Review of The Carny Kid

In recent years, many writers have written stories of their miserable childhoods. Some seem a sort of catharsis, but Mr. Kahn's is much more than that. He offers hope to others in difficult situations and makes us see that sometimes small gestures and kindnesses can produce great results.

Reviewed by Roberta Austin [more]
CompulsiveReader.com

Unless you were one of the lucky "golden boys or girls" in school, you probably have some less than lovely memories threaded in with the good ones during your coming of age years. Imagine your teen trauma mixed with having two neglectful junkies for parents and living in one of the worst projects in East Los Angeles. This is the life Kenny Kahn reveals to the reader with complete candor in his memoir, THE CARNY KID: THE SURVIVAL OF A YOUNG THIEF.

Kenny's parents lived the gypsy life of carnival workers and became addicted to heroin. Their apartment turned into a "shooting gallery" and they cut heroin and sold it to feed their addictions. Kenny was left pretty much to his own devices. Kenny was expected to help when his baby brother came along, even though he was still a small child himself. Kenny's mother could not kick her addiction, even after having a premature daughter born addicted. Kenny's dad justified his criminal behavior as a way to level things between the haves and have nots.

While it would have been easy for Kenny to drift into a life of crime after working with his dad and other "carnies", he found his escape through school and the kindness of neighbors in the Ramona Garden projects where his family lived. Others may have wallowed in their circumstances and seen themselves as a victim, but Kenny saw early that education was a way out and he pursued that dream with determination. Even after a bout with polio slowed him down, Kenny did not give up and was thankful to The March of Dimes and the kindness of the Seventh Day Adventists, who were responsible for his recovery.

Kenny tells his poignant, inspirational story is a simple, straightforward narrative in an effort to reach a wide audience. His behind the scenes look at carnival life and games are full of dark humor and chilling details. I will never look at midway games in the same light again. In recent years, many writers have written stories of their miserable childhoods. Some seem a sort of catharsis, but Mr. Kahn's is much more than that. He offers hope to others in difficult situations and makes us see that sometimes small gestures and kindnesses can produce great results.

Mr. Kahn is currently a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles. After being stabbed by a client in court in 1987, Mr. Kahn developed a comedy routine to bring humor to his own life and others. Although, he had to keep his "day job", Kenny enjoys entertaining and public speaking. THE CARNY KID follows his life through his high school graduation and the author is hard a work on a sequel that continues his compelling saga.

About the Reviewer: Roberta Austin was born in Roanoke , Virginia, and as an army child, she spent most of her young life traveling to Germany, Japan, Texas, Maryland and Georgia. With librarians and teachers in her background, she learned to read at 5 and has been an avid reader ever since. Currently residing in Atlanta GA, she works as a Library Associate; a dream job for a book addict.