The second book from former writer and producer of Law and Order is Sleepers. The book is non-fiction and depicts the author's life in a swirl of images that not even the strongest person could endure.

It starts off with four innocent boys growing up in Hell's Kitchen, New York. The boys do what any four pre-adolescents would do; they cause mischief. They pick fights, they play stickball, and they steal comic books and Juicy Fruit. It gives you a sneak peek into what the four leading characters have to deal with every day including dealing with gangs and having to deal with abusive parents.

As the book progresses and the boys grow so do their problems. It becomes more of a fight for survival than anything. With no money, the boys decide to lift some food from a hot dog vendor. This all lands the boys in trouble with the law for reason unimaginable to thirteen year olds and twelve years olds.

The boys land themselves into the Wilkinson Home for Boys in upstate New York. The institution is run by people who could care less and is staffed with people who look the other way while others abuse. In Carcaterra's account of what happened to him and his friends while they were in such a dark place is terrifying and slaps you with reality. The mere thought of home for boys has a nightmare running up my spine to take root in my mind.

Afterwards you're left wondering what happened to these four boys who endured so much in such a little amount of time. No fear, Lorenzo is here. He makes sure you give you an up to date account of all characters he's used in the book.

I recommend the book to anyone and everyone no matter what your favorite genre of book is. I don't read non-fiction except for school, but when my dad handed me the book claiming it was "amazing" I couldn't say no. Within the first few pages I was enveloped in the world that is Hell's Kitchen 1960+. Trust me, it won't let you down and you'll be begging for more from the author that brought you into his world for a brief moment.