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Walter Dean Myers
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All the Right Stuff Hardcover – April 24, 2012

by Walter Dean Myers (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 48 ratings
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New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers tackles the social contract from a teen’s perspective in his novel All the Right Stuff. In one of his most thought-provoking novels to date, Myers weaves together political philosophy, basketball, and making soup in Harlem, with the depth that defines his writing career.
 
After his father is shot and killed, Paul Dupree finds a summer job at a Harlem soup kitchen. Elijah, the soup man, questions Paul about tough life choices, even though Paul would rather be playing basketball. Over the summer, Paul begins to understand the importance of taking control of your life.
 
All the Right Stuff includes a Q&A between Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman, coauthor of Kick.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Amistad Books for Young Readers
  4. Publication date
    April 24, 2012
  5. Grade level
    8 - 9
  6. Reading age
    13 - 17 years
  7. Dimensions
    5 x 0.81 x 7.12 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    006196087X
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0061960871
  10. See all details
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Myers has cooked up a provocative novel that simmers long after its last pages.” — Chicago Sun-Times

“[E]ngrossing and fast-paced… a must-read novel.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[R]ewarding. A good fit for school libraries in which the social contract is taught or emphasized.” — School Library Journal

“[B]egins with a bang.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

From the Back Cover

A provocative new novel from the national ambassador for young people's literature and the New York Times bestselling author of Monster

Who's on top of the social food chain? How do you get ahead? Who makes the rules? Who needs to follow them?

Paul DuPree is working at a soup kitchen in Harlem the summer his father dies, just trying to get by. But Elijah, the soup man, won't stop talking about the social contract and asking Paul questions about heavy-duty things. Paul has never thought about this stuff. He'd rather hang out with Keisha, an unwed teen mom whose basketball skills rival his own.

Then Sly, a notorious Harlem big shot, shows up. Paul is both intrigued and intimidated by Sly and his conspiracy theories, and for once he starts contemplating how you really get ahead in life. As the talk of what-ifs turns into reality, Paul realizes his summer is about more than getting by—it's about taking charge of your life.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amistad Books for Young Readers; First Edition (April 24, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006196087X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0061960871
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 - 17 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 9
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.81 x 7.12 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 48 ratings

About the author

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Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers

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Walter Dean Myers is a New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed author who has garnered much respect and admiration for his fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for young people. Winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
48 global ratings
Defective copy
1 Star
Defective copy
The book shipped on time. Unfortunately I was sold a defective copy. Pages 151 to 166 have some kind of manufacturing error that is pretty obvious before you even open the book. As you can see, the top of these 15 pages do not line up with the rest, but are several cm below and are stuck to eachother by perforated edges. This I would not care about so much as the fact as that this seems to have set off the printed text. Each page is missing at least two lines of text from the bottom, possibly more, it’s difficult to tell because it makes the story a bit incoherent for 15 pages. Disappointing.
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Top reviews from the United States

Concerned about kids
5.0 out of 5 stars What is the "Right " Stuff?
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
Having read many of Mr. Myers's books, I have come to expect the unexpected. This particular book was among the most unexpected in that it dealt with a lot of philosophical issues as they relate to city life for teens. There were many times I just wished to meet Mr. Myers one more time to talk about the contents of the book. This was one of the few YA books that has made me think long and deeply about the content. He delves into the ideas of Hobbs, Thoreau, and Rosseau and their place in the modern world. Answers re not readily available, but the questions sure are. This book is designed to make the readers think about the world and their place in it. It would be a great book for discussion of characters and people as well as how we come to believe as we do.
If you get the chance to read the book, your experience will be heightened if you have the chance to talk about the book or at least its ideas with someone else.
One person found this helpful
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ETHEL M HURT
5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes we do the right thing but things don't always turn out the way we expect them too I think it is good reading material
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2014
Verified Purchase
Social contract is about the values you have as a person, the way you live your life in society, knowing how you want to treat people & how you would expect to be treated. Also realizing that there are consequences for the choices you make in life. It's about how you view the world and those in it. Also, knowing that life is not always fair. Sometimes we do the right thing but things don't always turn out the way we expect them too I think it is good reading material for young & old alike.
One person found this helpful
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Jill M. Minogue
3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2015
Verified Purchase
Although the book does indeed shed light on an important concept - the social contract - it is far too predictable in its telling. It's shameful that you have to wait until literally the last two pages to get the resolve to the character's dilemma. From an adult standpoint I felt I had gotten suckered into the bait-and-switch. I wanted to buy what the author was selling but I didn't want to have to sit through the pitch.
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Lauren Osorio
5.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse into lives I knew existed, but had never seen.
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2020
Verified Purchase
What a marvelous novel...for adults as well as teenagers!
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Deanna Alston
5.0 out of 5 stars Very happy with item and
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2016
Verified Purchase
Fabulous. Very happy with item and service
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Weaver Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars Why does a "free" society need rules?
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2012
This is the question addressed by this engaging and important new book from Myers. The social contract is a concept that runs through the heart of the book and it's the discussions and conclusions that the main characters draws from his Socratic inquiries that will keep you thinking about the book long after you've finished. We often lament what we see as a kind of triviality in the entertainment and thinking of young people. All The Right Stuff is an excellent way to engage kids in the questions that matter now more than ever. Though some of the conclusions in the book will seem harsh, one of the solutions-active citizenship-is an idea whose time has definitely come.
Highly Recommended for ages 11 and up.
3 people found this helpful
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Yara Santos - OUaT
3.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon a Twilight.com Reviews
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2012
Walter Dean Myers is a renowned young adult author, who is known for his emotional and powerful novels that truly showcase the inner turmoil of a character. With books like Monster and Falling Angels, Myers really showed his writing power through his expression of words through the pages of many of his other books. With this in mind, I am truly a little surprised with this new book, All The Right Stuff. A very thought provoking, intellectual piece of writing, however it exhibited very little in the area of plot, which isn't something that is true in his books that I've read.

In All the Right Stuff, a young man named Paul begins with a social contract from the people around him. A major part of the this novel, was the theory of the social contract, a longtime debate on a person's natural and legal rights. The social contract debate has been going on for a long time and it's Paul's turn to try and decipher the true meaning.

To be honest three fourth's of the book is the overall debate, over the social contract, leaving very little room the development of the plot. While his writing style and flow of the book went along nicely, I just feel like the storyline really didn't grow into something bigger. With most of the characters being dry and static, I found it very hard to connect with the book and its characters. From a learning stand point, of trying to learn something about the social contract, I would say that the book did a very good job. On an entertaining factor, however, I would say that the book didn't really make me crave reading it, like most of his novels do. - Joshua
5 people found this helpful
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Jeni Ambrosius
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2014
Great story!!! I plan to use this in my classroom author study this year. I would definitely recommend this title.
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