Father Greg and the Homeboys: The Extraordinary Journey of Father Boyle and His Work with the Latino Gangs of East L.A. [Hardcover]

Celeste Fremon (Author)

Book Description

Recounts the efforts and achievements of a crusading priest who was assigned to a volatile East Los Angeles neighborhood, detailing his efforts to revitalize this urban war zone and how he became a pivotal role model to many young men in the area. 20,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Fremon, a writer for the Los Angeles Times, presents a beautifully composed exposition of the work that Father Greg Boyle, S.J., has done with young Latino gang members of East Los Angeles. Boyle has received national recognition for his dedicated efforts to redirect lives: finding jobs and decent alternative schooling and offering unqualified support and love for kids whose homes are so emotionally impoverished or destructive that gang affiliation is a surrogate family tie. Boyle couldn't save all the "homies" from the results of gang-banging, gun attacks, alcohol, dope, and prison, but they knew he was there, and many have made it to responsible adulthood. Interspersed with the descriptive narrative are first-person vignettes from some of the young people. In her three years of involved research, Fremon developed a strong respect for the kids, the problems, and especially "G's" work. Highly recommended for public, academic, and professional audiences.?Suzanne W. Wood, SUNY Coll. of Technology, Alfred
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Father Greg Boyle, one of the few people who don't write off homies as unredeemable souls, attracted intense media attention in 1992 for his perseverance in turning gangbangers around. Fremon was a reporter entirely captivated by Boyle's charisma and commitment, and she decided to immerse herself in Boyle's barrio parish, where the nihilistic credo of kill or be killed holds sway, though it was somewhat restrained by Boyle's hands-on intervention. In her chronicle of Boyle's zealous efforts at fundraising and organizing to find jobs for the homeboys, Fremon inserts about ten of their autobiographies. Subsequently, one of the homies was murdered in gang vengeance. The consequent brokenness of the text, punctuated by Father Boyle's empathic heroism, suitably reflects the jagged violence it depicts. This is a heartfelt study of the gangland culture and a tribute to a man who has had a measure of success redeeming some of its members. Gilbert Taylor

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (July 14, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786860898
• ISBN-13: 978-0786860890
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #988,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead Kids Talking, November 12, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Father Greg and the Homeboys: The Extraordinary Journey of Father Boyle and His Work with the Latino Gangs of East L.A. (Hardcover)

A friend of mine gave me the book "Father Greg And The Homeboys" a few months ago. He said I would like it for I am usually interested in gang related topics. He said it would show me WHY kids end up in gangs. Many of my friends have been or still are gang members and I myself, not so long ago, was pretty close to joining one. I reluctantly started reading the book but pretty soon I could not stop. I think I found the book to be so moving because it depicts how far compassion can reach and how much it can mean to all people, regardless of their condition. The book is by Celeste Fremon, a "Los Angeles Times" journalist who has documented Father Greg's work for over four years. It is a documentary which brings you in the heart of the East Los Angeles Latino gangs territory. Father Greg, a Jesuit priest affected to the Pico-Aliso Neighborhood, is a complicated and charismatic man. He offers hope to these young men and women, often children on whom the rest of the world has given up. He is some kind of a peacemaker, not hesitating to get in the line of fire when it could save lives. His work is acknowledged by the community. For example, the community petitioned to have him assigned back to "his" neighborhood after the Jesuit Order decided to transfer him away. He does not excuse gang activities but he understands why kids are forced into that way of life and what it takes to get them back. He attempts to send them back to school and/or to find them a place to work. "Father Greg" is a very interesting book. For one thing, it takes an original point of view: Father Greg's point of view. It describes and explains the gang phenomenon. It abstains from judging. In newspapers, radios and TVs, gang members are presented as evil monsters whose only goal in life is to kill each other, to kill bystanders and to make trouble of all sorts for law-abiding citizens; not mentioning their `cost' to society (I am tired of hearing people talking of other people in terms of `cost'). They are not presented as human beings. On the other hand, the book presents the human face of gang members. It describes them as real persons who generally were driven to gang banging by broken households and their quest for identity. It describes, very accurately in my opinion, the process by which young boys and girls are transformed into cold blooded murderers, sometimes killing kids they were raised with. Father Greg explains very well why kids become gang members: "It may sound simplistic, but I believe in that strategy with all my heart. A success for me is when it is clear to a kid that there exists at least one person who will love him no matter what. Most of us have tons of people in our lives who have that no-matter-what quality to the relationships. These kids don't. So hang on to your hat because their behavior will reflect that lack. And that's what this whole mess is about" I think that beyond explaining the logic that leads people to becoming gangsters, this book touches your heart in a very deep way. One of the most chilling passages of the book is when Father Greg comes to inform Maria that her teenaged son, Sergio, has been killed in a gang shooting: "It is lightly drizzling by the time Greg gets back to the projects, Silent still with him. Maria has moved out of the front porch of the apartment where she sits without moving as Greg parks his car and proceeds up the walkway towards her while Silent waits at a distance. On the porch, Greg takes one of Maria's hands and leans over to whisper in her hear." "He's dead" Maria's body begins rocking involuntary as she opens her mouth to scream."N-o-o-ooo!". She screams. "N-O-O-OOOOOOOO! Sergio!". The sounds of Maria's screams are at once terrible, primal, indelible. The Cuatro homies are gathered about twenty-five feet away from the house. They stand rock still, listening to Maria's screams. "I'm glad they're hearing it", says Greg, himself frantic and grief-stricken. "They never hear it. They see the crying. But they never hear that scream. I've always wanted them to hear that scream". Another moving passage is the poem that a young girl reads at her boyfriend's funeral. The boy's gang nickname is `Blue'. "I am not a metaphor or a symbol This you hear is not the wind in the trees, Nor a cat maimed in the street. I am being maimed in the street. It is I who weep, laugh, feel pain or joy. Speak this because I exist. This is my voice. These words are my words. My spirit speaks them. My mind speaks them from above. I am Blue. It is my voice you hear Near your ear. Now I know I was in your heart from the start". Father Greg has buried over 60 kids from his neighborhood. The book tells the story of some of them. These are simple, moving stories. These could be the story of my friend A. or L., or T. These are stories that the media do not tell. These are stories that people do not care about. I was deeply moved by the actions of this lone priest. I think he acts like Jesus would have acted in the same circumstances. I come to the understanding that the reason I like this book is that it is a book about the feeling of humanity finding its way in the worst of circumstances and touching people.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Father Greg--A Real-Life Angel, June 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Father Greg and the Homeboys: The Extraordinary Journey of Father Boyle and His Work with the Latino Gangs of East L.A. (Hardcover)

I had the pleasure of hearing Father Greg Boyle speak in my religion class at Santa Clara University earlier this year. I enjoyed his talk so much, I went to a subsequent one and it was there I was first introduced to his book. A wonderful book to compliment a wonderful person. Father Greg is truly an angel in human form.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a great book!, October 31, 2001

By 

Russell A. Hunt (dodge city, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father Greg and the Homeboys: The Extraordinary Journey of Father Boyle and His Work with the Latino Gangs of East L.A. (Hardcover)

I teach criminal justice courses at Dodge City Community College. One of the topics most students are interested in is hispanic gangs. I found this book to be excellent, and a number of students have also said positive things about the book. It gives the reader a realistic view of gang life in LA, and Father Greg's work is very encouraging. I tell my students that 1 person can make a difference in life, but most don't believe me. The book not only depited gang members and their lives, it also demonstrated some programs that were effective. I highly recommend the book!