Final answer:
The quotation from 'Bad Boy' that encapsulates the significance of books for the narrator is: 'Away from books I was, at times, almost desperate to fill up the spaces of my life. Books filled those spaces for me.' This portrays books as essential to fulfilling the narrator's inner needs. The correct option is c. Away from books I was, at times, almost desperate to fill up the spaces of my life. Books filled those spaces for me.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quotation that directly expresses a central idea about books in the selection from Bad Boy is: "Away from books I was, at times, almost desperate to fill up the spaces of my life. Books filled those spaces for me." This passage succinctly communicates the profound impact books have on the narrator's life, suggesting that books serve as a vital element in managing feelings of emptiness or desperation.
In the context of Walter Dean Myers's memoir, this emphasizes the importance of literature in shaping a young person's existence, serving both as an escape and as a means of filling a void.
Option c, 'Away from books I was, at times, almost desperate to fill up the spaces of my life. Books filled those spaces for me,' directly expresses a central idea about books in the selection from Bad Boy.
This quotation highlights the importance of books in the narrator's life and how they provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose. It demonstrates that books serve as a means of escape and a source of knowledge and growth for the narrator.
The correct option is c. Away from books I was, at times, almost desperate to fill up the spaces of my life. Books filled those spaces for me.