The Wanderers by Richard Price

Price, Richard. The Wanderers. First Mariner Book, 1999. ISBN 0-395-9774-6

Plot

The Wanderers is an Italian gang from the Bronx, whose members include Richie, Joey, Despie, and Buddy. They are high school students growing up in the early 60s. There man leader is Richie and they tend to get into a lot of fights with other rival gangs, mostly The Baldies, which is lead by a big fat guy named Terror. Racism and prejudice is vey present within the gangs and at school. When a discussion at school about racial equality comes to play racial tensions hit the roof and a fight is planned. The Wanderers and others are stuck in an era of the 50s where racial inequalities exist and gangs are still popular. Richie meets, Rhonda, a college girl who introduces Richie to the new era. Richie’s current girlfriend, Nina, ends up getting pregnant. While Richie and his friends are living there lives there is a change in society that is blossoming. Richie is stuck in the middle and does not know where to go.

Critical evaluation

This story takes place in 1964 which is a time when the old is meeting the new. Price captures the essence of teenage youth and the switch from the 50s to the 60s. In 1964 the civil rights act was established. Race is a major issue throughout the story it shows that social change has to happen or the world would be stuck in this violent era full of hate. The battle that was going to take place between The Wongs, The Afros, and the Wanderers does not because they realize that there is no point to it. His friends were stuck but he did not want to be but with his girlfriend being pregnant he felt that he had no where to escape.

Readers Annotations

It is 1964 in the Bronx and the Wanderers are trying to keep the spirit of the 50s alive by listening to the same music and being in a gang. After Richie meets a college girl he realizes that he does not want to be stuck there.

Information About the Author

The Wanderers is Price’s first novel that he wrote when he was 24 years old.

Genre

Fiction/Coming of age

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Life in the 50s

2) Richie after he found out Nina was pregnant.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr. 9-13

Why Book Included

My friend sold it to me when he was explaining the transition of the 50s to 60s being captured.