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A review by jenwestpfahl
There are No Children Here: The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America by Alex Kotlowitz
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
5.0
A stark true account of the oppressive and demoralizing affects of poverty and neighborhood violence and neglect. The way people in Chicago’s public housing were treated by the courts and the CHA itself was heartbreaking and infuriating.
You can’t help but root for things to go right for the family this book follows. In almost every scene, I was holding my breath, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Imagine living like that every day - feeling like nobody cares about you and your life is never going to get better.
I get the sense that the situation has somewhat improved in the 30 years since this book was written but I’d be very interested in a similar book written now.
You can’t help but root for things to go right for the family this book follows. In almost every scene, I was holding my breath, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Imagine living like that every day - feeling like nobody cares about you and your life is never going to get better.
I get the sense that the situation has somewhat improved in the 30 years since this book was written but I’d be very interested in a similar book written now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Drug use