Suburban Gangs: The Affluent Rebels [Hardcover]

Dan Korem (Author), Danny Korem (Author), Jon Racherbaumer (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Independent investigative journalist Korem speaks from experience and research in this thoughtful work, expressing concern for the steadily rising numbers of youths from affluent homes who, like their inner-city cohorts, choose delinquent, occultic, or ideological gang-based activity as a way of life. European and American youths are joining gangs to escape the reality of life in severely dysfunctional, often abusive home situations. Lacking a family member, or substitute, to support them in crises, they turn to gang affiliation for empowerment and a masking of their pain. Korem says that some youths (affluent more than poor) do manage to leave gangs, either on their own or with help. But he lays out a strong strategy for at-risk youngsters at the neighborhood and community level. As have others, he stresses the value of an "ounce of prevention." The young are the future. Recommended strongly for professionals, academics, and the general public.?Suzanne W. Wood, SUNY Coll. of Technology, Alfred
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Korem, an investigative journalist, brings a peculiar expertise to his study of youth gangs: formerly a professional magician, he uses sleight of hand (and of mind) in school presentations to help kids grasp the false promises at the center of any gang's appeal. This is a straightforward, nonsensational discussion of the causes, typology, and potential for prevention of and disengagement from youth gangs in relatively affluent communities (in Europe as well as the U.S.), which are often startled to learn they have a gang problem. In every culture, Korem notes, the kids most vulnerable to gangs live in broken, unstable, or severely dysfunctional families and have no adult "protector" on whom they can rely in a crisis. Global shifts in youth subcultures affect the relative appeal of types of gangs (delinquent, ideological, or, much less commonly, occult), but neither that subculture nor contact with inner-city gangs causes the formation of suburban gangs. Korem will enlighten many readers with his thoughtful and instructive approach to a growing and troubling social problem. Mary Carroll

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: International Focus Press (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963910310
• ISBN-13: 978-0963910318
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,111 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hype, hype and more hype, June 29, 2002

By 

MEB* (Queens, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suburban Gangs: The Affluent Rebels (Hardcover)

This is a terrible book. It tries to argue that there is a growing suburban gang problem in the USA. To support this claim, it spends most of its time detailing European gangs (football hooligans in UK and racist & anarchistic skinheads in Eastern Europe). However, Korem fails to tie these groups to any American "gangs." Additionally, the "suburban gangs" in America he does find aren't really gangs. Korem argues these "suburban gangs" are caused by a breakdown in the traditional American family (divorce, abuse or dysfunctional parents). Not surprisingly children in this situation are more prone to act out. But, they are not in gangs. They group together with other kids and get deeply involved into Heavy Metal or Punk music or the occult. Sometimes they do drugs or runaway. But, the vast majority of them are just going through a phase and move on within a few years. Korem's attempt to make this a growing national crisis is meritless. He has no hard data to support his claims and uses journalistic accounts and illustrative stories to cover for the absence of any stastical support. Do not buy this book. There are numerous other gang books that are better written, better researched and focus on actual gang problems.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, April 28, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Suburban Gangs: The Affluent Rebels (Hardcover)

IFP has a web site with more info on the book. The address is www.ifpinc.com