Durango Street [Paperback]

Frank Bonham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

When Rufus Henry gets out of work camp for Grand Theft Auto, he has only one place to go— back to Durango Street. Almost right away, he gets on the wrong side of the Gassers, has to join the rival Moors— and starts running for his life. Years ahead of its time, Durango Street, like The Outsiders, shows that gang violence is, sadly, nothing new— and nothing glamorous. "A starkly realistic, convincing, well-written teen novel." — School Library Journal

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141303093
• ISBN-13: 978-0141303093
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #580,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Social Issues > Violence
  • #96 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Violence

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gangs, March 23, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Durango Street (Paperback)

Durango Street by Frank Bonham is an enjoyable book that has to do with gangs and violence. It is a short and simple book. It also has a lot of action, so it is easy to read. Personally, once I started reading Durango Street I could not put it down because of the fact that it was jam-packed with action. I especially like the character Rufus Henry who is the star of the novel. He is a jovial yet serious character. He entertains himself and still does what has to be done. In Durango Street, Rufus the protagonist leads his gang against the gang led by Simon Jones, the antagonist. Both rival gangs are always having street battles until Alex Robbins steps in. He tries to break up the moors, which is the name of Rufus' gang. Now Rufus has another battle to fight. I think the youth of America would enjoy this book deeply and can relate to the characters of the book. They can relate to the characters more than anyone else can because, unfortunately, teenagers join gangs more than any other age group. Another reason the young audience would like to read this book is because it is a short and simple book to read. Most teenagers like books like this. The last reason I think the young audience would like this book is because it has a lot of action.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars From the author of Tales of Ancient Xenar, April 13, 2006

By 

J. Price "wyrewizard" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Durango Street (Paperback)

Yes, I read this book in high school 20 years ago during my sophomore year. I didn't read it because I wanted to. It was an assignment given by my english class. Now dramas like this aren't the genres enjoy reading. But Durango Street left an indellible imprint in me that lives on to this day. It taught me a lot about people who live on the wrong side of the law. The main character, Rufus is a young man fresh out of prison for Grand Theft Auto. He fins a lot has changed in his old neighborhood. For instance, a drug dealing gang called the Gassers rules Durango Street. So Rufus is forced to join a rival gang called the Moors. Throughout the story, we see Rufus make many choices based on morality. Sometimes he makes the right choices and sometimes the wrong ones. Personally, my favorite part of this book was towards the end when Rufus helps organize the school dance.
Now this book was a small contributing factor in my decision to be a writer. If any of my children ever wanted to follow my footsteps, I'd give them a copy of this book to read. This story will be with me for the rest of my life.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, June 27, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Durango Street (Paperback)

Durango Street is a story about about a boy named Rufus facing gang and life struggles. Rufus Henry is a boy with a lot of potential, but he has gotten himself into the wrong place with the wrong people. The book starts out with Rufus in work camp after being charged with grand theft auto. But when he is released from camp, there is only one place for him to go, back to Durango Street. Immediately after Rufus arrives at his home he runs into trouble with the gang called the Gassers. Before long the Gassers are after him and Rufus finds he has no chioce but to join the gang the Moors. With the Moors behind him, Rufus is staying alive and safe for a while. But when the Gassers catch up with the Moors, trouble and "war" breaks out. Rufus learns that this lifestyle is not the way to live his life, and does his best to end the "war". He faces many life and death situations, but he always seems to come out clean. Rufus learned a lot from this experience and eventually understands that his life is not a dead end, but a life with a great future. THIS BOOK is AWESOME!