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Somewhere in the Darkness
Jimmy hasn't seen his father in nine years. But one day he comes back -- on the run from the law. Together, the two of them travel across the country -- where Jimmy's dad will find the man who can exonerate him of the crime for which he was convicted. Along the way, Jimmy discovers a lot about his father and himself -- and that while things can't always be fixed, sometimes they can be understood and forgiven.
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
214 books1,109 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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December 7, 2017جیمی پسر سیاه پوست از کودکی پدرش را ندیده است. روزی پدر که با اتهامی بی اساس و در واقع به جرم سیاهی پوست به زندان افتاده است از آنجا می گریزد. آیا پدر و پسر موفق می شوند مجرمان اصلی را به دام بیندازند؟ آیا پلیس پدر جیمی را دوباره دستگیر خواهد کرد؟ این رمان تراژدی زندگی رنگین پوستان در آمریکا را با قدرت روایت می کند.
January 21, 2019
GoodRead
October 4, 2020
حقيقتا قلبم از غم فشرده ميشه وقتى به اين كتاب و تبعيض هاى نژادى لعنتى اى كه توى دنيا وجود داره فكر مى كنم...
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جيمى🧑🏾 پسرى سياه پوست كه پدرش بخاطر آدمى كه نكشته توى زندانه و مادرش رو هم از دست داده و پيش مادربزرگش زندگى مى كنه... باهوشه و با وجود غيبت هاى زيادش در مدرسه نمره هاى خوبى داره..
يه روز سروكله ى مردى پيدا ميشه كه جيمى نميشناسه.. اون پدرشه ولى هيچ شباهتى به عكسايى كه از اون ديده نداره.. بالاخره سال ها زندان آدمو خيلى تغيير ميده..
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گاهى وقتا ما به سمت زندگى اى سوق داده ميشيم كه سرنوشت برامون رقم زده..
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جيمى🧑🏾 پسرى سياه پوست كه پدرش بخاطر آدمى كه نكشته توى زندانه و مادرش رو هم از دست داده و پيش مادربزرگش زندگى مى كنه... باهوشه و با وجود غيبت هاى زيادش در مدرسه نمره هاى خوبى داره..
يه روز سروكله ى مردى پيدا ميشه كه جيمى نميشناسه.. اون پدرشه ولى هيچ شباهتى به عكسايى كه از اون ديده نداره.. بالاخره سال ها زندان آدمو خيلى تغيير ميده..
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گاهى وقتا ما به سمت زندگى اى سوق داده ميشيم كه سرنوشت برامون رقم زده..
January 5, 2009
Jimmy Little, a fourteen-year-old boy, and his estranged father are reunited after nine years. The father is dying of a kidney ailment and has escaped from prison to share the truth of his past and to re-establish a relationship with his son. Jimmy embarks on a physical and psychological journey as he and his father explore their pasts. Because his mother died when he was a baby and because his father has been in prison, Jimmy never had the opportunity to learn about his roots until being reunited with his father. Jimmy is initially reluctant to develop a relationship with his father, but he soon opens his heart and mind and learns from his father the mistakes he does not want to make in his future. Although Jimmy realizes his father is unable to depart from his illegal ways, he comes to believe that his father was falsely accused and did not kill anyone.
When Jimmy's father revisits an ex-partner-in-crime, he is betrayed again, captured by the police, and dies cuffed to his hospital bed with Jimmy at his side. Throughout the novel, Jimmy transforms from confused teenager who is bright but often daydreams and skips school to a mature young adult. He gains insights into what it means to be an adult and more importantly, a father.
I think this author did a great job writting this story because he shows how a kid name jimmy who is brave because his mom died and his father had gone to prison. This book also is good because it shows you nomatter what happens in life you can still achieve your dreams. i give this book a 4 star because jimmy was very strong and brave because his mother died and after his father died so it was very hard for him but he still kept going on and on.
When Jimmy's father revisits an ex-partner-in-crime, he is betrayed again, captured by the police, and dies cuffed to his hospital bed with Jimmy at his side. Throughout the novel, Jimmy transforms from confused teenager who is bright but often daydreams and skips school to a mature young adult. He gains insights into what it means to be an adult and more importantly, a father.
I think this author did a great job writting this story because he shows how a kid name jimmy who is brave because his mom died and his father had gone to prison. This book also is good because it shows you nomatter what happens in life you can still achieve your dreams. i give this book a 4 star because jimmy was very strong and brave because his mother died and after his father died so it was very hard for him but he still kept going on and on.
August 5, 2019
Crab and his 14 year old boy take a trip across America. Crab's been in jail, his boy, Jimmy, doesn't know him, he's been in New York, living with Mama Jean. A little late for bonding, and as the story progresses, we learn a little about Crab's life and Jimmy's struggle to take this all in.
Crab's sick, real sick, and he gets money any way he can. Jimmy helps, Jimmy's confused, It's real, all the way from Chicago to the conjure man in Arkansas.
Crab's sick, real sick, and he gets money any way he can. Jimmy helps, Jimmy's confused, It's real, all the way from Chicago to the conjure man in Arkansas.
Currently reading
November 7, 20111: After reading the first few chapters of Somewhere In The Darkness by Walter Dean Myers, I began to notice his typical style. The main character and the narrater, Jimmy Little, is an teenage black male without a parental figure. This book has described in the beginning chapters a boy faced with a unique issue. He does not know if he can trust his escaped convict father. The remaining chapters will hopefully develop a relationship between the father and son.
2:I am about half way into reading this book and the story is slowly developing. However several characters have come to light. One of this most important characters so far is Jimmy Little. He is the protagonist of the story and symbolizes youth without guidance. He has faced many difficult decisions since the addition of his father. Jimmy has started to realize that with all of his fathers mistakes, he is still human and wants to love him.
3: So far in the book Jimmy is beginning to realize his father does have genuine, human emotions. However, he still holds conflicting feelings about his father. Jimmy's grandmother, Mama Jean, does not like his father. Jimmy feels pressured from both his father and grandmother. He sees his father has changed but still knows of his past. A major theme at this point of the story is family comes first. Jimmy's grandmother wants to protect jimmy from his father and Jimmy's father has placed his son as his highest priority.
2:I am about half way into reading this book and the story is slowly developing. However several characters have come to light. One of this most important characters so far is Jimmy Little. He is the protagonist of the story and symbolizes youth without guidance. He has faced many difficult decisions since the addition of his father. Jimmy has started to realize that with all of his fathers mistakes, he is still human and wants to love him.
3: So far in the book Jimmy is beginning to realize his father does have genuine, human emotions. However, he still holds conflicting feelings about his father. Jimmy's grandmother, Mama Jean, does not like his father. Jimmy feels pressured from both his father and grandmother. He sees his father has changed but still knows of his past. A major theme at this point of the story is family comes first. Jimmy's grandmother wants to protect jimmy from his father and Jimmy's father has placed his son as his highest priority.
February 11, 2009
This book deserves a much better cover because the story is really interesting. Jimmy has been raised by his neighbor because his mom died and his father is in jail. Suddenly his dad shows up and says he's out of jail and wants his son back. This is a story about a father and son who get to know the truth about each other.
The best part is on page 167 when the son, Jimmy, finds out the truth about his father and considers what kind of father he will be in the future:
'...he would tell him all the secrets he knew, looing right into his eyes and telling him nothing but the truth so that every time they were together they would know things about each other. That way there would be a connection ...something that would be there even when they weren't together.'
Honesty between parent and child is a major theme explored in this book and I recommend it. The reason I didn't give it five stars is because there are parts that bored me a bit. But it's worth pushing past to get to the juice.
The best part is on page 167 when the son, Jimmy, finds out the truth about his father and considers what kind of father he will be in the future:
'...he would tell him all the secrets he knew, looing right into his eyes and telling him nothing but the truth so that every time they were together they would know things about each other. That way there would be a connection ...something that would be there even when they weren't together.'
Honesty between parent and child is a major theme explored in this book and I recommend it. The reason I didn't give it five stars is because there are parts that bored me a bit. But it's worth pushing past to get to the juice.
February 4, 2014
The main character, Jimmy, lives with a woman he calls Mama Jean. Out of nowhere Jimmy's dad comes to visit him and says they let him out of jail and he wants to take Jimmy with him to Chicago. Mama Jean hesitates but let's Crab, Jimmy's father, take him. Mama Jean gives him money in case he runs into problems. Along the way he finds out his dad escaped from jail rather than being let out. By the end of the book the police caught Crab and sent him to a hospital where he died.
This book left you wondering about what would happen to Crab if he got caught and how he would avoid that. However, the book didn't have much action and could be boring at times. A lot of the book was taken up by talking. The ending happened really fast too compared to how nice slow and steady the rest of the book happened.
This book left you wondering about what would happen to Crab if he got caught and how he would avoid that. However, the book didn't have much action and could be boring at times. A lot of the book was taken up by talking. The ending happened really fast too compared to how nice slow and steady the rest of the book happened.
May 28, 2009
This is my favorite book because it has a lot of drama in it and it contains a black family unlike most authors. I learned that just because you love someone you don't have to put your self in danger.
April 30, 2019
Personal Response
I really enjoyed Somewhere in the Darkness because of the turn of events that happened. The book had a really good storyline that kept me intrigued to read to the end. I thought the book should have been longer, but it was interesting that Jimmy got to know his father.
Plot
Jimmy came home from school and found a man waiting for him when he arrived. The man waited for Mama Jean to get back home. Mama Jean introduced the man to Jimmy. The man’s name was Crab and he was Jimmy’s father. Crab had recently been released from prison. He told Mama Jean that he and Jimmy were moving to Chicago. Crab and Jimmy were on the road to Chicago when Jimmy found out Crab broke out of prison. They got to Chicago and Jimmy was upset about leaving Mama Jean. Crab realized the cops were searching for him. He decided to go down to Arkansas to see his old friends. When they got down there, they went to the conjure man who was a friend of Crabs. The friend helped Crab with pains he had. Then they went to another friend of Crab’s to find a place to stay for the night. The next day, Crab had his buddy come out to where he was staying to talk. When his buddy got there, Crab wanted him to explain to Jimmy that he did not actually kill anyone. His buddy would not admit it. He ended up leaving because he thought Crab was a federal agent. After that, cops came to where they were staying. Crab collapsed while he was running away from the cops.The cops took Crab to the hospital where he died from a heart attack.
Characterization
Jimmy was the main character of this book. In the beginning, Jimmy did not want to leave Mama Jean because he had never been with his father. He thought his father was guilty of murder. Throughout the book, he was always debating about trying to go back to New York where he previously lived. The biggest change in Jimmy’s life was when his father died and he learned he was not a murderer.
Crab was another main character in this book. He broke out of prison in the beginning and wanted to start a new life with his son. He wanted Jimmy to know the truth about his going to jail. Throughout the book, he was always looking for ways to prove his innocence to Jimmy. He died of a heart attack before Jimmy learned the truth.
Setting
The beginning of the book took place in New York where Jimmy originally lived with Mama Jean. When Crab came into the book, he and Jimmy moved to Chicago where they stayed for a week. The last place the book took place was in Arkansas where Crab was arrested. That was important to the story, because Crab ultimately died of a heart attack while running away from the cops in Arkansas. I believe the book took place in modern times because of how fast Crab was caught. The cops used modern surveillance devices to find him.
Theme
The theme of this book was the hazard of passing judgement. Jimmy judged his father as guilty of murder without listening to his father’s side of the story. Crab broke out of prison so he could see his son to tell him the truth about what had happened. Crab did not want Jimmy to think he killed someone when in reality he did not. Jimmy was afraid of Crab because of his actions throughout the book. At the end of the book, Jimmy realized his father just wanted him to believe him about not committing the murder.
Recommendation
I recommended this book to males who liked to read a book that flowed smoothly through the plot. The main character was male and others males could relate to him. It had a lot of quick changes that would interest most readers. I also recommended this book to anyone 14 or older who needed to get a goodreads in because of the short length. I recommended it to anyone 14 and up because of the violent content.
I really enjoyed Somewhere in the Darkness because of the turn of events that happened. The book had a really good storyline that kept me intrigued to read to the end. I thought the book should have been longer, but it was interesting that Jimmy got to know his father.
Plot
Jimmy came home from school and found a man waiting for him when he arrived. The man waited for Mama Jean to get back home. Mama Jean introduced the man to Jimmy. The man’s name was Crab and he was Jimmy’s father. Crab had recently been released from prison. He told Mama Jean that he and Jimmy were moving to Chicago. Crab and Jimmy were on the road to Chicago when Jimmy found out Crab broke out of prison. They got to Chicago and Jimmy was upset about leaving Mama Jean. Crab realized the cops were searching for him. He decided to go down to Arkansas to see his old friends. When they got down there, they went to the conjure man who was a friend of Crabs. The friend helped Crab with pains he had. Then they went to another friend of Crab’s to find a place to stay for the night. The next day, Crab had his buddy come out to where he was staying to talk. When his buddy got there, Crab wanted him to explain to Jimmy that he did not actually kill anyone. His buddy would not admit it. He ended up leaving because he thought Crab was a federal agent. After that, cops came to where they were staying. Crab collapsed while he was running away from the cops.The cops took Crab to the hospital where he died from a heart attack.
Characterization
Jimmy was the main character of this book. In the beginning, Jimmy did not want to leave Mama Jean because he had never been with his father. He thought his father was guilty of murder. Throughout the book, he was always debating about trying to go back to New York where he previously lived. The biggest change in Jimmy’s life was when his father died and he learned he was not a murderer.
Crab was another main character in this book. He broke out of prison in the beginning and wanted to start a new life with his son. He wanted Jimmy to know the truth about his going to jail. Throughout the book, he was always looking for ways to prove his innocence to Jimmy. He died of a heart attack before Jimmy learned the truth.
Setting
The beginning of the book took place in New York where Jimmy originally lived with Mama Jean. When Crab came into the book, he and Jimmy moved to Chicago where they stayed for a week. The last place the book took place was in Arkansas where Crab was arrested. That was important to the story, because Crab ultimately died of a heart attack while running away from the cops in Arkansas. I believe the book took place in modern times because of how fast Crab was caught. The cops used modern surveillance devices to find him.
Theme
The theme of this book was the hazard of passing judgement. Jimmy judged his father as guilty of murder without listening to his father’s side of the story. Crab broke out of prison so he could see his son to tell him the truth about what had happened. Crab did not want Jimmy to think he killed someone when in reality he did not. Jimmy was afraid of Crab because of his actions throughout the book. At the end of the book, Jimmy realized his father just wanted him to believe him about not committing the murder.
Recommendation
I recommended this book to males who liked to read a book that flowed smoothly through the plot. The main character was male and others males could relate to him. It had a lot of quick changes that would interest most readers. I also recommended this book to anyone 14 or older who needed to get a goodreads in because of the short length. I recommended it to anyone 14 and up because of the violent content.
January 15, 2019
Personal Response:
I liked the Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers, because the book showed a true connection between a son and a father. I liked how Crab showed that he cared about Jimmy and broke out to spend time with him. I liked how both of them were set out for an adventure. They had to visit different states to give hope for Crab to have someone confess to the murder. It was sad at the end when Crab had gotten shot in front of his son. It was also sad when Jimmy witness his dad die at the hospital. I liked how Crab actually put in a effort to show his son a father figure. I didn't like how this book dragged on. I rate this book four out of five stars.
Plot:
This book is about a kid with an absent father. There were two main characters in this book and that was Jimmy and his dad Crab. The reason why Crab wasn’t involved in Jimmy’s life was that Crab was incarcerated for murder. While Jimmy's father and mother were not around, he grew up with a family friend. Crab surprised Jimmy one day and talked to him about how he missed him so much. Crab also explained how he just got released from prison and needed to find work in Chicago. At first Jimmy was skeptical, but ended up going with Crab to Chicago. Crab explained to Jimmy how he broke out of jail and is on the run. Crab explained to Jimmy how he was innocent and his friend, Rydell had killed the person. Crab tried to prove his innocence by driving down to Memphis to make Rydell confess to the murder. Police find and shoot Crab at the end of the book. Crab dies the next morning in the hospital due to a gun wound.
Characterization
Jimmy grew up with a family friend his whole life and never met his mother nor father. Jimmy was 12 years old. Jimmy lived in Brooklyn with a family friend, Mama Jean. Jimmy grew up in a rough neighborhood. Jimmy met his dad halfway through the book. Jimmy’s father’s name is Crab. Crab is an prison escapee that broke out to spend time with his son. Crab had gotten locked up for an armed robbery and murder. When Jimmy and Crab first met they were stranger to each other. As the book progressed there relationship started to progress to a healthy father son relationship. At the end of the book Jimmy witnessed his father get shot by the police.
Setting
The book took place in modern time. The setting is important to the story because Jimmy grew up there. The time period is relevant to the story because growing up with one parent or none at all is common these days. Jimmy grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Jimmy lived with a family friend Mama Jean. Jimmy grew up a single child. The Brooklyn neighborhood was run down. Jimmy’s father was locked up in Brooklyn’s penitentiary. Jimmy’s mother was also incarcerated. Jimmy’s dad broke out of prison and he drove Jimmy to Chicago, Illinois. Jimmy and Crab stayed at a run down hotel that didn’t have running water. Jimmy and Crab stayed in Chicago for two days, they then traveled to Memphis, Tennessee. Crab Located Rydell in Memphis. Rydell was the supposed killer to Crab’s murder case. The police killed Crab in Memphis.
THEMATIC CONNECTION:
The theme of this book is appearance vs reality. The appearance of the book is about a fugitive who broke out of prison. The book in reality is that fugitive has a son that he's trying to spend time with. Another part of reality is that Crab broke out to try and make the person confess of the murder.
Recommended:
I recommend this book to people between the ages of 14-45 because a teenager and a parent can relate to this book. I recommend this book to the male gender because it showed the connection between a father and his son. I recommend this book to fathers because this book showed how Crab made an impact to Jimmy’s life with such little time. I recommend this book to people who have both parents present in their life. This book can show them how grateful it is to have both parents in life.
I liked the Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers, because the book showed a true connection between a son and a father. I liked how Crab showed that he cared about Jimmy and broke out to spend time with him. I liked how both of them were set out for an adventure. They had to visit different states to give hope for Crab to have someone confess to the murder. It was sad at the end when Crab had gotten shot in front of his son. It was also sad when Jimmy witness his dad die at the hospital. I liked how Crab actually put in a effort to show his son a father figure. I didn't like how this book dragged on. I rate this book four out of five stars.
Plot:
This book is about a kid with an absent father. There were two main characters in this book and that was Jimmy and his dad Crab. The reason why Crab wasn’t involved in Jimmy’s life was that Crab was incarcerated for murder. While Jimmy's father and mother were not around, he grew up with a family friend. Crab surprised Jimmy one day and talked to him about how he missed him so much. Crab also explained how he just got released from prison and needed to find work in Chicago. At first Jimmy was skeptical, but ended up going with Crab to Chicago. Crab explained to Jimmy how he broke out of jail and is on the run. Crab explained to Jimmy how he was innocent and his friend, Rydell had killed the person. Crab tried to prove his innocence by driving down to Memphis to make Rydell confess to the murder. Police find and shoot Crab at the end of the book. Crab dies the next morning in the hospital due to a gun wound.
Characterization
Jimmy grew up with a family friend his whole life and never met his mother nor father. Jimmy was 12 years old. Jimmy lived in Brooklyn with a family friend, Mama Jean. Jimmy grew up in a rough neighborhood. Jimmy met his dad halfway through the book. Jimmy’s father’s name is Crab. Crab is an prison escapee that broke out to spend time with his son. Crab had gotten locked up for an armed robbery and murder. When Jimmy and Crab first met they were stranger to each other. As the book progressed there relationship started to progress to a healthy father son relationship. At the end of the book Jimmy witnessed his father get shot by the police.
Setting
The book took place in modern time. The setting is important to the story because Jimmy grew up there. The time period is relevant to the story because growing up with one parent or none at all is common these days. Jimmy grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Jimmy lived with a family friend Mama Jean. Jimmy grew up a single child. The Brooklyn neighborhood was run down. Jimmy’s father was locked up in Brooklyn’s penitentiary. Jimmy’s mother was also incarcerated. Jimmy’s dad broke out of prison and he drove Jimmy to Chicago, Illinois. Jimmy and Crab stayed at a run down hotel that didn’t have running water. Jimmy and Crab stayed in Chicago for two days, they then traveled to Memphis, Tennessee. Crab Located Rydell in Memphis. Rydell was the supposed killer to Crab’s murder case. The police killed Crab in Memphis.
THEMATIC CONNECTION:
The theme of this book is appearance vs reality. The appearance of the book is about a fugitive who broke out of prison. The book in reality is that fugitive has a son that he's trying to spend time with. Another part of reality is that Crab broke out to try and make the person confess of the murder.
Recommended:
I recommend this book to people between the ages of 14-45 because a teenager and a parent can relate to this book. I recommend this book to the male gender because it showed the connection between a father and his son. I recommend this book to fathers because this book showed how Crab made an impact to Jimmy’s life with such little time. I recommend this book to people who have both parents present in their life. This book can show them how grateful it is to have both parents in life.
June 20, 2021
14yo Jimmy lives a fairly happy life in Harlem with Mama Jean, a family friend. His mother is dead and his father has been in and out of prison. When Crab - his father - shows up out of the blue one day to take Jimmy on a cross-country trip, Jimmy struggles with missing his home and Mama Jean, and trying to reconcile the man in the car with his ideas about what his father would and should be like. Crab has - and still does - make questionable life choices, but can Jimmy be strong enough to give him what he seeks - forgiveness?
This one feels a little dark for a Newbery Honor Book, but it's a good one, nonetheless. Myers does a nice job of making all the characters feel real - Jimmy reads just right for a 14yo, and I love that he's a PoC teen who faces hardships but isn't all-angst-all-the-time. Myers is also good at creating an atmosphere of unease and feeding it without letting it get overbearing.
This one feels a little dark for a Newbery Honor Book, but it's a good one, nonetheless. Myers does a nice job of making all the characters feel real - Jimmy reads just right for a 14yo, and I love that he's a PoC teen who faces hardships but isn't all-angst-all-the-time. Myers is also good at creating an atmosphere of unease and feeding it without letting it get overbearing.
April 16, 2020
This one just felt like a reworking of Myers' autobiography that I recently read, except that the autobiography was written better. I understand that we write what we know, but this just felt like a redundancy for me. The problem could be that this book came at a bad time, this is not the kind of stuff I am open to at this point as the forced quarantine is getting to me.
March 7, 2022
It was heartbreaking. I think I related to jimmy’s indifference to crab. I think I didn’t really care for most of the book until we started to see just how sick he really was and that he escaped to really spend his final moments getting to know his son and while it was tragic, I think jimmy still benefited from that in a way. I’m glad that he got to know his father, even if it was short lived.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2023
I was supposed to read this when I was younger, struggling with issues with my mostly absentee father.
I LOVED the settings of this book, but the plot was largely empty, the ending was also a bit unsatisfying. Not sure what Jimmy actually takes away from all that. Meh.
I LOVED the settings of this book, but the plot was largely empty, the ending was also a bit unsatisfying. Not sure what Jimmy actually takes away from all that. Meh.
July 21, 2021
انتظار داشتم یه داستان غم‌انگیز بخونم از زندگی یه پسربچه‌ی آمریکایی سیاهپوست.
نمی‌دونم مشکل از من بود یا ک��اب، ولی عملا هیچ صحبتی راجع به این موضوع نشده بود، یا انقدر کم بود که هیچ تاثیری نداشت واقعا.
از اون بدتر این که رمان کودک و نوجوانه، اما انقدر داستانش خسته‌کننده بود که بعید می‌دونم بچه‌ای حاضر بشه ساعت‌ها وقت بذاره و این کتاب رو بخونه.
نمی‌دونم مشکل از من بود یا ک��اب، ولی عملا هیچ صحبتی راجع به این موضوع نشده بود، یا انقدر کم بود که هیچ تاثیری نداشت واقعا.
از اون بدتر این که رمان کودک و نوجوانه، اما انقدر داستانش خسته‌کننده بود که بعید می‌دونم بچه‌ای حاضر بشه ساعت‌ها وقت بذاره و این کتاب رو بخونه.
April 8, 2011
*Some Where In The Darkness* is about a boy ( Jimmy ) who has not seen his father ( Crab ) for about ten years. Jimmy is now 14 and has to deal with life as it self without a father,But that is not the hardest thing that jimmy has to deal with. Crab is finnaly back and now wants to know his so called son jimmy. The Father and Son go off on a trip way across the county to meet crabs fears and secrets. One of the places that they went to on their trip was to eat breakfast. They talked about inmportant stuff while they ate.
I realy liked this beacuse it shows the good and the bad about relationships. Even though i am not in a good relationship with my Pop's, this book amzed me . I cant believe that Jimmy was able to upstand so long without a father.
I realy liked this beacuse it shows the good and the bad about relationships. Even though i am not in a good relationship with my Pop's, this book amzed me . I cant believe that Jimmy was able to upstand so long without a father.
April 24, 2021
My second Newbery read of the year. I'm trying to get back into my Newbery Quest. I've got about 150 books to go.
This is the first Myers novel that I've read. (I've read some of his poetry before.) I'll be honest, I didn't really get the point of the story, but the writing was so smooth and easy to listen to.
Jimmy's dad has been gone and in prison, but suddenly shows up. He and Jimmy head out on a road trip. Jimmy learns a lot about his missing father.
I guess the theme of the book is learning about your past and forgiveness, but it just seemed like the story didn't have a lot happening. But, as I said, it was short, and easy to listen to, so I enjoyed it.
This is the first Myers novel that I've read. (I've read some of his poetry before.) I'll be honest, I didn't really get the point of the story, but the writing was so smooth and easy to listen to.
Jimmy's dad has been gone and in prison, but suddenly shows up. He and Jimmy head out on a road trip. Jimmy learns a lot about his missing father.
I guess the theme of the book is learning about your past and forgiveness, but it just seemed like the story didn't have a lot happening. But, as I said, it was short, and easy to listen to, so I enjoyed it.
May 2, 2013
Walter Dean Myers did a good job writing "Somewhere in the Darkness." It was about a black boy who lived with his grandma because, his mom died, and he had never heard from his dad. Levi didn't like going to school and he tried to skip. One day when he skipped school, a man came to his apartment and told him who he was. The man was Levi's dad, Crab. He was going to take him to New York with him to find a job. I would recommend this book to middle school kids and older because it can get violent at times.
May 8, 2019
A well written book about a young man finding himself and his father when he takes an unexpected road trip.
I found the writing easy to follow and easy to understand. I think that most teenage boys will find the book telling and make them want to be closer to their families and fathers. The ending is a bit telltale and predictable. They never even resolve the reason for the road trip that the father pushes them into but I don't know if they need to.
A very interesting story about teenage life and missing life.
I found the writing easy to follow and easy to understand. I think that most teenage boys will find the book telling and make them want to be closer to their families and fathers. The ending is a bit telltale and predictable. They never even resolve the reason for the road trip that the father pushes them into but I don't know if they need to.
A very interesting story about teenage life and missing life.
Read
September 17, 2010Jimmy is a kid who lives in Harlem. Jimmy hasn't seen his father in 9 years. One day, he comes back, and he wants to know his son more. Jimmy's father's name is Crab, he is actually on the run from the police. He was gone for 9 years because he was in jail for armed robbery. Now he's accused of killing a man. He takes Jimmy half way across the U.S to find a man who relieve him of his accusation. Along the way, Jimmy learns more about his and about himself as well.
July 21, 2008
this book is on the summer reading list for high school students in the school district of philadelphia. in my opinion, not as good as other books by walter dean myers. i'm curious to know what my students think of it...
July 2, 2017
I teach this book every year to my seventh graders. The story is jam packed with teachable moments regarding symbolism, characterization, and life lessons on the relationships between father and son and the expectations that drive our relationships. Always holds the kids' attentions.
April 29, 2020
Justification: Teens-Mystery/Suspense
Can we be real? Every WASP teacher living in the suburbs paying HOA dues needs to read Walter Dean Myers. That is just plain fact.
Evaluation:
Jimmy lives with Mama Jean, a friend of his late mother’s, who has raised him in Harlem. He comes home from high school one afternoon to find a stranger waiting for him who claims to be his father. This man, nicknamed Crab, takes Jimmy with him on a journey across the country as they visit old neighborhoods his father knew. The trip is at times harrowing, confusing and awkward for Jimmy as he discovers himself, his father and the dreams they have held for their bond.
Myers is simply the best at dialogue and description that rings true, and he allows us to walk through the conflicting emotions and thoughts along with Jimmy. Our skin crawls with Jimmy’s as a roach wanders up the wall in his apartment kitchen. Our minds scream, “Stranger Danger!” when Crab shows up. We simultaneously fear and are fascinated by this man who enters the scene after nearly a decade’s absence. For the span of a road trip, we live Jimmy’s life.
This is not an easy book. But it gets to the heart of what families are and what we wish they were. And every mile that Jimmy and his father cover takes them to an acceptance of the home they have sought in each other but really has always been there for each of them, just past their own denial. This book was chosen to be the Honor Book for the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Awards, and was an ALA Recommended Book for the Reluctant Young Adult Reader.
Conclusion:
This is a powerful story, powerfully written, and it resonates with everyone who has struggled with a parental relationship that failed to fulfill a son’s or daughter’s longings. Again, Walter Dean Myers is not to be missed. By anyone, from anywhere. But especially if your life has been lived on the privileged side of the tracks.
Citation:
Myers, W. D. (1999). Somewhere in the darkness. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Can we be real? Every WASP teacher living in the suburbs paying HOA dues needs to read Walter Dean Myers. That is just plain fact.
Evaluation:
Jimmy lives with Mama Jean, a friend of his late mother’s, who has raised him in Harlem. He comes home from high school one afternoon to find a stranger waiting for him who claims to be his father. This man, nicknamed Crab, takes Jimmy with him on a journey across the country as they visit old neighborhoods his father knew. The trip is at times harrowing, confusing and awkward for Jimmy as he discovers himself, his father and the dreams they have held for their bond.
Myers is simply the best at dialogue and description that rings true, and he allows us to walk through the conflicting emotions and thoughts along with Jimmy. Our skin crawls with Jimmy’s as a roach wanders up the wall in his apartment kitchen. Our minds scream, “Stranger Danger!” when Crab shows up. We simultaneously fear and are fascinated by this man who enters the scene after nearly a decade’s absence. For the span of a road trip, we live Jimmy’s life.
This is not an easy book. But it gets to the heart of what families are and what we wish they were. And every mile that Jimmy and his father cover takes them to an acceptance of the home they have sought in each other but really has always been there for each of them, just past their own denial. This book was chosen to be the Honor Book for the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Awards, and was an ALA Recommended Book for the Reluctant Young Adult Reader.
Conclusion:
This is a powerful story, powerfully written, and it resonates with everyone who has struggled with a parental relationship that failed to fulfill a son’s or daughter’s longings. Again, Walter Dean Myers is not to be missed. By anyone, from anywhere. But especially if your life has been lived on the privileged side of the tracks.
Citation:
Myers, W. D. (1999). Somewhere in the darkness. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
November 11, 2017
Okay so another Walter Dean Myers book as I can’t lie I believe I will find a book by an African American man that will reach my scholars on topics they can relate to..I did a booktrailer for Autobiography of My Dead Brother and it was one of my most loved, the kids liked the context of someone they love dying and memorializing them..I got a lot of good discussion so I figured yup keep on the vein of deep intriguing reads to make my students think..and so I found this one and read the back-a boy just meeting his father boom it seemed like a no-brainer to read this and see if I can invoke curiosity in some kid in need of a male role model..Alright so this is a story of Jimmy, orphaned but taken in and loved by Mama Jean with a good life with school and friends..struggling in the tenth grade and daydreaming often when everything turns upside down and a tall stranger enters his life and says he is his father--and he just got out of prison after nine years and is taking Jimmy with him to Arkansas. This all happens rather early on in the book and the story follows the men as they travel from New York to Arkansas and Jimmy gets the time with his father he never had; his dad answers questions about his mother, his shady past and teaches him man lessons ---these two who never knew each other learn they need each more than they thought. I thought this book was poignant and touching in spots but overall lacking a lot of action to really hook a young reader but I will save it for my 8th graders for sure as I feel it may be a touch mature with its life lesson/reflection on misdoings and corrections though it was a good read and after starting it late last night I did want to finish it and won’t spoil anything but it’s a little predictable how it ends with a message to cherish every moment and family is so important..Good but not great read I don’t know I am a little on the fence about loving my last few reads sigh..must get something great!!
June 7, 2023
Read for Newbery Club in Children's Books group. There I posted:
Ok this is interesting. I just enjoyed the New Kid trilogy, the first of which is a 2020 Newbery Medal winner*, and one of the themes of the stories is how out of touch with the concerns of African-American children many adults are. Very well-meaning adults at the private school assumed that they were doing well to recommend 'gritty urban' stories about 'poor black kids in trouble' to their students. Craft called his example text something like "The Gritty Streets of South Uptown" (but much funnier).
Well, I've noticed that there are no shortage of gritty stories in the Newbery lists, including Somewhere in the Darkness in which our boy is on his way to being a delinquent because he skips school so much, has to navigate past junkies to get outside in the first place, only family is a friend of his mom, and the story is about his father who shows up one day out of the blue, grabs the boy, and splits, leaving a trail of lies behind him.
And then, finally, it ends, with us not learning anything about the mom, or anything about what Jimmy is going to do now that the adventure is over. Is he going to start taking school more seriously? Is Mama Jean going to tell him more of his family history? I can just hear the white teacher telling the almost all white classroom of students "What do you think? Discuss."
I don't feel bad about skipping the author's "Scorpions," a previous Newbery honor book.
(*We will be discussing New Kid when we get caught up to 2020 in this group. I look forward to the reread!)
Ok this is interesting. I just enjoyed the New Kid trilogy, the first of which is a 2020 Newbery Medal winner*, and one of the themes of the stories is how out of touch with the concerns of African-American children many adults are. Very well-meaning adults at the private school assumed that they were doing well to recommend 'gritty urban' stories about 'poor black kids in trouble' to their students. Craft called his example text something like "The Gritty Streets of South Uptown" (but much funnier).
Well, I've noticed that there are no shortage of gritty stories in the Newbery lists, including Somewhere in the Darkness in which our boy is on his way to being a delinquent because he skips school so much, has to navigate past junkies to get outside in the first place, only family is a friend of his mom, and the story is about his father who shows up one day out of the blue, grabs the boy, and splits, leaving a trail of lies behind him.
And then, finally, it ends, with us not learning anything about the mom, or anything about what Jimmy is going to do now that the adventure is over. Is he going to start taking school more seriously? Is Mama Jean going to tell him more of his family history? I can just hear the white teacher telling the almost all white classroom of students "What do you think? Discuss."
I don't feel bad about skipping the author's "Scorpions," a previous Newbery honor book.
(*We will be discussing New Kid when we get caught up to 2020 in this group. I look forward to the reread!)
April 27, 2022
I listened to the audio book and the narrator was very good. Jimmy was a character that was very easy to empathize with, but not his father. Jimmy is the one that has to point out that it does not matter if his father finds a person to tell him that he was not responsible for someone's death and was wrongly accused. His father has stolen and continues to do that as they go on a road trip to Arkansas. Jimmy points out the continuation of these choices are not acceptable in the pursuit of finding the person to tell Jimmy of his innocence in other matters. Jimmy has not seen his father since he was young, the father shows up in New York very sick and takes him on this road trip. He is a very self-centered character. I really felt sorry for Mama Jean. I cannot imagine her worry. The writing style is excellent, but the delivery of the theme misses the mark. I am giving two stars instead of three because of the way women are depicted in this book. Jimmy's father's description of his womanizing in the past is degrading and unbelievable that a father that cares about his kid would tell the stories that he did. He has no regrets in this regard. That is fine if this is the character, but in a middle school book, the author is responsible for giving the other side. Jimmy is a great character and I do wonder how he turned out. This would have been a great book to have a sequel. The ending scene is very memorable and well written. I am concerned that students will not walk away with the right message- we are all still responsible for our actions and choices. Just because you have had a wrong done to you, this does not give you a free pass to do other "wrongs."
June 27, 2017
This story involved Jimmy Little, a fourteen-year-old boy who lives in a New York City apartment with Mama Jean, his legal guardian as his father's in prison and his mother is dead. Jimmy comes home from school, he finds a man named Crab who says he's his father. Mama Jean returns home to find Crab and Jimmy talking, so she's happy to see them reunited, but when Crab wants to take Jimmy on a trip, she's suddenly a bit more worried. While she has her reservations, Mama Jean allows the trip to happen. As they travel, Crab reveals that he's broken out of prison and is taking this trip to right some wrong about his imprisonment. I won't spoil the ending, but it's a rather abrupt conclusion to say the least!
5 stars because of the drama that's created by Walter Dean Myers, the drama of Jimmy's trust issues, the drama of Crab and his breakout, and the ending. A great book for your upper elementary/ middle school students!
5 stars because of the drama that's created by Walter Dean Myers, the drama of Jimmy's trust issues, the drama of Crab and his breakout, and the ending. A great book for your upper elementary/ middle school students!
June 17, 2018
Somewhere in the Darkness is a great book for anyone who enjoys a book with a good story line and surprises. The main character Jimmy Little is boy who has trouble attending school because of his mother passing, even though he is an honor student. Also Jimmy's father is in jail and has been there his whole life. One day when he comes home form school he sees a man standing in his house. The man claims that he is his father and his name is Crab. He said that he was released early from jail for something he didn't do and he needs to take a job in Chicago because it is required by his parole officer. Later on in the story, Jimmy finds out that he has a kidney disease and he is going to die. Crab escaped form jail for two reasons, one being that he wants to prove to his son that he is not guilty, the other being that he wants to create a relationship that he never had with his son. Will Crab die before him and Jimmy can create a father son relationship? That's for you to find out in Somewhere in the darkness.
Overall, Somewhere in the darkness was a great story. It had an amazing story line and I loved the characters. The only thing is I wish I knew a little bit more about his mother because it left me wondering the whole story. Besides that I would recommend that you read this story and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
Overall, Somewhere in the darkness was a great story. It had an amazing story line and I loved the characters. The only thing is I wish I knew a little bit more about his mother because it left me wondering the whole story. Besides that I would recommend that you read this story and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
March 12, 2022
Somewhere in the Darkness was an okay book for me. I liked that it showed a realistic portrayal of a broken relationship between a father and son. The book does not sugarcoat Jimmy and Crab’s unpleasant trip across the United States. Their relationship is awkward since Crab, who was recently in jail, continues acting in an unlawful manner and Jimmy sees his actions, making it difficult for him to understand and connect his father. Despite liking that part of the book, I didn’t get attached to the characters or the story. I did not hate the characters, but I did not care for them. I was underwhelmed for most of the story. It’s mainly just Jimmy and Crab traveling, and Crab lying and making Jimmy do things that makes him feel uncomfortable. The more interesting parts of the story occur near the end. Regardless, the book was okay for the most part.
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