Carmen: an urban adaptation of the Opera by New York Times best selling author 978160681150122 pages

This award winning author of gritty gang,urban stories would seem to be the unlikely writer/ composer of a takeoff of a traditional opera. Poet, and novelist Walter Dean successfully stages the tragic story of a summer love in Spanish Harlem.Myers is succinct.Carmen is "hot" and attracted to both a young police officer, Jose and Escamillo, former rapper who is currently a filmmaker.Carmen wants to rise, but it is difficult to lose the past that keeps tugging at her.This is told in script format and includes the author's statement why he was drawn to this project. He even has music that has been arranged by a young friend, a variation on a theme from Carmen.This is for a "special audience". I would love to see it used in a high school classroom -- lots of potential in such a project.