The Streets of Baltimore

by Joe Frantz, Brandon Novak

Brandon Novak, an actor known for the films Jackass and Viva La Bam , among others, was a teenage skateboarder, but his lust for heroin led to a junkie's destiny on the streets of Baltimore. Arrests, rehabs, and drug-tortured love triangles consumed Novak's life, until his childhood friend and Jackass alumnus Bam Margera guided him to MTV fame. But Novak's stardom led him down a self-destructive path that forced him to sculpt his future. This suspenseful memoir is interspersed with action, humor, and inspiration.

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Audiobook, Addiction, Drugs

350 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Chealse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I also loved Dreamseller. The writing is great, easy to follow and honest. I’m so glad Brandon finally got sober! I’ve dealt with someone really close to me struggle with heroin addiction, it gave me more understanding as to why he acted the way he was acting. It goes to show that anyone can get sober even if you’ve failed in the past. Thanks for sharing your story Brandon.

[Lili Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE - i was so lucky to see brandon novak speak recently, which pushed me to finally read his second book. i read dreamseller as a kid and was blown away at the fact that a person who starred in my favorite TV show and favorite movies had such a terrible addiction. this book definitely dives into the real deal of what addiction can look like. it also made me feel so many emotions- anger, sadness, happiness.

[Jason Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I’ve read Novak’s other book, and it was great. This one may be even better.
I’ve met Novak twice.. once using and once sober.
His story is amazing, and is truly unbelievable how he transformed his life, stays sober, and helps so many people!
Thank you Novak for sharing your stories.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

💭Thoughts:
This was an interesting memoir. I remember watching Brandon Novak when he was on Viva La Bam. I could definitely tell when I watched that show that many of those guys were using drugs. Some of the crazy things they did wouldn’t be done by someone sober!

This was the first addiction memoir that I’ve read. It was interesting to get a first hand account of Brandon’s drug use and how it affected his life. I listening to this book because I work with a lot of patients in the ER suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. It’s very sad to see.

I was amazed to learned that after 20 years of addiction, Brandon is clean and sober now! That takes serious deduction! As someone who has never suffered from addiction, I felt like this book helped me look at addiction from a different perspective.

[Tuesday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Brandon Novak since I was a kid. Anything Bam related he was on, he was who I loved. When we were lucky enough to meet Bam and his crew, it was him I was fangirling hard over.
I've read Dreamseller, but once I knew Novak had been the voice of the audio book it was a no brainer for me that this was going to be an audible job. I learnt so much about him and his struggles. He never dilutes anything. Brandon is honest, he owns his mistakes and troubles and to hear it all from his 'mouth' is pretty powerful.
I adore him anyway, so I was always going to love anything he touches but this is special. This book is incredible.

[Daniel Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Streets of Baltimore" by Brandon Novak and Joe Frantz is an unfiltered masterpiece that captivates from the first page. Novak's raw storytelling paired with Frantz's compelling narrative style creates a poignant exploration of resilience, redemption, and the human spirit. A powerful journey through the streets of addiction and recovery, this book is a must-read, offering profound insights and an unflinching look at the triumph of the human will. An extraordinary collaboration that earns a well-deserved 5/5 stars for its authenticity and impact.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully personal account of Brandon's battle with addiction. It was also written really well and the chapters were short, which I appreciate because i'm not the best reader. So it was a breeze for me to read. I never wanted to put it down! I would highly recommend anyone read this book if they're a Viva La Bam/Jackass fan and you know Brandon's story. Even if you aren't aware of who Brandon is, you'll be captivated by what he has to say.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Dreamseller and I’m genuinely not sure the purpose this one is supposed to serve since there was a lot of crossover. Dreamseller was more raw and better written to me as well.

I do like Brandon’s voice, but the crossover confused me and yes, there were more details about his friendship with Bam, etc., but much of it had been previously alluded to in Dreamseller.

Don’t read it right after Dreamseller (literally) and you’ll enjoy it just fine, though. Lol

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a recovering alcoholic, I appreciated this read so much. I will have 3 years sobriety in March, and the last few days I've been struggling. I picked this up now because I thought it would help me, and it did. I listened to the audiobook narrated by him while I physically read it and him being the narrator is even better. If you're an addict or know someone in your life that is one, you need to read this.

[Allyson Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a raw look at addiction. Growing up I was a fan of Viva La Bam but was definitely too young to know about drug addition. Now as an adult knowing people who struggle with addiction, it's really interesting to hear something from their perspective. I'm glad that he was finally able to get sober after fighting for so long.

I received this audiobook copy thanks to NetGalley

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to his other book Dreamseller. The writing is easy to follow and straightforward. Dealing with someone with an addiction isn't easy, but this book helps give you a different perspective.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you

Great book for anyone who has ever wondered what it is like to live through addiction. My guess is that the author's books have helped many avoid or recover from addiction.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novak has great stories—I enjoyed this book and it made me want to read Dreamseller again.

[Sarah Oberst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Angel Bentzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. A very real account of the highs and lows of addiction and what goes on in the mind of an addict. Brandon Novak is an inspiration.