The authors explain how a deviant youth subculture developed in the midst of a midwestern suburb. Tensions between police and youths started around 1970. The various youth subcultures of the day--hippies, greasers, jocks--all played a formative role, as did the high school scene, and the social structure and prevalent values of the community. The Losers "found" each other and generated a system of values that reflected their hostility and anger. The Losers were not highly structured and formal like most urban gangs. They had relatively amorphous boundaries, and graduated levels of involvement were possible. The growth of their numbers and the escalation of tension are narrated through early 1976, when tensions peaked. Some of the core members are described. In the final chapter, the authors make recommendations for other communities with gangs similar to the Losers. 46 references, index