Customer Reviews

Durango Street

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

One day last school year, I placed a copy of this book into one of my reluctant reader's hands. He usually read books I suggested for all of 10 minutes before abandoning them. He so thoroughly enjoyed this book that he handed me $6 right in class one day so that I could order him his own copy to take home for the summer! Success! This is a book I would highly recommend teachers from Junior High through High School have in their libraries and classroom libraries.

I bought this book for my grandson, but I read it before I sent it to him. It is a good book, although A bit outdated, but it definitely sent a powerful message.

This book is really good. At first it seems really boring and kind of a gangster book, but later on its really interesting. You see the character's personality change. You also find out how life is very hard in the gangster world because you have no where that is safe. The main character Rufus Henry, is the source that changes the group called Moors. It is an exicting novel that shows the rivalry between the different rival groups. (Moors, Gassers, Bloods etc.) If you pick up the book and it seems boring in the beginning, i advise you to continue reading it. The book in the middle is totally awesome. Don't let this oppurtunity to read a good book slip by. Frank Bonham is an excellent author. READ THIS BOOK!

Jennifer Wong

I thought this was a great book. I give it five stars because it was exciting the whole time. It was a realistic book about gang life. Rufus Henry was sent to a correctional camp for boys when he was caught stealing cars and acting in gang violence. He gets out of jail and comes back to his new home on Durango Street. It is a ghetto neighborhood known as the Flats. The first day, he it harassed by a gang called the Gassers. Even though his parole officer tells him not to, he joins up with a gang called the Moors for protection. You get beat into the gang and you get beat out. Bantu, the leader, gets on Rufus' nerves so he challenges him to a fight. Rufus wins and becomes the new leader. Alex Robbins, a community worker, tries to get the rival gangs to stop fighting. Regardless of what he says, there are many feuds between the Gassers and the Moors. Rufus does not want to fight, but he cannot back out or everyone will mess with him. The Moors throw a dance party at the end of the story. You will need to read the book to find out what happens. I enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who likes to read.

Durango Street is a teen novel that a lot of kids should read because it teaches you what not to do during your teen years. Frank Bonham wrote a novel about Rufus Hennry. Rufus was a teen that was brought to a work camp for grand theft auto and when he gets out, his parole officer tells him that he cant join any gangs or else he will have to go back to work camp, but he does.
Rufus attitude changed based on who he is with; this sometimes causes him to make unwise and thoughtless choices, such as rejoining a gang. There are many examples of unwise decisions Rufus makes, such as joining gangs and hurting people. Both of those decisions affect his parole officer and his family. He also steals from stores and lies too much. These actions affect his parole officer and his family.
I liked Durango Street because there was a lot of fighting and adventure. It also left you thinking about what was going to happen in the next chapter. I think most teens would like this book because of all the adventure that happens. I recommend this book to most teens. Its a great book and I really liked it.

I found this book to be a very fast read. I read it all in one night. The author is pure genious! I mean, he depicted the gang life soo incredibly well in this novel.

This book had a lot of action, suspense, and drama. I thought it was a high quality book and i would recommend it to anyone who enjoys gang stories or action books. Durango Street kept u on the edge of the seat and would not let you put the book down.