Autobiography of My Dead Brother

Autobiography of My Dead Brother
By: Walter Dean Myers

p. 212
Publication HarperTempest

ISBN-10: 0060582936
ISBN-13: 978-0060582937

Annotation:
Jesse uses his sketchbook and comic strips to make sense of his home in Harlem and the loss of a close friendship. And so Jesse fills his sketchbook with drawings and portraits of his blood brother, Rise, and his comic strip, Spodi Roti and Wise, as he makes sense of the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and loss in a neighborhood where drive-bys, vicious gangs, and abusive cops are everyday realities.


Summary
In this novel that is perhaps too real, we are introduced to Jesse, and his blood brother Rise. Through the actions of both boys; the cautious and careful Jesse and the more risk taking and dangerous Rise, we are able to explore the quintessential Harlem lifestyle and all the stuff that comes with it. As we are introduced to the story, the setting is a funeral for both boys. We are led to examine and discover what actions led to this tragic event.

Jesse who has always looked up to Rise who was only two years older has now begun to notice distance between him and his blood brother who has begun hanging out with the local gang and selling drugs. As Jesse is pushed further and further away he begins to explore sides of himself that have long been dormant. Perhaps the most interesting side is his artistic ability. Through his art he is able to express himself and create a world in which he and Rise are still the friends he longs for.

This gritty novel is real and rough. Teens will love the tempo and feel of the novel as well as the underlying story which is more about expression than an actual plot. Perfect for those reluctant readers who prefer a more realistic novel.