Eastside (Strebor on the Streetz) [Paperback]

Caleb Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Series: Strebor on the Streetz | Publication Date: July 10, 2007

Eastside is a coming-of-age tale set among the backdrop of inner-city gang violence in the early '90s. Eastside is about mothers struggling and supporting one another as they match in a seemingly endless procession to the cemetary to bury their children.

Unrepentantly crooked police officers, violent gangland shoot-outs, blazing car chases, petty drug dealing, ruthless armed robberies, a psychotic seventeen year-old albino gang member, and the haunting legacy of a long dead brother, complete the complex panoply that is Eastside.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alexander details the grim socioeconomic conditions that created the wave of violence that rocked San Antonio, Tex., in the early 1990s. When the novel begins, Travon Robinson is still mourning the murder of his brother, Davon, a member of the notorious Wheatley Court Gangsters. Despite Travon's objections, his friend Justin joins the gang, and their falling-out leads to the gang nearly murdering Travon. His mother Elmira, fearing for her son's life, sends him to live with her sister Vera and Vera's sons. As Travon spends more time with his cousins, he gets sucked up into a world of fast cash, fast women and senseless violence before his redemption through Islam and the birth of his twins. Though the action is unrelenting and Alexander is adept at evoking a terrifying time and place, the novel suffers from repetitive exposition, a discordant structure and a surfeit of two-dimensional characters.
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About the Author

Caleb Alexander is a successful ghostwriter who has written several Essence bestselling novels. His most recent novel, Eastside, was handpicked by Zane to launch the Strebor in the Streetz publication line. He currently lives in Converse, Texas. Visit www.calebalexanderonline.com.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Strebor Books; Original edition (July 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593091206
• ISBN-13: 978-1593091200
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,273,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Caleb Alexander is a successful ghostwriter and author whose has penned numerous best sellers. He is responsible for some of the biggest titles in the Urban Lit genre. His debut title, Eastside, was handpicked by Zane to launch the Strebor on the Streetz publication line, and his latest work, Belly of the Beast, was handpicked by investors to launch Golden Ink Publishing. In between launching publishing lines, and publishing companies, Caleb has written several screenplays and television scripts, and has written for numerous publications and periodicals across the nation. He currently resides in Converse, Texas with his family.

*Fun Fact* Caleb is an avid bike rider who loves to race. His personal everyday bike, is a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14, which is currently the fastest street legal bike available.

Caleb's favorite food is Texas Barbecue, his favorite movies are The Godfather and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. His favorite color is burgundy, his favorite drink is Sprite Zero, his favorite charity is The March of Dimes. He is a BIG fan of Texas High School Football, NCAA D1 College Football, and NBA Basketball. His favorite college team is the Texas Longhorns, his favorite NBA basketball team is The Spurs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic!!!!!!!!!, July 24, 2007

By 

Some Like It Hott - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eastside (Strebor on the Streetz) (Paperback)

Eastside is without a doubt, the GREATEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ!!!!
The book is real. It's like I was watching a movie. It's almost like I was sitting on a porch in the hood and watching these things happen. Every young person needs to read this book. The book contained many powerful messages. It should be used as a teaching tool in our schools. The book is also a healing tool for families who have lost loved ones to inner city violence. I can't count the number of times I broke down into tears while reading this book. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Eastside is truly a CLASSIC!!!!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, August 5, 2007

By 

D. Banks (VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Eastside (Strebor on the Streetz) (Paperback)

This book offered a real eye opening look into the world that we current live in through the eyes of a young black male (Travon). Travon went through a lot in his life but I am very glad that he won in the end. I read this book while on vacation in Texas and could not put it down..I just had to know what was going to happen next. This book puts you right there. I felt as though I was there in Wheatly Courts. Great book. I look forward to reading more by Mr. Alexander.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On The Hood, July 8, 2007

By 

OOSA Online Book Club "O.O.S.A. Gets It Read!" (World Wide Web, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Eastside (Strebor on the Streetz) (Paperback)

Travon "Tre" Robinson lives in the Wheatley Courts projects in Texas. He's the younger brother of reputed gang banger, drug dealing, assassin, "Too Low." After his brother is gunned down, Tre is caught at a major fork in the road. Should he join the WCG's (Wheatley Courts Gangstas), representing for the hood?

Elmira has already had to bury one of her sons. While she allowed Too-Low to find his own path, she has refused to lose Tre to the same foolish violence. Unbeknownst to Elmira, Tre is being tested daily. While Too Low was able to keep Tre away from the streets and his affiliations, the vultures are now circling. Confused and deeply pained, Tre doesn't know what to do. His older brother died for it, he and his best friend fell out due to it, and all of his cousins are down with it, can Tre continue to avoid it? Or will he chose sides?

In EASTSIDE readers get to ride shot gun through the ferocious streets of Texas as Tre's innocence is stripped from him replacing it with a vicious drug dealing, gang banger that is involved in daily shoot outs and car chases, while having to watch his back from rival gang bangers, racist crooked cops as well as some of the people affiliated in his own gang.

EASTSIDE is one of the greatest books, although distressing, I've ever read! While you can't help but to sympathize for the mothers who have to bury their young sons, the anger rises as you see the young boys throw their lives away on colors. Are you serious, a color? Can you imagine being that mother learning that your son lost his life because he would rather hold down a color? Is that all that we're teaching our children? Is this the best they can hope for? It's a sad truth, but this is an overwhelming cycle that is plaguing African American males. Drugs, death, gangs, jails and absentee fathers add to the obliteration of the African American male.

As a mother I cried out incessantly, and not just for my children, but for everyone else's as well. EASTSIDE is a coming of age story that attacked me with a vice like grip tugging at my heart, soul and spirit. Is there hope for the future?

Reviewed by: Crystal