The Treasure of Lemon Brown

Walter Dean Myers was a prolific African American author who published over 100 stories during his 45-year career. Like Greg Ridley, the protagonist of “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” Myers grew up in Harlem, New York. The author notes that his upbringing deeply influenced his storytelling: “Somehow I always go back to the most turbulent periods of my own life. I write books for the troubled boy I once was, and for the boy who lives within me still. It’s what I do” (“About Walter Dean Myers.” Walter Dean Myers). Myers is known for works that focus on the lives of young Black men navigating challenges. For example, his 1988 novel Fallen Angels tells the story of Richie Perry, a 17-year-old from Harlem who experiences trauma and disillusionment as he fights in the Vietnam War. 

Another of his most acclaimed novels, Monster (1999), follows Steve Harmon, a 16-year-old from Harlem who is on trial for murder. With Monster, Myers became the first recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature. He earned many other honors for his writing, including Newbery Honor Awards for