35 pages • 1 hour read
Walter Dean MyersStreet Love
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Street Love by Walter Dean Myers, a middle grade novel in verse, follows Black teenagers Damien Battle and Junice Ambers in Harlem as they navigate love and socioeconomic challenges. Damien, bound for Brown University, falls for Junice, who struggles with her mother’s incarceration and caring for her family. Themes of forbidden love and economic disparity are explored through free verse poetry. The novel includes a slur against Romani people.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Walter Dean Myers' Street Love is praised for its poetic prose and vivid depiction of Harlem life. The novel's unique verse format and exploration of love amid urban struggles resonate strongly with readers. However, some find the character development lacking. Ultimately, it's an innovative and emotional read that captivates with its lyrical storytelling.
Who Should Read Street Love?
Street Love by Walter Dean Myers will captivate readers who enjoy modern, urban romances and poetic storytelling akin to Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper. Young adults attuned to lyrical prose, complex characters, and themes of love amidst adversity will find this novel engaging and thought-provoking. Suitable for fans of contemporary YA fiction.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
NP0LBook Details
Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride
Identity: Race
Realistic Fiction
Modern Classic Fiction
Romance
Urban Development