James Baldwin's semi-autobiographical book Go Tell It on the Mountain was published in 1953. It depicts the narrative of John Grimes, a bright adolescent in 1930s Harlem, and his relationships with his family and religion. The novel won the 1955 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. Baldwin wrote Go Tell It on the Mountain while he was still a student at New York City's Anacostia High School. The book is partly based on his own experiences as a black teenager in Washington, D.C., during the late 1930s. Go Tell It on the Mountain is best known for its vivid portrayal of Harlem life during the early years of World War II. The story is told from the point of view of a young black man who lives with his family in an apartment building near Central Park. It describes his attempts to go out into the world and find a job, while dealing with such issues as racism, poverty, and violence. The novel ends with the young man going off to fight in Europe. Baldwin first showed his work to an audience at a reading held at Harlem's Dunbar Hotel. Several people had positive reactions to the stories, which led him to believe that they could be turned into books one day. He began writing Go Tell It on the Mountain shortly after this event.