There Are No Children Here - Book Review Essay Example
Book Review – There Are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz
Summary
There Are No Children Here is a story of the struggles two preteen boys live with while growing up in the projects. From the first pages the scene is set amongst the all too familiar gun fire blazing through the neighborhood. This story is of eleven year old Lafeyette and nine year old Pharoah dealing with the daily fight for survival in inner-city Chicago circa 1987.
The boys are living in an apartment at the Henry Horner housing complex with their mother, LaJoe, their younger brother and sisters – the triplets, and a constant stream of people from their father Paul to their sister’s boyfriend’s brother staying on and off with them. Henry Horner is a housing project in inner-city Chicago. Between Henry Horner and a neighboring complex, 60,110 people resided here, 88 percent black, 46 percent below poverty level. (Kotlowitz, p12) This neighborhood has long been forgotten by the city of Chicago. There is no upkeep on the apartments, there are few police and the gangs have taken over.
LaJoe is a loving mother that is doing everything she can to literally keep her boys alive. She has three older children who are anything but role models for the boys. LaShawn who is a drug addict, prostitute and mother of three. Paul Jr. who has already been to prison and Terence who is a drug dealer and father. Paul Sr., the boys’ father, loves them very much but cannot provide much of anything due to his drug addiction.
Lafeyette is the strong, protective older brother. He is the man of the house concentrating on teaching life lessons to Pharoah and relieving some of the burdens from his mother. Pharoah is sensitive, studious and does everything he can to retain his innocence and youth.
In the beginning Lafeyette and Pharoah are able to keep up a decent attitude. The boys tease, run around and make the best of what they have. Way too often they are ducking for cover or rounding up their
Summary
There Are No Children Here is a story of the struggles two preteen boys live with while growing up in the projects. From the first pages the scene is set amongst the all too familiar gun fire blazing through the neighborhood. This story is of eleven year old Lafeyette and nine year old Pharoah dealing with the daily fight for survival in inner-city Chicago circa 1987.
The boys are living in an apartment at the Henry Horner housing complex with their mother, LaJoe, their younger brother and sisters – the triplets, and a constant stream of people from their father Paul to their sister’s boyfriend’s brother staying on and off with them. Henry Horner is a housing project in inner-city Chicago. Between Henry Horner and a neighboring complex, 60,110 people resided here, 88 percent black, 46 percent below poverty level. (Kotlowitz, p12) This neighborhood has long been forgotten by the city of Chicago. There is no upkeep on the apartments, there are few police and the gangs have taken over.
LaJoe is a loving mother that is doing everything she can to literally keep her boys alive. She has three older children who are anything but role models for the boys. LaShawn who is a drug addict, prostitute and mother of three. Paul Jr. who has already been to prison and Terence who is a drug dealer and father. Paul Sr., the boys’ father, loves them very much but cannot provide much of anything due to his drug addiction.
Lafeyette is the strong, protective older brother. He is the man of the house concentrating on teaching life lessons to Pharoah and relieving some of the burdens from his mother. Pharoah is sensitive, studious and does everything he can to retain his innocence and youth.
In the beginning Lafeyette and Pharoah are able to keep up a decent attitude. The boys tease, run around and make the best of what they have. Way too often they are ducking for cover or rounding up their