Justin Rollins' acclaimed The Lost Boyz (below) traced the author's early life on the streets. Ten years on, this new book describes how he did time in adult prisons and experienced other challenges including trauma, associated fears, flashbacks and fixations. It traces the origins of his anxiety, obsessive compulsive behaviour, complex post-traumatic stress and other life-limiting conditions. It tells of the violence and abuse in his past and explains how this drove many of his actions. Fast paced and readable as any novel, the book describes how the author overcame 'locked-in' thinking and a violent lifestyle to become not just law-abiding but an acknowledged expert on street crime, gangs, drugs and youth culture. It will be of interest to a wide range of people working with disadvantaged young people and those confronted by mental health issues and/or affected by 'ghosts' from the past.

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. Reviews 'This is simply 100% raw talent ... a must-read': Inside Time 'An unforgettable story': Social Work With Groups 'What a nightmarish time': Graphotism 'Some real dark moments ... be prepared': Keep the Faith 'A job well done': Noel 'Razor' Smith, crime writer (from the Foreword) . Author Justin Rollins grew-up on the streets of south-London and was a one-time leader of a graffiti gang. Having served time for a violent crime he is now s a security guard and works with youth groups. Foreword author Noel 'Razor' Smith is the best-selling author of A Few Kind Words and a Loaded Gun and works for the prison newspaper Inside Time.

Justin Rollins has a remarkable ability. His poems emerge not from agonising over a blank sheet of paper, but in rap-like fashion, in full-flow and in their complete form. This collection takes the reader on a journey on which those familiar with his autobiographical The Lost Boyz will recognise the landmarks. But this is fresh and captivating work. It deals with the everyday effects of disadvantage, the tensions of wealth and poverty, freedom and incarceration with glimpses of a sometimes dark past, motivational now and uncertain though optimistic future. What registers is Rollins' eye for detail, the telling remark, the eccentric, the absurd, clandestine places and parallel realities. Much of this is driven by his years living on the streets chasing excitement to compensate for the lack of a conventional upbringing. The result is a raw journey captured in snapshots of street crimes, survival, pain and the author's travels on the Northern Line. Extracts From 'Street Wise' - Some boys played with toy cars We played with metal bars And set fires On the way to becoming the lads All the traits of a psychopath They visited museums and studied from books We bunked history and became hooked Snotty-nosed kids slowly becoming crooks. From 'Cameron's Kids' - See we wasn't born with riches Luxury food on tap ...I was born guilty Brought up in those flats So when you drive on by Just give us a bib Cameron what would you do If this was your kid?