"Sleepers" by Lorenzo Caracttera.

Essay by Hannah03 April 2003

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Book Review

Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcattera 1996

A True Story

Arrow Publishers

In this review, I will critically evaluate the concepts the author presents regarding young people and culture. I shall provide a concise overview, summarising the main strengths and weaknesses of the images portrayed. On Completion of this I will move on to consider my own responses, both personally and professionally. In conclusion, I shall reflect on issues raised, which have increased my knowledge and understanding of young people and culture. Comments will be made on any implications this may have, for my future practise as a social science worker.

The novel Sleepers by Lorenzo Carcattera, unfolds the true account of friendship and how human instincts deal with abuse, and other life changing experiences. The scene is set in the mid 60's, in the American mid-Manhattan neighbourhood of Hell's Kitchen. Four 'inseparable' (Carcattera,L.1996:pg23) friends Lorenzo (the author) Michael, Tommy, and John, devise a plan to steal food from a hot-dog cart, that goes wrong almost resulting in the death of a man.

Their lives now change forever, in one non-intentional moment.

The book is fundamentally about revenge and retribution, following the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, at the hands of the guards in the Wilkinson home for boys, where they each are sentenced to twelve months.

Skipping to the latter part of the book now, eleven years later. The year 1981, the four have now been released; individually their lives have moved on but collectively, each have grave memories of the abuse they suffered. In a chance encounter, John and Tommy meet a former guard Nokes in a resturant, and get their anticipated revenge by killing him in cold blood. Each of the men now has to confront their past, Michael now an attorney, and Lorenzo a newspaper...