Preview
  • There Are No Children Here

  • The Story of Two Boys Growing Up in the Other America
  • By: Alex Kotlowitz
  • Narrated by: Dion Graham
  • Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,707 ratings)

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There Are No Children Here

By: Alex Kotlowitz
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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Publisher's summary

This New York Public Library selection, as one of the 150 most important books of the 20th century, is a true-life portrait of growing up in the Chicago projects.

This national best-seller chronicles the true story of two brothers coming of age in the Henry Horner public housing complex in Chicago. Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers are 11 and nine years old when the story begins in the summer of 1987. Living with their mother and six siblings, they struggle against grinding poverty, gun violence, gang influences, overzealous police officers, and overburdened and neglectful bureaucracies. Immersed in their lives for two years, Kotlowitz brings us this classic rendering of growing up poor in America’s cities.

©1991 Alex Kotlowitz (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A triumph of empathy as well as a significant feat of reporting.” ( Los Angeles Times)
“Alex Kotlowitz’s story informs the heart. His meticulous portrait of the two boys in a Chicago Housing project shows how much heroism is required to survive, let alone escape.” ( New York Times)

What listeners say about There Are No Children Here

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    1,134
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    393
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Story
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I recommend this book to everyone.

I first read this book as a 16 year old growing up in Utah. It was the first real eye opening book to how different life can be. This book broke my heart so many times and changed how I view the world. I think it’s responsible for making me more empathetic and more understanding of others. I recommend this book to everyone and I honestly think it should be required reading.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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The normalcy of the violence! The harshness of th judge

I like that this story was told and that the boys benefited through their schooling

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Educational

Stories such as these broaden the perspectives for those of us who knew nothing of the experience of growing up in The Projects,

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Reality in the Projects

Where does There Are No Children Here rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book is high on the list of non-fiction. It is a though provoking piece on public programs in this country and the bureaucracy that is one of the main reasons for its failure.

What about Dion Graham’s performance did you like?

Dion's reading of this book appeals to me because you are getting the story without the emotion that could cloud the facts.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book elicited feelings of hopelessness.

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6 people found this helpful

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Great Narration!

Narrator brought the story to life for me. l have to imagine it was better than actually reading it myself.

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2 people found this helpful

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Amazing Book

This was an amazing book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about the struggles of those who live in South Side Chicago.

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well done

narrator was great. overall very interesting in a "removed" sort of way. journalistic approach might be easier to absorb in written form.

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Great heart wrenching read<br /><br />

Good read a little lengthy, bot worth it. It should be on the read list.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story about sensitively written characters.

Great snapshot of one complex family's real and poignant challenges of living in 1980s Chicago public housing. There was a good balance between their individual stories and historical / journalistic reporting about conditions, politics and issues of the millieu. I want to go online now to see if there are any articles or updates available on how the main characters have got on since the time of writing. Sensitively written, great quality audio makes for an enjoyable listening experience.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing book with harsh realities of then and NOW

If you could sum up There Are No Children Here in three words, what would they be?

Today's harsh reality

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

This book was just so real and true. I just finished reading on 4-29-15 during the riots going on in Baltimore following the killing of Freddie Gray. This book was set in a time where things were going on then that are STILL going on today!

Which scene was your favorite?

The entire book. I loved it

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many moments. It was so detailed . Craig gettingt he community to come together at a peaceful moment and dance to music was pretty uplifting though.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read. It will open your eyes !

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