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Children of Las Vegas: True Stories about Growing up in the World's Playground
“People come to Vegas to blow off steam and then go. But I’m stuck here. When I see the city lights I think of all the parts they don’t shine on. I feel like I’m living there, in those parts. The shadows pull you under. There’s so much between me and the lights.”
Las Vegas is a much regarded city, a global celebrity for its glitter and splash, and its offer of fulfilling all your desires without any repercussions. But what happens to the people who have to grow up there?
Award-winning author Timothy O’Grady lived and taught in Las Vegas for two years, and in a class he was teaching, his students began to speak of what it was like to grow up in the world’s playground. They spoke of being robbed by their parents, routinely losing their homes and raising themselves while their parents pursued the addictions serviced by the city. There were overdoses, desert shoot-outs, suicides, all before high school was over.
Children of Las Vegas is a collection of ten of their stories, interspersed with short essays about the city by Timothy, and portraits by highly acclaimed photographer Steve Pyke.
There are horror stories in every city, but these things were not just happening in Las Vegas, but because of it.
Las Vegas is a much regarded city, a global celebrity for its glitter and splash, and its offer of fulfilling all your desires without any repercussions. But what happens to the people who have to grow up there?
Award-winning author Timothy O’Grady lived and taught in Las Vegas for two years, and in a class he was teaching, his students began to speak of what it was like to grow up in the world’s playground. They spoke of being robbed by their parents, routinely losing their homes and raising themselves while their parents pursued the addictions serviced by the city. There were overdoses, desert shoot-outs, suicides, all before high school was over.
Children of Las Vegas is a collection of ten of their stories, interspersed with short essays about the city by Timothy, and portraits by highly acclaimed photographer Steve Pyke.
There are horror stories in every city, but these things were not just happening in Las Vegas, but because of it.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 8, 2023
I have lived in Las Vegas fifty years…I am no apologist for the city—we for sure have our issues and problems; however, if living here were as bleak and miserable as the author attests after his two years in town, it would be shocking that anyone would choose to live here.
I appreciate the stories his subjects shared (and I even taught one of them when he was in high school…). I realize that everyone has his own story to tell—but by only sharing the dark stories of addictions, dysfunction, and malaise, a one-sided portrait is created.
Perhaps I am too close to the subject to view the book objectively—it was not to my taste.
I appreciate the stories his subjects shared (and I even taught one of them when he was in high school…). I realize that everyone has his own story to tell—but by only sharing the dark stories of addictions, dysfunction, and malaise, a one-sided portrait is created.
Perhaps I am too close to the subject to view the book objectively—it was not to my taste.
July 15, 2018
A cautionary tale of the highest order. Glad to see a few phoenixes rise from the ashes!
April 14, 2019
The Sin City begets sinful children, right? What about the majority? Who cares!
December 13, 2018
a really eye-opening read about the darkness and struggles behind families and people who lived / are living in las vegas! would recommend everyone to give this book a read if you can get your hands on a copy.
November 6, 2018
Having grown up in Vegas, I can relate to everything I DID read. Unfortunately, I just wasn't in the mood to relive it the whole thing, so I didn't get all the way through.
For those folks who have written reviews elsewhere rejecting the idea that the author only sought out a saturated handful of Vegas folks to interview and therefore only heard the down-and-dirty/skewed perspective: in my opinion, the majority of people who are raised in Vegas have a similar upbringing as these interviewees; they aren't the minority. Vegas isn't a place you think about when dreaming of raising a family, and for good reason--it's full of drugs, excessive drinking, addictive gambling, blatant sexualization of women, gangs, violence, transience, and poverty. The public schools are a joke, and when I grew up most folks had to work in the casinos--where there wasn't health care, vacations/sick time, or decent shifts, so sprinkle in all that comes from not having parent(s) at home and all the stress of having little to no job security.
Long story short, good for the author for shining some light on what it is like growing up in a city known for depravity.
For those folks who have written reviews elsewhere rejecting the idea that the author only sought out a saturated handful of Vegas folks to interview and therefore only heard the down-and-dirty/skewed perspective: in my opinion, the majority of people who are raised in Vegas have a similar upbringing as these interviewees; they aren't the minority. Vegas isn't a place you think about when dreaming of raising a family, and for good reason--it's full of drugs, excessive drinking, addictive gambling, blatant sexualization of women, gangs, violence, transience, and poverty. The public schools are a joke, and when I grew up most folks had to work in the casinos--where there wasn't health care, vacations/sick time, or decent shifts, so sprinkle in all that comes from not having parent(s) at home and all the stress of having little to no job security.
Long story short, good for the author for shining some light on what it is like growing up in a city known for depravity.
December 13, 2023
I found this book hard to follow at times. The subject matter seemed to jump around within the paragraphs. I understand these were interviews and may have been written in the format of how they were spoken.
As a child of Vegas, I found the stories relatable. I could empathize and feel the pain of the storytellers. I do feel like the stories are told from a completely pessimistic viewpoint. But that's just personal opinion.
These storytellers were raw and exposed in the book. I realize how hard sharing their pains was. I hope that each one of them has found some sense of peace in their lives.
While my own life carries some of these same themes, I consider my time living in Vegas as the years that shaped my character. I would not be who I am today without those experiences and viewpoints. Growing up Vegas, as I called it, shaped and molded me. It made me understanding of different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes. Vegas showed me life lessons that I carry with me to this very day.
As a child of Vegas, I found the stories relatable. I could empathize and feel the pain of the storytellers. I do feel like the stories are told from a completely pessimistic viewpoint. But that's just personal opinion.
These storytellers were raw and exposed in the book. I realize how hard sharing their pains was. I hope that each one of them has found some sense of peace in their lives.
While my own life carries some of these same themes, I consider my time living in Vegas as the years that shaped my character. I would not be who I am today without those experiences and viewpoints. Growing up Vegas, as I called it, shaped and molded me. It made me understanding of different backgrounds and socioeconomic classes. Vegas showed me life lessons that I carry with me to this very day.
August 23, 2020
Este libro expresa en mucho y de una forma muy diferente a lo que yo hubiera podido decir, mi impresión de unas Vegas que visité y que no me impresionaron tanto como a mucha más gente que conozco. Como psicóloga social este libro me ha resultado interesante, sin embargo también como lectora me ha dado mucho para reflexionar y entender por qué ese lema de "lo que pasa en las Vegas..." no terminaba de parecerme tan esperanzador como lo quieren hacer sonar gracias al marketing.
May 10, 2020
Interesting read but really depressing about how Vegas is such a haven for addicts of any sort. The poor kids have so many obstacles to overcome (most of them put there by their addict parents) and being able to grow up with any sort of life at the end is a credit to them. I've never seen the appeal in Vegas and this only confirms how horrible a place it is.
August 31, 2017
Vegas
I enjoyed the book very much. Needed more first hand accounts. I lived near Vegas for ten years, by Laughlin, Nevada. Laughlin is a casino town also. Many of the same sad stories are present there, as well. It is a strange way to live your life.
I enjoyed the book very much. Needed more first hand accounts. I lived near Vegas for ten years, by Laughlin, Nevada. Laughlin is a casino town also. Many of the same sad stories are present there, as well. It is a strange way to live your life.
February 26, 2025
I get that these stories are written by real people not professional authors. The format just didn’t work well for me - I wanted to dive deeper into each persons story. Most stories focused only on the negative aspects of growing up in Vegas, and I know there had to be more.
October 22, 2021
Desgarrador.
Merece la pena leerlo para saber más y matar al mito de allí. Aparte de poder ver como la ludopatia destroza familias, ciudades y personas
Merece la pena leerlo para saber más y matar al mito de allí. Aparte de poder ver como la ludopatia destroza familias, ciudades y personas
October 5, 2024
A collection of vignette regarding broken childhood racked with addictions and abuse common in Las Vegas. depressing reading but honestly spoken and vivid.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews