Living at the Edge of the World: A Teenager's Survival in the Tunnels of Grand Central Station

by Jamie Pastor Bolnick, Tina S., Jamie Pastor Bolnick

Book Overview

When Tina S. meets April, a teenage runaway, she thinks she's found her best friend. She leaves behind her dysfunctional family to join April in the tunnels of Grand Central Station amidst the homeless and drug addicted. Soon she's bingeing on crack - just like April - and stealing, scamming and panhandling to support her habit and to survive on the streets.In her own words, she describes her descent into crack addiction, being raped in the tunnels,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312200471
• ISBN13: 9780312200473
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

What a interesting read..

This book was very interesting. It was a very fast read for me, I think that was because I was following the authors life through her experiences right along with her. I wish there was a follow up to this memoir--but I know I am going to google it and find out more about Tina and the people in her life from a 48 hours program that profiled her and the people that she came into contact with. I also will try to find more memoirs about society and how we treat our young and old that live on the fringes.

a real page-turner

This book was really fascinating and great. I couldn't put it down. I really liked hearing Tina's perspective on her life. While the setting of this book has Tina being drug-addicted and homeless, that's not all this book is about. The other running them is Tina's deep devotion to her best friend April [...]. It's very touching and I'm glad it was written.

Couldn't put it down!

A wonderful read, simply stated, but by it's subject matter ... riveting. Twice as real as "the mole people." One of the best books I've read this year.

This book held me captive from beginning to end!

I couldn't put this book down! I admire Tina S. It takes tremendous courage to make ourselves vulnerable to others by sharing such personal information. I saw in her, my dearest friend and the addictions and life troubles he is suffering and came away with a new understanding of the relationship between my friend and me. It's hard to put into words the effect this book had on me. I highly recommend it if you like to read about the human spirit and what gives people strength and courage to grow and change.

Runaway life beneath the streets

This book touches the harsh realities of teenagers who become runaways, and homeless. They end up living in the streets, addicted to drugs, and dangerously risking their lives in order to survive. This book is based on the life of a young girl April, and the people who surround her life when she decides to live in the tunnels of Grand Central Station in New York. I believe this book can have a huge influence on teens who consider running away from home, and are looking for a home in the streets.