Darnell Rock Reporting

by Walter Dean Myers

BY Myers, Walter Dean ( Author ) [{ Darnell Rock Reporting[ DARNELL ROCK REPORTING ] By Myers, Walter Dean ( Author )Feb-01-1996 Paperback By Myers, Walter Dean ( Author ) Feb - 01- 1996 ( Paperback ) } ]

Genres: Realistic Fiction, School, African American, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction

135 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 1996

About the author

pseudonyms:
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.

Reviews

[K2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

GoodRead

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 135 pages it's not a short story, but it's not a complete novel. Is there a term for that in-between? Probably so, but no matter the length you can never go wrong with anything written by Walter Dean Myers. He is always able to write about important issues in just the right way. What an inspiring author for both children and adults!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one with my students and is a good lesson to teach young ones about resilience.

[Mitchell M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darnell Rock Reporting
Grade/interest level: Upper Elementary (4th to 5th)
Reading level: Fountas and Pinnell: Q
Grade: 4.3
Genre: realistic fiction

Main Characters: Darnell Rock
Setting: Oakdale
POV: from Darnell Rock

Darnell Rock is a kid who didn’t like to write or didn’t think he would be doing any sort of writing other than his homework. He was kind of like me as a kid. “If it’s extra work and it doesn’t count for anything, why do it?” Darnell would rather be chillin’ with friends and his homies, but he realized he hasn’t done anything positive for the school. He was going to be a nobody. He wanted to leave his legacy some way. Darnell has one last chance to make a name for himself at his school. So he soon gets very interested in the Oakdale Gazette. He starts voluntarily writing articles for the Oakdale Gazette and to much of his surprise his articles and writing are actually very popular. He starts to become passionate about his writing and you see Darnell change from one person to another by the end of the book! I would consider this a good read!

I would do a lot with this book. I would talk about passion and following passion and your dreams. We would examine Darnell’s love of writing and how he used that to find success. Also, I would unpack the theme of identity as well because at this age group students are still finding their identities and we need to teach them that it is okay for one’s identity to change like Darnell’s. I would want to unpack the theme of risk taking. Many times in our classrooms students are afraid to participate because thy may be wrong or be embarrassed, let’s be real now…it happens everywhere. We need to try to get rid of that and encourage risk taking as Darnell did with his writing.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this story, but wasn't terribly moved by it. It was predictable, and kind of left me feeling a bit disappointed at the end. Still, for what it's meant to be, it was a good, empowering book I hope kids are inspired by.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fine. Predictable and not particularly well-written. My students did not love it.

[Sherria Parchman-Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic fiction
Grade 3-6

This is a quick read book which is appropriate for middle grade students. This is an interesting book with touches on real issues in Darnell community. He had submitted his writing sample to the schools new paper "a community garden" because there are homeless people and low income families. His writing sample was then published in the city new paper, and he then realized that people around him reacted to him in a negative way. Teacher's petitioned for a new parking lot in the same location that he chose to build the community garden.

[Hugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting YA novel about a boy trying his hand on writing an article for school newspaper. He found an important issue to write.

Nice but lots of scene skipping.

Good book

[Carolyn Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is for middle schoolers. The main character becomes curious about a homeless man in his neighborhood just when he joins the newspaper club. Initially the teachers and administrators in his school make it clear that they don't expect much from him, and act completely unsurprised and when he messes up, causing him to have low expectations for himself as well. The book is about doing yourself a disservice by just doing what everyone expects you to do, and when Darnell does the unexpected (by writing an article that actually gets picked up by the city paper) he realizes how differently people start acting around him.

I think this is a good read for middle schoolers, although it is a bit preachy.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read and appropriate for a young reader. The book cover doesn't draw attention to pick up this book, but I did like how the story unfolded in introducing a troubled child to find his voice and see that his words and action can make a difference. This book was culled from our school library since it hasn't been checked out in over 5 years. It was in the Young Adult section, meaning that only 6th grade and above could check it out. I don't recall anything in this book that was too graphic for an advanced reader or too controversial to be only for the middle school. I would let my child read this book, especially if they were not in any after school activities but expressed interest in writing or covering events. The main character was just going through the motions of going through school and not getting involved besides getting into trouble. After being sent to the principal's office yet another time, he blurts out that he was signing up for the school newspaper.

Some parts of the story seemed unrealistic in that things just happen to fall into place, but I also appreciated that the majority of the story was fairly realistic and normal. There are troubled youths that are just good kids and some "good kids" do mean things. I really appreciated the fact that the ending was not an overblown fairy tale/happily ever after ending, but was a good ending.

[CCIP Middle School · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darnell is a thirteen year old African American student who enjoys goofing off with his troublemaker friends and twin sister, Tamika, and does not enjoy studying or participating in school. As a trade with the principal, Darnell agrees to join the school newspaper instead of his parents finding out about his struggles in school. Darnell interviews Sweeby Jones, a homeless man, for an article for the paper and develops an unexpected friendship. Moved by Jones, Darnell suggests that the school donate some land to create a public garden space, where the homeless in the community can grow their own food instead of relying on handouts they might not receive.

This book provides a great example of what students can do to take action and fight poverty. Darnell suggested the public garden space in his school paper, which attracted the attention of the local newspaper and the city council. Darnell struggled in school and as on a bad path, but writing this article showed him he could make a difference with the simple power of words. The book is written from Darnell’s point of view. He uses simple language and is easily relatable for the intended audience.

The Lexile for this book is 710L.

Alli Boyer

[Tyler R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I really liked but not at first the beginning. He reminds me of what I could have done, by being in the school newspaper. I thought about being in the school newspaper but then I turned it down because I would have to come in the morning which I really don't care for I have troubles sometimes getting to school and not being tardy I probally would have taken it if it was after school. Darnell's family reminds me of my family, we have similar families. Of course I don't have a twin sister like Darnell, actually I don't have a twin at all but my little brother reminds me of his sister. He doesn't act like a girl by any means but he only has one sibiling and some of the stuff she says is kind of what he would have done. His mom really has similarities with my mom too. When Darnell has problems she wants to talk about it just like my mom. His dad is at least somewhat like mine. I don't know how to describe how we're alike but it seems they are. That is why I rated this book a five star.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a really thought provoking book for a younger reader or a low level reader. There were some terrific ideas in this book to inspire kids to read and write. There were lessons about helping your community, for instance Darnell meets a homeless man and becomes very curious as to how a person becomes homeless. He realizes it's not a choice someone makes, but can be brought on by choices you make in your life. Darnell wants to help the homeless help themselves by creating a public vegetable garden, where the homeless can grow their own food and not take handouts. Darnell also learns an important lesson when it comes to taking school seriously and not behaving badly because your friends might expect it. My book club read this book and I believe they got the message and enjoyed the story.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darnell hangs out with the bad kids. Well they're not BAD kids, they are just always getting in trouble. Darnell has to do something to get involved in the school or Mr. Baker, the principal, says he is going to tell his parents about all the trouble he's been getting into. So Darnell decide to join the school newspaper. At first the jobs he is given are boring and he thinks he might quit, then he gets the idea to write about a homeless guys who hangs out near his home. His first article suggest that the old basketball courts get turn into a garden for the homeless, instead of a parking lot. A lot of his friends support his idea and the local paper picks up on the idea, but can one middle school student who is known for being a trouble- maker make this big of a change? Read and find out!

[Kris Odahowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do we develop citizens? Myers wrote a story about unlikely champion of the homeless a Middle School student who just starting to write for a school newspaper. Darnell Rock is every teen nothing special except for the ability to actually see and respond to the world around him. This book should be a classic and must read in America where millions of our fellow citizens have tried and failed to keep the a roof over their heads. An America where so many children live in in poverty and homelessness. This book is available for check out at the Gadsden County Public Library.

[N.alex Terrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

well this book is about a teen named Darnell that doesnt do much in school. but he has one more chance to pull himself together an volunteers to join the school newspaper. Darnell really doesnt wanna be their but makes an effort and soon sees that people do pay attention to what he writes. he starts as a kid that doesnt do anything rite to a person that can make a difference!!! my opinion is an okay boooookkk.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Randomly found this book on the shelf @ BN. Myers did a great job of incorporating aspects of urban life into this story about a kid who could "fall through the cracks." Tackling the concept of why some Vietnam vets ended up homeless and some with solid jobs, Myers sets his scene below the surface (unlike the Kerr book I just read).

[Skozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a stereotypical troublemaker who reluctantly joins the student newspaper team and gains notoriety for his reporting.

[Lizzylou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute kids book Jenny lent me over the holidays.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are reading this in 5th grade reading.

[Jazmine Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this boook was ok and i notuced that Darnell was INFLUENCED through out the whole book

[A.cab]

its fin

[Sara Liebman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, thought provoking YA story following a young man as he begins to come of age.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly impressed. Feel that students will enjoy reading about the adventures of Darnell Rock and his peers - true middle-school situations

[Zaria]

it is great