Author Walter Dean Myers has passed away and Twitter has been inundated with tributes pouring in. Myers was a best-selling author who wrote young adult fiction, with over 100 books to his name. Many of his works focused on young children who needed a voice and he has won many awards for his works.
Born in 1937, Myers always had a passion for books and according to his website, an English teacher encouraged him to continue his writing. He wanted to write about the kind of life he had and for the kind of boy that was still inside of him. He has been celebrated for writing stories that continue to speak to generations of young children, especially boys growing up in tough situations.
Myers has won awards for his writing, including the Coretta Scott King Award for which he is a fve-time winner, and he was also the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
After the news of his passing, Twitter was filled with tributes to Myers, who died at the age of 76. Most of the tributes came from many fans who grew up reading his works, libraries that hold countless books full of inspiring stories, and authors who know and appreciate the ideas behind the literature Myers sought to give young readers.
Photo Credit: Fernando Leon/INFGoff.com
#RIP to best-selling author, Walter Dean Myers who died at the age of 76 --> http://t.co/9m3OKKKX2F
— BET (@BET) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from BET
So sorry to hear of the death of Walter Dean Myers. He was a nice man and a wonderful writer.
— R.L. Stine (@RL_Stine) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from RL Stine
Just devastated to hear that Walter Dean Myers has died. Don't even know what to say. He was so kind to me when I was first starting out.
— John Green (@realjohngreen) July 2, 2014
Image via Twitter from John Green
Very sad to hear about the passing of children's book author Walter Dean Myers. http://t.co/Vas1i43u8s via @Nytimesbooks
— HarperCollinsCa (@HarperCollinsCa) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from Harper Collins Canada
The twitter feed for Scholastic posted a photo of a quote by Myers.
"When I began to read, I began to exist." Walter Dean Myers pic.twitter.com/3QmBqNs3yv
— Scholastic (@Scholastic) July 2, 2014
Image via Twitter from Scholastic
The Late Walter Dean Myers Wrote In The Language Of Teens (via @karenbates) http://t.co/2tcGp0oNsg pic.twitter.com/ncJwP9pCLp
— NPR's Code Switch (@NPRCodeSwitch) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from NPR Code Switch
One author described how we keep good writers in our memories.
Good Writers Live in Our Hearts Forever: Maya Angelou and Walter Dean Myers http://t.co/FrjyZWoVWV via @Pamlovesbooks
— R.S. Guthrie (@rsguthrie) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from R.S. Guthrie
The Los Angeles Times called him a pioneer of diversity.
Walter Dean Myers was a pioneer of diversity in young adult books http://t.co/Zd3hJqq1gf
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from LA Times
Author Judy Blume paid her respects.
World of YA books lost two of the greats, Nancy Garden and Walter Dean Myers, in one month. We started out together in the 70's. I am sad.
— Judy Blume (@judyblume) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from Judy Blume
Author Meg Cabot tweeted her condolences.
Super sad to hear this, he was a great man/writer: Children's writer Walter Dean Myers is dead at 76 http://t.co/yp3S2o9oXZ via @usatoday
— Meg Cabot (@megcabot) July 3, 2014
Image via Twitter from Meg Cabot
A bookstore in New York City also paid tribute.
The world is a better place because Walter Dean Myers & his books. Thank you for everything, we will not forget you. pic.twitter.com/b807Y6GXmL
— Books of Wonder (@BooksofWonder) July 2, 2014
Image via Twitter from Books of Wonder
The great Walter Dean Myers has passed away -- our thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP.
— NPR Books (@nprbooks) July 2, 2014
Image via Twitter from NPR Books