Dec 9, 2009

Durango Street | Overview

Although young adult novels about racial minorities have flourished since the late 1960s, Durango Street remains one of the more mature and satisfying examples of the genre, partly because Bonham did not merely attempt to capitalize on a trend. His concern for the minorities of Los Angeles and the influence of street gangs at the time moved him to meet the youngsters and to study their problems and needs. Instead of simply drawing his own conclusions, Bonham sought to express the opinions and feelings of the boys themselves.

As a result, Bonham recognizes that no easy...