Darius & Twig

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."

Their bond is the one thing that might get them out.

• An Unlikely Friendship: He's an aspiring writer with a falcon alter-ego; his best friend is a gifted track star. Together, Darius and Twig might be strong enough to survive the pressures of their world.
• Overcoming Adversity: From facing down relentless bullies to navigating crushing poverty and family pressure, every day is a fight to keep their dreams alive.
• A Raw Harlem Setting: Walter Dean Myers paints an unflinching, heartfelt portrait of life in Harlem, where the dangers on the street are just as real as the hope for a future beyond it.
• Finding Your Dream: For Darius, escape is a published story that can win him a scholarship. For Twig, it's a victory on the track that proves he's more than his circumstances.