Book excerpt: It is a story of a troubled young teenager growing up poor in Seattle, Washington. He finds himself engulfed in a dysfunctional family with a hustler father, mother strung out on drugs, domestic violence, guns, and the lure of gangs. Many teens live under similar conditions that lead them to abusing drugs, violence, and mistrusting adults. But what happens when the only person who loves you suddenly up and dies? Alrick Hollingsworth's story reflects the day-to-day life of impoverished at-risk American teenagers; who truly come to believe, they are stuck in this world all alone!