Two Blocks Apart: Juan Gonzales and Peter Quinn

by Charlotte Mayerson

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very eye-opening when I first read it; I grew up in yet a third environment, a small town with not much turnover in inhabitants. These two young men both lived in different conditions that I had not imagined existing. Reading this led me to try to learn more; I realized how sheltered I had been. I was grateful to have been sheltered, but glad to learn the conditions some people live in. Remembering this book's effect on me gives me hope that my children, also sheltered at home, will, in time, come to realize how blessed they have been and, by extension, how much they can help their families and associates.

[Wanda Karas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It interviews two 17 year old boys; one is Puerto Rican and Negro living in the projects in Harlem and the other is a more privileged white Irish Catholic who lives just two blocks down in a nice apartment building complete with a doorman. The relevancy today is startling concerning the inequalities and injustices in the different facets of their lives. It was written in 1965 at the height of the conflict of desegregation and just months before Malcolm X would be murdered.Kennedy had not long been killed.This is the true history of the USA and a must read for the newer generation.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because my great-aunt wrote it.
The book is an interview with two teenagers who are 17 years old that live in New Yark City two blocks apart from each other and have a different life.
One of the kids is called Juan Gonzales and he comes from a family that gets welfare and Peter Quinn comes from a wealthy family. the main reson of the book is to show us the large differences of two kids that live so close to one another.
in my opinion this book lightens pepoles eyes to the differences of people because their background and their experiences.
I recommend it to everyone because it teaches us that not everyone is the same.

[Steve Bennett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Were it not for Dove, this would have been the worst book I was required to read during high school. Both Quinn and Gonzales seemed like complete wankers to me. And both were about 80,000 blocks from the life I was living--or wanted to live for that matter.