Darius & Twig

by Walter Dean Myers

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."

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary, Friendship, Teen, Sports

208 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2013

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

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darius and Twig is a short read that centers around two high school boys who desperately try to hang onto their dreams while dealing with the issues at home and in their neighborhood.

I’ve only read one book by this author and it was Monster, the book listed on the cover of this one. I didn’t necessarily like it…it actually kind of horrified me since I was bit too young for it and so it’s stuck with me. The author has a unique way of telling a story, he puts you inside the main characters head and let’s their voices tell you everything you need to know. You see the excitement, nervousness and frustration up close.

I really liked Darius and Twig. They have dreams and ambitions, and they know that where they are from and what they look like do not define them as people. Twig wants to run track professionally and Darius wants to be a writer, and while others don’t see their potential until it’s success the two of them still keep at it. The have a really strong and amazing friendship and I found it fantastic that they had each others back through thick and thin. Darius helped Twig train and cheered him on and Twig encourages Darius to write, and more importantly they keep each other from falling into the dark thoughts that lurk at the edges of their lives.

The neighborhood they live in is rough and there is so much that the two of them have to deal with; shootings, poverty, bullying, etc. My only issue with this book is the amount of racial generalization by a good handful of the characters. I understand the point of having characters like this, and maybe it really is like this in some places but if you ever want to make me grit my teeth add in some racial generalization or I suppose you could call it stereotyping. It personally brought the book down for me.

Overall I enjoyed it, it has a voice and it certainly speaks of hope. I think the message it holds is wonderful and I’d definitely recommend it for older teens and adults.

[Gracie B]

it was okay.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

“It didn’t do any good being smart. If you were smart and if the world had been right side up, then you would be rewarded for being smart. But the way the word really worked, the way it went down especially when it came to dudes like me, was that you had to walk a path to show you were smart, and it didn’t have anything to do with what you had in your head or in your heart. It had to do with what you scored on tests, the grades you got, and what grades they could send to college.” (pg. 6)
I want to plead my case, to say that if I didn’t get a scholarship, it would mean taking my place with all the other guys on the block who look like me. Young, black, dangerous unless proven otherwise. (pg. 12)

So this short yellow book jumped out at me from our library shelves and I decided to try it out and see if it is something I can recommend…here’s the thing though it’s a Walter Dean Myers book and I have mixed feelings about his writings…now I am a fan but I just find his writing hard to read—his themes, his character even his vision is just everything—all about diversity, inclusion and the hard topics that need stories told but I just find his writing confusing and hard to understand at times—Autobiography of My Dead Brother and Somewhere in the Darkness are two examples of books I wanted to like more and this one falls in the same category..So I found this one hard to get into and written more for older readers as there are curse words sprinkled in the dialect with words like shitty and ass and other little nasties as the story unfolds …Darius the writer and his best friend Twig the runner try to make it despite pitfalls, bullies and negativity..it is full of running analogies, snippets of writings about birds of prey and Darius’s alter ego Fury..it weaves in and out of their lives and ends somewhat hopefully and you are better for reading it though it was the struggle..I do want to read Monster and Glory Fields by Myers at some point but like I said it is a reading exercise to get through, love him but some books of his ask for a lot..it was good not a great book..

[Jeff Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Previously, I had not read anything by Walter Dean Myers, which now seems a shame. I know the titles of plenty of his books, and have even picked up a few and said to myself, “Sir, you ought to read this book.” Before setting it back on the library shelf. I heretofore intend to justify this problem and read lots of his books.
Darius & Twig is good. It’s hard to give a plot for because, there isn’t really a central event that defines it. It’s best summed up as a short period in the life of Darius, a young black man trying to become an author in Harlem. He and his best friend Twig just kind of live life, and it feels so authentic. In fact, it feels so authentic that I would not be shocked in the least to discover that it’s some sort of autobiography about the author or something.
The story is great, sure, sometimes it’s sad, sometimes depressing, but it’s also got a lot of happy moments and courageous moments and it’s well worth a read. I promise you won’t regret meeting Darius, Twig, and the rest of the folks (including Darius’ imaginary pet falcon named Fury).
5/5

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads-giveaway, which did not influence my review.

I had never read a book by this author before now, so all I had to go on as far as it interesting me was the description in the summary. It promised to be a book about friendship between two teenagers living in Harlem, a subject that appealed to me. But it delivered so much more. In a way, the book was about two friends becoming friends with themselves. It was about them respecting themselves enough to set aside other people's expectations of them so they could follow the expectations they had set for themselves.

The two friends, both of them sixteen, are Darius who is Black and a writer, and Twig who is Dominican and a middle distance runner. The story is told from Darius' point of view as he struggles against the limitations of his environment, whether it's his broken family that he feels responsible for, or the educators who cannot see beyond his poor grades to reward him for his potential, or the neighborhood with its ever present threat of violence and bullying for anyone who dares to stand out or stand up for himself.

Darius is hoping to win a scholarship and leave Harlem behind him by publishing a short story that he wrote. Unfortunately, the editors are not happy with the ending of his story as it stands. It is unclear whether or not the story is one of hope or despair, just as it is unclear whether or not Darius' life story is one of hope or despair. His alter ego--Fury, a falcon that soars above the city and its problems--helps Darius cope with his anger and frustration over his situation and that of his friend, Twig.

Twig is trying to win a scholarship, as well, by competing in an important race. Finishing well, he would attract attention and highlight his potential. But unlike Darius, he is ambivalent about leaving his neighborhood and family behind him as he rises upward. He is also worried about the compromises he might be forced to make, which would limit his joy in running. He and Darius spend the book struggling to define themselves by what's inside them as opposed to how others see them.

This story is truly a journey in self discovery for the two friends, a book I'd recommend for people 14 years and older due to its deeper themes and due to some raw language that I found completely appropriate for the characters, story, and setting.

[Jessica Cain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary and Critique:
Darius comes form a single-parent household in Harlem. He's a good kid and cares a lot about school but struggles with dealing things when everything isn't in his favor. He's an amazing writer but doesn't think he has a chance to get a scholarship for college. He has supportive people in his life but always doubts himself on being a star. His best friend twig is the only thing that keeps him from loosing hope in himself completely. Twig is a star runner and Darius finds so much happiness in supporting twig with what he's best at. Together the go through trails of life together and follow their dreams the best they can. I loved the friendship in this book. I thought that the way Darius was so passionate about his best friends ability to run was beautiful. He was his biggest supporter. Very cute story.

Classroom Use: I would have my students do i writing assignment on this book about what they're passionate about.

Genre: Fiction

Format: Chapter book

Reading level: Grades 10 and up

Theme/topic: Hope that their gifts will get them out of a scary environment

Gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status: The were in a low class because they lived in harlem. Their living situations weren't ideal and they wanted out of them. They wanted more from life.

Citation: Myers, W. (2013). Darius & Twig. Amistad.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's short and sweet and a super quick read, but takes on some really complicated ideas. What in means to be black growing up in Harlem where you don't have the opportunities before you that many kids from other races in other areas and other socioeconomic backgrounds may have. What friendship means. Your duty to family and people of the same race even if you don't particularly like them and may have a bad history with.

One small facet that really stood out to me, too, was the perception of what it means to be black by people who are not black. While it's small, it really plays into the expectations of these kids. It's really interesting to see a thought provoking analysis of the cultural impact all of these ideologies have on kids who are just trying to do something with themselves both now and for their futures.

Love it. It's such a quick read but really worth your time if you're at all interested in race, economics, ideologies, friendship, education, etc.

[Mrs. Strudthoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twig and Darius are friends who live in a crime-filled, gang-ruled neighborhood. So far, both of them have been able to stay alive and out of trouble. Running is what saves Twig; and he's hoping he's good enough that he'll get a scholarship to a college. Darius loves to write and he hopes his talent will be his ticket out as well.

If it was that easy . . .

Twig has trouble with grades and both of them have troubled home lives. In addition, the gangs are doing all they can to steer Twig and Darius off their paths.

Do they have enough heart to achieve their goals? Or will the gangs be too much to overcome?

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darius is the smart one and Twig can run. Myers' story of two boys on the brink--failure is just as much of a possibility as success is, in their world--captures the reader through spare and thoughtful writing. Darius cheers his friend on and is lifted from his own depression through Twig's successes, but as Darius' mother says, he can't live Twig's life and has to address his own future. Can he really be a writer, and can he get into college? The barriers in the way sometimes seem impossibly tall. Contemporary, relevant, and moving. High school.

[yt_rhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8
The type of way he wrote it was a little disappointing; but the plot, setting, dialogue, and character quickly made up for it. It was a fairly easy book in my opinion, and I deeply enjoyed their experiences in New York. The book was all in place, and there wasn't a lot going on to get me confused.

overall; 3.8 stars because It was written poorly, (The narritive parts and POV), it was written in a way only the author could understand, meaning the moral of the story was fuzzy and not clearly defined by others. Everything else was wonderful, you got to get attached to the characters quickly and the plots and stories were truly so heart touching.

good job Walter!

[Jacob Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very good and I found it inspiring but it is also very mature.

[Lisa Finke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Walter Dean Myers that I've read, and I really liked it! I really liked the friendship of the two boys. Great story!

[Tariq · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is over all a very good book. There was a lot of stuff that I liked in the book. like how relatable all the scenarios are to me and other people that were struggling to reach a goal. But still reaches it. I also like how well the author put a runner and a writer together. They are reaching different goals, but still a great duo. One thing I disliked about the book was that it was kind of too obvious. Like he would run a race with nothing really exiting happen. The author makes it seems like he will obviously win. But that was only like two or the three pages of the story. I wish the author would have put more of what was happening in the house rather than outside the school and in the school. Because it would have made the story more exciting. I would recommend it for people who like Nonfiction, and sports books. I read this book because how catchy the cover is. And then when I read the summary I got more into it. Another book that is similar to this book is crossover. It is almost the same type of story.

[Cleo · Rating 3 out of 5]

"New York Times bestselling author and current National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Walter Dean Myers was asked to write a novel about friendship by his fans. Here it is. Darius is a writer struggling to find his own way, with only his alter ego, Fury, a peregrine falcon, and Twig, his best friend, in his corner. Twig, a middle-distance runner, has the skills to make it but wants to dictate his own terms for success. He may be a winner on the track, but it doesn't stop him from getting picked on. For these friends, money is tight; there are bullies and absent adults and, most disturbing, the notion that their Harlem life doesn't have much to offer. They need to navigate their world: the thugs, the seamy side of sports, the uncertainty of their prospects. And they need to figure out how to grow up together, but apart. This raw teen novel is the latest from highly acclaimed award-winning author Walter Dean Myers."

I enjoyed Darius and Twig, which I received from Goodreads First Reads. It was definitely raw, as it was described, and lyrical and poetic and moody. It didn't resonate deeply with me, but there were some interesting passages and thoughts expressed. Walter Dean Myers has written many YA novels, but I've never read any of them. I have, however, read some of his poems in Here in Harlem.

I really liked how the two main characters and their relationship, really the central part of the story, were portrayed. As I said, none of it deeply touched me, and it somehow didn't feel all that real, but I still liked Darius and Twig. It's a very short book, but marked as 8th grade and up, because there is some swearing and some hard things that happen in the book.

I feel like Myers did a really great job also of describing the way the adults in the story pressure Darius and Twig to be a certain way. There's Twig's uncle, who wants him to give up his dreams and work at the store. But even the good adults in the story, like Darius's writing teacher, want him to change his writing to the way they like it. Which is good and bad at the same time. I also thought that the story that Darius was working on was very interesting, and a lot of the events that happened in Darius and Twig were very meaningful. It's set in the present day, yet there are still all these awful things that happen in Harlem. I don't know if it's entirely realistic, but it's certainly compelling.

Overall, I didn't love Darius and Twig, but I did like it, and I would certainly recommend this "raw teen novel". It was really absorbing, actually, because the events just kept coming, and although they were on a small scale, like Austen's work, that made them all the more interesting. The reader gets caught up in these two boys' stories and their lives, and wants to know more, and whether everything is going to work out for them. Darius and Twig is definitely an intense read.

I may read some of Myers's other books in the future, though I'm not really eager to find them.

www.novareviews.blogspot.com

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

**This originally appeared on a Realistic Fiction for Young Adults discussion board for my Children's Literature class**

Darius & Twig chronicles the everyday life of best friends Darius Austin and Manuel “Twig” Fernandez. Darius dreams of being a writer that changes the world while Twig aspires to be a great runner. Unfortunately, their environment tries to work against their dreams- they live in the poor section of Harlem where violence and other crimes are an everyday occurrence. Darius and Twig also have two nemeses at their school- Midnight and Tall Boy, opposites to Darius and Twig in almost every way. Throughout this novel, Darius is struggling with the suggested edits from the editor of the Delta Review. As Darius changes throughout the novel, he uses his growing emotional maturity and awareness of the world to flesh out his short story in more vivid detail. Darius views this essay as his ticket out of Harlem but his guidance counselor (and I use that term loosely here. I personally thought his guidance counselor was too negative) thinks otherwise: “He got right to the bottom line, He said that right now I wasn’t scholarship material… He said maybe I should drop put and do my junior year over again” (Myers, 2013, p.4). Darius does not accept this less-than-encouraging news; with an absent brother, and overworked mother, and a little brother to care for, Darius wants to change his life for the better: “The thing was that I needed a scholarship that would get me out of my house, away from my mom, away from the hood, and most of all, away from the crap that was going on in my head everyday” (Myers, 2013, p. 6).

To mentally escape his environment, Darius envisions himself as a falcon named Fury and some of the chapters open with segments about Fury’s sky-high view of the world and his hunting escapades. The little vignettes mirror the emotions Darius experiences within the corresponding chapter. Between Fury’s “flights” and his own walks around the neighborhood, Darius knows that he needs to leave Harlem and attend college to better himself. His greatest fear (and this mentioned multiple times in the novel) is that “if I didn’t get a scholarship, it would mean taking my place with all the other guys on the block who look like me. Young, black, dangerous, unless proven otherwise (Myers, 2013, p. 12).

While the novel is told from Darius’ point of view, we also learn about Twig’s situation. His family is ruled by his sleazy uncle who wants to leave the family store to Twig. Twig, like Darius, does not want to stay in Harlem for the rest of his life. As his best friend, Darius assists Twig with his training regimen and lives vicariously through Twig’s races: “Twig had found a real joy in running, had found a pleasure and a freedom that he didn’t have anywhere else in his life. It was something he could do, a statement that his body could make to the world” (Myers, 2013, p. 109).

In our “Realistic Fiction” lecture notes, we are encouraged to review realistic fiction novels with the following criteria in mind:
• the plot involves a common problem that most teens can relate to as part of “an interesting and believable plot” (Carruth, 2018).
• The characters in realistic fiction should not be perfect children who make no mistakes.
• The setting should contribute to the story and written vividly to transport the reader to another place.
• The themes of the novel should not come across as preachy.
• The dialogue between characters needs to sound as natural as possible.

Although the ending was more positive than I expected and wrapped their problems a little too neatly (while reading this book I had a sense of mild dread that Darius or Twig were going to get into some kind of trouble with huge consequences), I believe that this book meets the requirements listed above. Most teens can relate to wanting to leave a stifling environment and receiving no help for this goal with the adults in their life. Teens also have best friends that they can share secrets with and go to bat for, like Darius did when he convinced Twig’s uncle to watch Twig race. Despite their circumstances, Darius and Twig are considered “good kids” but they are not perfect- they do end up in a fist fight against Midnight and his cronies. The negative conditions in Harlem are written vividly but do not overtake the plot; the boys are never completely hopeless about their situation, although they sometimes waver about their future choices. I think perseverance and friendship are the themes of this novel and they are presented in a believable manner throughout the novel. Once again, because Darius and Twig are not perfect, their dialogue isn’t perfect either- there is some swearing (some readers might cringe over the few F-bombs sprinkled throughout the book). This book also fits into the subgenres of coming of age and sports novel (I’m still trying to decide whether this book fits into the social problem novel. What do you guys think?).

Readalikes disclaimer: Since I am not familiar with YA sports novels, I consulted Listopia on Goodreads for the following recommendations:

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker (synopsis from Goodreads):”Runningback Mick Johnson has dreams: dreams of cutting back, finding the hole, breaking into the open, and running free with nothing but green grass ahead. He has dreams of winning and of being the best. But football is a cruel sport. It requires power, grace, speed, quickness, and knowledge of the game. It takes luck, too. One crazy bounce can turn a likely victory into sudden defeat. What elite athlete wouldn’t look for an edge? A way to make him bigger, stronger, faster?
This novel explores the dark corners of the heart of a young football player as he struggles for success under the always glaring—and often unforgiving—stadium lights.”
The Contender by Robert Lipsyte (synopsis from Goodreads): “This is a sports fiction novel that tells a story of Alfred Brooks, a seventeen-year-old high school drop-out, living in Harlem, finding his way in the world and in boxing. Alfred learns that getting to the top is not as important as how you get there, and that before you can be a champion, you have to be a contender with the will to get back on your feet after you have been knocked down.”

Citations:

Carruth, D. (2018) Realistic fiction [Word document] Retrieved from https://vsu.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/conte...
Deuker, C. (2007). Gym candy. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
Lipsyte, R. (1996). The contender. New York: HarperCollins.
Myers, W.D. (2013). Darius & twig. New York: Amistad.

**You can read more of my reviews at http://thesouthernbookworm.blogspot.com/

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
They lived in Harlem, Darius and Twig and they both have dreams. Darius is a runner and Twig likes to write and they both have dreams of going to college. Knowing their backgrounds and their families, they hope their dreams are not “just dreams,” as they want to escape their lives and do something bigger. These sixteen-year old boys hope that somehow their love of running and writing will take them to the next level. It’s not like they have much support living the life they lead, but they have each other and sometimes that is enough. Yet in this novel with their families and the neighborhood gangs, the light at the end of the tunnel is dark and the boys seem to be giving up hope.

There’s a lot of talk about race inside this book, more so than I thought it needed to be brought up. I don’t know why the author had to mention every race and nationality that the boys dealt with unless it was to show the variety of people they interacted with. I think that most people know that Harlem has wide variety of people without the author mentioning it all the time. Darius and Twig have a unique relationship as they fed off each other. They inspired each other and pushed each other forward and that to me is a true friendship. I didn’t feel a great connection to any of the characters but I felt there was a great message inside the book. For it being such a short read, there was plenty of action and it had a powerful message about friendship, bullying and family.

[Daniel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darius & Twig, a novel by Walter Dean Myers, documents the fictional lives of Darius and Twig. Twig wishes to become a track runner, and devotes many hours of his life to practicing, sometimes in places far away from his Harlem home. Darius dreams to become an award winning writer and often writes poetry and short stories for fun. They both live in households where there isn't much financial stability, but manage to live their lives while keeping their goals in sight. They also have issues at school, when it comes to dealing with bullies and schoolwork. Their lives seem to take a turn for the worst when Twig's uncle forces him into working for him for little money with no freedom, and Darius's mother loses most of her income when she is laid off for one of the three days she works. How will Darius and Twig overcome this? Read to find out!

I would rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The plot is interesting, as well as the development of the characters. However, the book did not include many higher level vocabulary words. However, the books was still interesting due to it's unique plot and storyline.

SCHOOL REVIEW

[Taylor Melum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Citation: Myers, Walter. (2013). Darius & twig. New York, NY. Amistad.
Genre: Young Adult/ realistic fiction
Format: Chapter book
Reading Level: 5

In-class activity: This book would be a great time for students to discus what they are passionate about and what they would like to become when they grow up. Each student could pick a career and then research it online. They could report to the class what they want to be and why.

Summary:
Darius and Twig are unlikely friends. Darius loves to run and Twig loves to write and they both have major dreams of going to college. Due to their backgrounds they know that going to college may be a major challenge. Since they both despise high school and the people who surround them Darius and Twig formed a special bond. To stay out of trouble and to over come adversity the boys supported one another to make their dreams a reality. This book talks a lot about race and the stereotypes a lot of different races have to deal with.

[Christopher Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a middle school English teacher with an appreciation for Myers, track/cross-country coach and runner, so this book made sense to read.

It certainly is not Myers' best and I don't see my students loving it like they do with Monster or some of his other books.

As a book about running, (and I'm being really nit-picky here) Twig's times (he's supposed to be 16) and abilities as written by Myers stretch what is realistic. I kept thinking that his abilities didn't fit the plot. He'd be one of the most sought after runners, receiving press similar to Mary Cain. This would be lost on the target audience of the book, but teen runners looking to read the rare book with running central to the plot might notice.

I did tell my school librarian about it and asked her to order a copy so I can send my runners to read it though.

[Tharen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in the Richfield library, so had to check it out as Walter Dean Myers rarely disappoints. The story is told from the point of view of Darius, who is a talented writer. Darius' best friend is Twig who is a good runner. Both Harlem teens are hoping their individual talents will help them move from their poor, inner city neighborhood and improve their lives. They both struggle with bullies and family environments that are difficult. It is a short, quick read, which makes it good for reluctant readers. Authentic and a good representation of the urban experience, it ends on a hopeful note. I enjoyed it.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walter Dean Myers never disappoints. Darius and Twig are best friends and so different from each other. Their interdependence is at the heart of this novel. Both boys strive to do more than everyone expects them to do. Twig's joy in running is tempered by the reality that nearly every person in his life attaches dollar signs to it. Darius may get a scholarship if he can publish his writing, but he must change first the story. Does growing up mean giving that part of yourself away? Anticipated publication date - April 2013

[Serina · Rating 3 out of 5]

(BULLY) 2 boys in Harlem. One is African American the other Spanish, they deal with the troubles that come their way. Twig is Manuel and he's a distance runner, Darius the writer. Enjoyed it how it showcased how you can be more than just your race. Reads like it was taken from teenagers in any larger city. Some language. Really got into the reflections of life. For example, "....when the pain comes, he is ready to fight it, to overcome it. What do I do when the pain comes?" Young black and Spanish boys should find their voice in this book.

[Cory Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Darius who is a born runner and Twig is great writer. They both live in a slum of a inner city and they both want to get out of there any way possible. They try not to get involved in the negative thing that there but they seem to get dragged back in. And for them to get out they have to give up a little of who they are and its a constant battle. I suggest this to anyone because no one life is perfect and they will be able to relate. I would use this as a opener to a new class because everyone has their own talents.

[Noor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darius and Twig have very different personalities, Walter Dean Myers somehow brings them together as best friends and I really like how they both seem to struggle and have problems but they get through the obstacles hand in hand. Darius wants to become a writer and twig is a runner, they both try to excel at what they do best so they can get a chance to escape from Harlem and their problems.
I loved this book and I would definitely read it again.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends. Seniors in high school. Darius is a writer. Twig is a runner. They support and encourage each other and have attracted the attention of a few tough guys.
All of the kids in the book are dealing with hard situations. And part of the story is seeing how they face them.
I'm not going to give anything away.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! In true Walter Dean Meyers style, the reader is thrust into these two teens' lives. Darius is smart and Twig can run. And they both have dreams of getting out of their poor neighborhood. This is also a wonderful story about friendship.

Check it out :)

[Nerdread · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving story of young teenagers that want to be beyond what society want them to be. Thier need for success is amazing! and their friendship was different from any book I read about ; they were more of brother like than friends. definitely a must read!!

five deserving stars!!!

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An appealing little book. I didn't think the eagle plot device really worked or that Myers did enough with it. But otherwise, this story of two teens living and pursuing their passions (for one, it's writing, for the other, it's running) amidst poverty and violence is solid.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message was good, but it took me way too long to read this book because I lost interest a few times. It wasn't a bad story, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I'm not mad I read it, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone else.

[Oliver Eastwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was okay, but kind of strange and slow. There were some parts of the novel that I just didn't get, and I thought the focus was too much on Twig. The plot is also kind of jumpy, and I didn't get why the Fury bits had to be so central.