they are drawn together in the struggle to overcome the obstacles that life in Harlem throws at them.

This touching and raw teen novel from the author ofMonster,Kick,We Are America,Bad Boy, and many other celebrated literary works for children and teens is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.Darius and Twig are an unlikely pair: Darius is a writer whose only escape is his alter ego, a peregrine falcon named Fury, and Twig is a middle-distance runner striving for athletic success. New York Timesbestselling author and Printz Award winner Walter Dean Myers once again connects with teenagers everywhere inDarius Twig, a novel about friendship and needing to live one's own dream.

Darius & twig