THIS IS THE TRUE STORY OF GEORGIE AND OF ONE GANG, THE REAPERS. IT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN THE STORY OF THE SAVAGE SKULLS OR THE BLACK SPADES OR ONE OF THE OTHER GANGS THAT OPERATE IN, AND SOMETIMES TERRORIZE, NEW YORK. THE SKULLS DESCRIBED WERE REALLY BROKEN, THE BODIES IN ALLEYWAYS REALLY DEAD, THE ORGANIZED CRIME CONNECTIONS REALLY DEADLY. GARY HOENIG, WHO HAS LIVED IN NEW YORK CITY ALL OF HIS LIFE, SPENT OVER A YEAR LEARNING ABOUT THE REAPERS AND, IN PARTICULAR, ABOUT GEORGIE. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT GEORGIE'S CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE HIERARCHY OF THE GANG. LATER, WHEN THE KILLINGS, AND THE FIGHTS HAD BECOME TOO MUCH, WHEN THE WEARING OF GANG COLORS HAD SOMEHOW LOST THE MEANING GEORGIE HAD STRUGGLED TO DIGNIFY OVER THE YEARS, REAPER TELLS THE STORY OF WHAT HAPPENS TO A YOUTH WHO IS WEARY OF LIFE AT A TIME WHEN MOST YOUNG PEOPLE ARE JUST BEGINNING THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THEIRS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)