Juba!: A Novel

In New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers’s final novel, he delivers a gripping story based on the life of a real dancer known as “Master Juba,” who lived in the nineteenth century.

This engaging historical novel follows the meteoric rise of an immensely talented young black dancer, William Henry Lane, who influenced today’s tap, jazz dance, and step. With meticulous and intensive research, Walter Dean Myers has brought to life Juba’s story.

The novel includes photographs, maps, and other images from Juba’s time, as well as an afterword from Walter Dean Myers’s wife, Constance Myers, about the writing process of Juba!

In a world determined to see him as a caricature, Juba danced to be seen as a man.

• A Groundbreaking Black Artist: Discover the forgotten story of William Henry Lane, the young man from New York’s Five Points whose innovative style and refusal to be a caricature changed dance forever.
• The Birth of Tap Dance: Experience the fusion of African rhythms and Irish jigs as Juba creates a completely new, electrifying form of dance that would become the foundation of modern tap and step.
• Overcoming Prejudice: Follow Juba’s fight for respect in a world that pressures him to "coon it up," as he battles rival dancers and exploitative managers to prove his art has undeniable power.
• An Unlikely Champion: Witness the moment Master Juba’s talent is recognized by famed author Charles Dickens, whose praise propels the young dancer from the backrooms of New York to the grand stages of London.