Darius & Twig [9780061728235]

Overview

New York Times bestselling author and Printz Award winner Walter Dean Myers once again connects with teenagers everywhere in Darius & Twig, a novel about friendship and needing to live one's own dream. This touching and raw teen novel from the author of Monster, 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. But they are drawn together in the struggle to overcome the obstacles that life in Harlem throws at them. 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 the New York Times, included Darius & Twig on her list of "great kids' books with diverse characters." She commented: "The late Myers, one of the greats and a champion of diversity in children’s books well before the cause got mainstream attention, is at his elegant, heartfelt best in this 2013 novel. It’s about two friends growing up in Harlem, one a writer, one an athlete, facing daily challenges and trying to dream of a brighter future."

They both want a different future. But in a world designed to hold them back, can their dreams—and their friendship—survive?

• Unlikely Friendship: Darius is a quiet writer and Twig is a star runner. Their powerful bond is the one thing that keeps them going when the world tries to tear them down.
• Finding Your Voice: For Darius, escape comes through his stories and his secret alter ego—a fierce peregrine falcon named Fury.
• Overcoming Adversity: From facing down school bullies to dealing with family pressure at home, the two boys must fight for every inch of their future.
• Chasing a Dream: Twig is a gifted athlete with a shot at success, but he'll have to defy his family's plans to get to the finish line.