Yeah - I loved this. Actually I loved the character of East. Even though I thought he was a bit young for his introspection, I probably don't realise how quickly some kids have to grow up and how narrow their choices are. There's some beautiful writing in there, but it's not an easy read. Though I think it's a really important one.
I lived in a rough area of Los Angeles for a bit and remember two dead puppies by the side of the road. This book made me think of them and that time, of the heat and the lawlessness of people no one wanted to help. The Rodney King riots came a year later. I'm not surprised.