The Lost Boyz: A Dark Side of Graffiti

Justin Rollins

Mar 2011 · Waterside Press

About this ebook

A rare first-hand account of disaffected youth. Contains countless lessons for young people who might be attracted to crime (and anyone involved with them socially or professionally). Aged just fourteen and using the name ‘Sevens’, the author went from being a bullied child to leader of the Warriorz, a group of London street kids involved in graffiti-tagging and other crimes including a series of violent encounters. Eventually given a substantial custodial sentence for an attack with a meat cleaver on the London Underground, Justin Rollins became determined to steer other young people away from such a life. The Lost Boyz tells the story of his descent into a form of madness in which self-destruction, anger, wanton behaviour and fear lie at the core. Not before has a book taken the reader so far inside the minds of troubled youths as the author and his companions—some of whom did not survive or also ended up in prison—gradually realise that there is no easy escape from their chaotic lifestyle. Their need to gain respect from and stay credible with each other stems from offending, alienation, living on the margins of society and crazy behaviour—all of which serve as barriers to rejoining the normal world and going straight. The book contains countless lessons for young people who might be attracted to crime just as it does for anyone interested in youth offending, gang culture, criminology, mental health issues or that period of modern English social history when the unofficial decoration of walls, fences, trains and buses became a telling symbol of disaffected youth.

Ratings and reviews

I came across Justin's documentary on Youtube and was taken back with the rawness of it. So i purchased my copy of the book at my local Waterstones. £16.50 was rather expensive for a paperback, but believe it was money well spent. The book is one that you will remember, and one you learn many lesson's from. Being mixed asain and white British, but only knowing his English roots Justin felt that he never fitted in, topped with being abused by his carers he hit the streets to find peace. Instead of peace he found a violent world of graffiti gangs, refusing to be a victim any longer, Justin rose to leader of the south London based gang Warriorz. Now fighting for respect on a daily basis his life spiralled out of control. Young offenders institutions, drugs, violence, racism, graffiti and abuse, Justin survived it all. But many of his friends never lived to tell the tell. Remarkable story. Well worth a read. P.S Amazon sell's book for £10.

I brought this book for my sociology studies and ended up reading it in the first day. Touchs on so many different subjects such as Racism, Prison, Graffiti, Gangs and many more social problems. 5 stars, cant wait for part two.

This is a lost boys journey through the dark side of London and young offenders instatutions, as him and his violent graffiti gang fight for survival. Really get inside the mind of todays tearaway. Highly recommend.