Customer Reviews

G-Dog and the Homeboys: Father Greg Boyle and the Gangs of East Los Angeles

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Between dodging bullets of homeboys and donning the babies of homegirls as their godmother, Celeste Fremon (Rosedog) has buried many children who grew up in a war zone where bloodshed and death are intermingled with their earliest memories.

Celeste's expertise in the areas of street gangs, gang violence and juvenile issues allowed her to take you deep in the lives of the homeboys of Boyle Heights in East LA (one of the toughest and most violent neighborhoods in Los Angeles).

Imagining triumphs and success seems impossible for most of the gang member she has chronicled from childhood into adulthood over a period of nearly fifteen years. But, some have shined, some have died, some have developed into responsible adults largely due to the work of Father Greg Boyle (G-Dog) who has dedicated his life, to rehabilitate these children.

The book recounts how Father Greg evolved from an inexperienced young priest to the director of Homeboy Industries, the country's largest gang intervention program and most successful model for gang rehabilitation.

The new chapters bring you up to date not only with "G-Dog" and his labor of love, but with many of the young gang members who are now young men and women.

In the early 1990's, Celeste Fremon (frequent contributor to the LA Weekly) shadowed Father Greg Boyle S.J. as he tirelessly worked to improve (read: SAVE) the lives of disinfranchased gang members from the Pico/Aliso "hood" in East Los Angeles. Her resulting, richly descriptive narrative covers the gauntlet of tragedies and triumphs pervading life in a war zone. The fact that this particular war zone is but a handful of miles from downtown Beverly Hills, one of the richest cities in America, is profound.

In short, this is an important and unforgettable book that will richly supplement any college class focused on issues of social justice. Hopefully, this reprint (and new title...)will afford Fremon's work the wider attention, and study, it deserves.

Includes new chapters which bring readers up to date not ony with "G-Dog" and his work, but with many of the young men and women who populate the original narrative. -ZH

I love this book. G- Dog And The Homeboys is completely inspiring. The writing is compelling and Celeste Fremon is the consummate storyteller. I never thought that I would find myself experiencing the level of compassion I felt for these so called gang members. Ms. Fremon humanizes the characters like no one else. It is also rare that we meet someone such as Father Greg Boyle who has made these young men and women his adopted family and has created the nations largest gang intervention program helping these kids to turn their lives around. If you need some inspiration and a dose of humanity G-Dog And The Homeboys is it!

Celeste Fremon has written an unforgetable first hand account of the journey of the remarkable Greg Boyle and his homeboys--and girls. After years of covering these people and their stories, no reporter knows this scene from the inside out quite like Fremon. It is a deeply moving, maddening and ultimately compassionate account of one man who insists that every life is worth saving. And while you're at it, check out the Homeboy Industries website.

After so many years of trials and tribulations I am amazed and proud of you for allowing your drive and passion to get you through all of the dangerous situations you were in during the voyage we called our lives. I can relive all those memories by gracing your pages you delicately have put together It has been quite an adventurous ride.
Great Book!!

The Grand Wizard....

"G-Dog and the Homeboys" shows how Father Greg Boyle and a select few adults, including the author, completely changed the lives of teens in East LA. Greg opened the homies' and his followers' eyes to the world outside of their lives in their little neighborhood. Many kids would not think past selling drugs to earn a little extra cash, or firing off a couple of rounds of bullets in order to simply stay alive. Boyle changed all of this.
In actuality, the homies were not violent, cruel, or evil kids at heart. Many had rotten home lives and joined gangs to find love. Others joined for protection. Gangs offered support if they were ever in serious danger.
Father Greg understood and felt for these teens. Greg lent them helping hand in any way he could. He gave them money for school, jobs, even a roof over their heads. However, the best gift he gave the homies was his love and caring for them.
As one follows the stories of numerous homies, one realizes how much of an impact one man, Father Greg, had on their lives. This story is touching, at times frightening, and over all, enlightening. It is highly recommended that you read "G-Dog and the Homeboys". Your eyes, too, will be opened to the world around you.

A wonderful read that can be shared with reluctant readers to bring them face to face with their place in modern literature. A book that should be shared with more teenagers. A look at gang life/ prisons in our urban world through the eyes of someone on a shared journey. I shared this book and another series that Celeste wrote in LA Weekly (2005) with my students as a combination class: experience of life literature and morality. Father Boyle is a master at understanding humanity and our call to larger social responsibility. We are not permitted to dismiss the world around us after reading this book that tugs at the corners of your heart. Greg gives hope where it is needed the most - to everyone. If the opportunity to hear Father Greg Boyle speak presents itself, do yourself a favor and go.

I'm on my second read-through of this book. It completely readjusted my perspective on what the definition of true compassion is.

This is an extraordinary and well-written story, told without sentiment.

My husband and I recently heard a taped interview with Father Boyle that aired on NPR. We were very interested in learning more about his unique outreach efforts with LA Gang members. This book is excellent.

Regardless of whether you read for enjoyment or entering the field of Behavior Analysis in Criminal Justice, this book offers an intimate view of relationships between society, law enforcement, a Jesuit Priest, and gangs. I highly recommend adding this one to your book collection.