Gangs: A Groundwork Guide

by Richard Swift

Street gangs have exploded in popularity worldwide. Tattoos, baggy pants, tagging, gangsta style clothes — this unspoken threat is always just around the corner in most of the world's major cities. In search of a sense of identity and belonging that their world has denied them, young people are pushed into gangs by a witch’s brew of violence, guns, drugs, racism, poverty, families under pressure, and ever-widening slums. Gangs exposes the roots of the problem, from the bidonvilles of France to the favelas of Brazil. It offers a startling analysis of the complicity of the adult world, as well as hard-hitting reforms that might just undermine the appeal of gang life. Most of all, it shows that we fail to understand gangs at our peril.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Richard Swift was co-editor for the New Internationalist magazine from1984 to 2007 and is based in Toronto. He has written and broadcast on questions of ecology and democracy for many years. In 2011 he won the Daniel Singer Millennium Prize for an original essay which helps further socialist ideas.

Reviews

[Seandel Edwards]

This isn't in depth analysis on how to deal with the issue at hand instead of the symptoms of gang culture but it's a good read he brushes on the the motivators and resources that should be used to curb gang culture.

[Erin Brinkley]

I would place this nonfiction book about gangs into the hands of a high school (9-12th) English or History teacher who is planning on teaching the graphic novel, Yummy by G. Neri, to his or her students. If an English is teaching this graphic novel for English purposes or if a History teacher is teaching this novel for the historical life of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, then it might be a good idea for teachers to use this nonfiction about gangs first, so students are aware of what gangs are and why young kids get involved. This nonfiction book about gangs discusses some of the many reasons why young kids get involved with gangs and students can connect the information in this book to Yummy’s lifestyle and circumstances.
I would also give this nonfiction book to a high school boy who is rough around the edges, hoping that this book would deter him away from a life of violence and gangs. This book makes sure to note that the author does not condone gangs and offers ways to go about reducing gang violence. I also would give this book to a young high school boy who is interested in learning about gangs, since this book supplies a great amount of knowledge. This book breaks down the definition of gangs, history behind gang life, the causes and effects of gang life, ways to stop gangs, and even gang lingo/vocabulary. I probably would not recommend this book to a young girl, since most girls are not part of gangs and are not interested.

Selection Principles:
Accuracy: This nonfiction book does contain a lot of factual information about gangs. It breaks down the definition, history, causes/effects, and suggestions for how to eliminate or reduce gang life. I would say there is a great balance between the author’s facts and opinions. The opinions he has are stated as his opinions and the facts are presented as facts. This book also was published in 2011, so the content and information is current and accurate.

Authority: Richard Swift is an internationally known author. He was an editor for New Internationalist magazine at one point and has written many books about world issues, such as famine, slums, and prison systems. Swift is the author of The No-Nonsense Guide to Democracy.

Relevance to Curriculum: 10th grade English SOL 10.5 The student will read, interpret, analyze, and evaluate nonfiction texts.
b) Recognize an author’s intended audience and purpose for writing.
d) Compare and contrast informational texts.
e) Interpret and use data and information in maps, charts, graphs, timelines, tables, and diagrams.
g) Analyze and synthesize information in order to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge.
World Geography: WG.11 The student will analyze the patterns of urban development by
a)applying the concepts of site and situation to major cities in each region;
b)explaining how the functions of towns and cities have changed over time;
c)describing the unique influence of urban areas and some challenges they face

Appropriateness: This book is at the 10th grade reading level and I would say that this book and the graphic novel, Yummy are appropriate for high school students, since the content may be mature. The interest and intellection level are also appropriate for high school students, since many of them (especially in inner city schools) have heard about gangs at some point. The emotional level should be appropriate as well for high school students, since many of them are more mature.

Scope: This nonfiction book gives more information than any student would expect to learn about gangs/gang violence. The depth of information and suggestions is wonderful. There is even a gang timeline depicting the history of gangs by decade. It also contains gang vocabulary in the back of the book as well. The author also treats the subject of gangs with great care and makes sure to address the fact that he does not condone gang violence, but also believes that many young adults are swept into gangs by the cause of poverty, home life/environment, and their communities. He also addresses some suggestions to stop gang violence.

Literary Merit: This nonfiction book is written very well, with side note margins, and index, and a timeline. I believe the information is displayed very well for a young adult to read and learn from. This book could also be downloaded as an e-book if a librarian wanted to have this as a digital and print format.

Review: Susan Shaver. Library Media Connection (2011). Vol 30/2. Pg. 94.

Value to Collection: This book does meet a personal need for students who are interested in the causes and effects of gang life and ways to stop gangs. It also meets the instructional needs for English teachers and History teachers to connect it with a common theme or topic mentioned in class.

[Amanda Wall]

Pairing :
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty will be paired with the nonfiction book Gangs by Richard Swift. The book covers the history of gang life, the idealized version vs. the reality. It also discusses the role of family, environment, community and school on the proliferation of gangs. The author also offers his ideas on combating gangs, most controversially, decriminalizing street drugs.

Book Citation:
Swift, Richard. Gangs. Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2011. Print.

Audience: Teenage readers interested in learning more about gangs after reading Yummy or are concerned about gangs in their own neighborhood will find this book highly informative. Young adults concerned about gun violence and the war on drugs would also find this book intriguing. Gangs is also an excellent resource for grade ten Health classes, which discuss gang activity and ways to avoid that lifestyle.

Selection Criteria:
Richard Swift is an international journalist and the former editor of a news magazine. He has written other nonfiction books as well as countless news articles. The book is well-researched, with extensive foot notes, and list of books, websites, film and television resources for further information. The book is clearly written, free from jargon, and understandable for teenage readers. The subject matter is emotionally appropriate for teenage readers. The book covers the history of gangs, root causes, gang hierarchy and lingo, as well as possible solutions. The book examines gangs all over the world, not just in the United States. Due to the prevalence of gang violence in the news and the connection to the health SOLs relating to gang activity, the book is relevant to both current events and the curriculum. This volume is essential to the high school library collection because the topic is relevant to teenagers today and the book is an authoritative work on the subject.


Review Source
Meade, R. (2011). Gangs. School Library Journal, 57(6), 147.
Shaver, S. (2011). Gangs. Library Media Connection, 30(2), 94.

SOL Connection:
Health- Grade 10
10.3 The student will implement personal-injury-prevention and self-management strategies that promote personal, family, and community health throughout life. Key concepts/skills include
a) strategies to reduce and prevent violence;
b) peaceful resolution of conflicts;
c) administration of emergency care;
d) recognition of tendencies toward self-harm;
e) recognition of life-threatening situations;
f) crisis-management strategies;
g) methods of avoiding gang-related activity and the use of weapons to commit violent acts of aggression;
h) recognition of when to seek support for self and others.
10.5 The student will evaluate how different types of behaviors impact the family and community. Key concepts/skills include
a) the benefits of volunteering;
b) the outcome of drinking and driving;
c) the consequences of using acts of violence to settle disputes;
d) the need for organized efforts to address community health and wellness issues;
e) the responsibilities of citizens to promote the health and wellness goals of the community;
f) the value of positive role models;
g) the negative influence of teenage drug and alcohol use on younger members of the community.

Ordering Information
Hardcover, 144 pages, $18.95
Published 2011 by GroundWood Books
ISBN13: 9780888999795

[Julie Scott]

Richard Swift’s nonfiction text provides readers with the realization that young people, especially boys, are turning to gangs all across the world. These young people are searching for their identity and a sense of belonging. Swift also presents the history of gangs and how they are able to appear appealing to youth. The text also provides readers with ideas about ways to reduce gang activity through end the war on drugs and providing other alternatives to gangs.

I think this nonfiction text would be appropriate for older young adults who are in high school. This book would be especially appealing to males since most gang involvement worldwide is male. I think this book can provide young adults with a wealth of knowledge to better understand how gangs work and better alternatives to choosing gangs when life gets tough.

[Dani]

It was pretty clear from the beginning what arguments Swift was going to make as to why gangs exist, are a problem, and how to get rid of them. Everything he said made sense and for the most part I agree with. I found the facts and stats sprinkled throughout very insightful (I never knew that Canada had a gang problem, eh). However, I found the repetitive narration to be hard to get through at times. Overall, a good book...if you're really interested in learning more about gangs that is.

[AliceinWonderland]

- A very basic, short overview of youth gangs worldwide.
It was a like an essay of sorts, but it didn't really delve into any issues in any sort of deep meaningful way.
- At times it felt rather repetitive.
- A decent introduction to the issue of youth gangs, but not an insightful treatise into the matter.