Streetwise [Paperback]

Nancy Baker (Editor), Mary Ellen Mark (Photographer), John Irving (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1988

A collection of photographs of Seattle's street children that captures their lives on the streets--and the effects of that life. Meet Tina, a 13-year-old prostitute with dreams of diamonds and furs; Rat and Mike, 16-year-olds who eat from dumpsters; and Dewayne, a 16-year-old boy who hanged himself in a juvenile facility when faced with the prospect of returning to the streets. 57 duotone photographs.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 77 pages
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press (June 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812212681
• ISBN-13: 978-0812212686
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 10 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,837,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The children of Pike Street in sad world of uncertainty, January 12, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Bryan (White Oak North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streetwise (Paperback)

While Mary Ellen Mark and husband,Martin Bell,were filming
their haunting masterpiece,Streetwise,in 1983,Mary Ellen was
also busy taking snap-shots of the runaways...and what a worthwhile effort this was!
Anyone who viewed the film will recognize most of the photographs of the Seattle runaways found in the same-titled book.
The Streetwise kids lived in a sad world of uncertainty.Many had fled from abusive homes.
Mary Ellen developed a closeness with many of her young subjects,including Dewayne and Lulu.Dewayne hanged himself in 1984,and Lulu died in a fight with a man in 1985.Mary Ellen has dedicated her book in their memories.
Like every other work that she has ever created,this book is a keep-sake.I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the film documentary and in the author`s work.
Jeffrey Bryan,White Oak,NC

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but..., February 25, 2004

By 

T.G. (Newcastle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streetwise (Paperback)

Good book, but there are not nearly as many pictures as one would hope for. Lots of "intro" pages with interesting background details (and some nearly blank pages as well), followed by a relatively short (but admittedly stunning) collection of photos, many or most of which are not in the film or taken from the film. The last third of the book is taken up by a script transcription from the movie -- Why? Why? What a waste, when I wanted to see more of Mary Ellen Mark's amazing work. If I wanted the film, I would watch the film. Who in their right mind wants to *read* the film?

Also, it's not a complaint but this book appears to be very difficult to find -- long out of print and expensive. I'll give the book four stars for the sheer incredible art of Mary Ellen Mark's black and white photographs. As a book (particularly at the prices often asked) it leaves a good deal to be desired.

5.0 out of 5 stars The children of Pike Street lived in sad world of misfortune, January 12, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Bryan (White Oak North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Streetwise (Paperback)

While Mary Ellen Mark and husband,Martin Bell,were filming
their haunting masterpiece,Streetwise,in 1983,Mary Ellen was
also busy taking their snap-shots...and what a worthwhile effort
this was!
Anyone who viewed the film will recognize each photograph of
the runaways of Seattle found in Mark`s same-titled book.
The Streetwise kids lived in a sad world of uncertainty,many
having fled from their abusive homes.They searched for love and
happiness in a place which offered neither.
Mary Ellen developed a kin-ship with many of her young subjects
including Dewayne and Lulu.Dewayne hanged himself in 1984,and
Lulu died in a fight with a man in 1985.Mary Ellen has dedicated
this book in their memories.
Like every other work that she has ever published,this book
is definitely a keep-sake.I highly recommend it to everyone
who is interested in the documentary film and in Mary Ellen Mark.