The Hated Ones

by Mike Fiorito

Fiction. Italian American Studies. Mike Fiorito shoots the brief documentary tales of THE HATED ONES in a vivid black and white, bringing to life a "Basketball Diaries"-like world of ne'er-do-wells growing up on the wrong side of whatever tracks separate the silver spoons from the rest of us with our wayward fathers, disappointed mothers, and ill-defined dreams of being somebody.

154 pages, Hardcover

Published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[Heather // myinfinitetbr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vinny is a Sicilian growing up in the projects of Queens, NY in the 1970’s. This book is his coming-of-age told in short stories of his upbringing on the streets. Chasing a high, chasing a girl, chasing the greener grass on the other side of the fence.

I was immediately drawn in by the cover, and was surprised not to have seen this one around. Not knowing much about it, I picked it up; I'm glad I did.

This is a little book that packs a big punch. I rooted for Vinny through all of his trials and misadventures, in all of the ways he found to escape. About owning your roots and being proud of where you came from.

“The Hated Ones is about street kids. Their ignorance, their vulnerability, and their beauty. The language is often filthy, violent, and racist. But it is true to the time and place it describes. For all its darkness, The Hated Ones is a book about escape.”

Thank you TLC Book Tours and the author for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always amazed when a writer can say so much in so few words. This is a series of short stories that take the reader deep into the streets of Queens. The author does not sugar coat life in the projects for Vinny, his family and friends. As are the streets, the language is dirty, and stories are filled with violence, drugs and sex exploration of teen boys.
I experienced anger and sadness at life’s inequities and the realization that some kids really never have a chance. Vinny also brought hope through his quest to define himself and dare to dream what might be possible beyond his little world. I received a gifted copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
3. 8 stars

[Candice Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a series of interlaced stories in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨, Mike Fiorito takes us on bumpy ride as we peer into the life of Vinny, a Sicilian-born New Yorker, who survives the highs and lows of the street. Growing up in the Ravenswood Houses projects, Vinny is no stranger to the street-life and the raw dangers that await him around the corner. Vinny explains: “In our neighborhood, some people’s protestations of love are a little frightening. As if they would announce their devotion and love just before they stab you to death with a rust nail.” Fiorito’s language, imagery, and stories paint depictions that grant readers a raw, vivid, and visceral account of the street life that both save and scare his characters growing up in Queens.

What I found interesting about 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨 is the relatability about growing up in the hood/projects and finding safety and escape in the realms of danger. Knowing or being associated with “a hated one” had its perks in the projects and could be a true life saver for you and your family. Fiorito makes a compelling point for the reader to know the value of never forgetting where you come from. Near the end, Vinny sees an old friend, and notes: “I am proud to come from these people. He doesn’t hide behind his skin.; he is pure and open.”

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨 is also very crude in its material: violent, sexual, and racist as the author makes note of in the preface. Vinny is either searching for a high, a girl to score with, or music to make so those things really were not of interest to me and were off-putting/distractions for me as a reader. Nonetheless, Mike Fiorito is likely only creating characters that he has known. Nonetheless, I didn’t dislike this book, but it was just okay for me. There were some very interesting and sad stories told, too.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5)

[Amy Shook · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hated Ones is about street kids. Their ignorance, their vulnerability and their beauty. The Hated Ones use the language of the street. The language is often filthy, violent and racist.

At first glance the cover of this book looks like a graphic novel for teens. But after reading the foreword and the first chapter, it is quite clear this is an adult book! The Hated Ones is very different from the books I generally read but yet I was compelled to read just one more chapter until I had read it all in a day. This fictional book reads like a memoir, or a collection of events that happen to a third generation Sicilian.

Mike Fiorito’s writing is unapologetic and gritty. The reader follows Vinny, a third generation Sicilian through his daily adventures of life on the street; with his friends getting high or drunk and stealing things, his endless pursuit of girls and sex, and the vile things he endured at school. We see his misadventures with dance lessons, and a job working at his church just to name a few. Fiorito’s writing brought laughter, tears, and a better understanding of living on the other side of the tracks.

It you are looking for something different than your usual romcom or thriller give this one a try. At 134 pages you can knock this one out in a day!

[Nel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is unlike any I've ever read. It reads like a non-fiction account of a young man growing up in the Projects in Queens. It is so raw and real, but it is indeed a fictionalized account - an "every street kid" kind of novel. The writing is beguiling from the very first short story. With his all-encompassing writing, Fiorito pulls no punches and let's his readers know from the beginning:

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚, 𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒕. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆."

It is so far from what I normally read, and yet I was fully immersed. It is a story of hope - a coming-of-age story in a world where the odds are stacked against the protagonist. And ultimately, it is a story of redemption.

I am duly impressed @mike3fio ! Thank you for sharing your talent.

Many thanks to TLC Book Tours for including me in this tour and to Mike Fiorito and Bordighera Press.

⚠️crude language, racist attitudes, drug use, sexual content

For more of my reviews, check out my blog at mamasgottaread.blogspot.com or follow me on Instagram @mamasgottaread !

[Aimee Dars]

In this interconnected series of short stories, Mike Fiorito offers a raw, vivid bildungsroman set during the 1970s in Ravenswood Houses project in Queens. Vinny, a third generation Sicilian lives with his parents—a mother who drinks and father who gambles—and older brother, Virgil.

Although his family is poor, crime rampant, and drugs easy to come by, Vinny survives through cunning, a group of loyal friends, and the comfort of music. Vinny’s voice is so authentic, I had to keep reminding myself that the book was a novel, not a memoir.

The book’s title comes from the name of a gang, The Hated Ones: “To be a member you had to be resigned to your death. Death could come in any way. Getting stabbed in the face, shot, or pummeled by a brick to the head.” So resigned, the threat of danger failed to deter Vinny, his friends, or others in the neighborhood from making poor decisions, cruelly hurting loved ones and behaving short-sightedly. Even so, I found it impossible not to root for Vinny, and ended the book hopeful for him.

This is an under-appreciated gem, recommended for those who enjoy coming of age and NYC stories.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Mike Fiorito for including me on the tour and for a gifted copy of the book.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE HATED ONES is a gritty novel told in a series of short stories, as narrated by Vinny a third generation Sicilian. This novel made me feel emotions that made me angry, sad, scared, before I felt any sense of relief and eventually hope. Giorgio wrote what it’s like as a young man living in the projects from what happens at school, the streets, and at home. There is no pretty here, no sugar coating, no whimsy. I am still reeling from what I read. It was eye opening, many times shocking, but one hundred percent compelling. In this book of about 130 pages, I devoured it like no other.

Give this a read for those looking for a different genre from usual that packs a punch or two!

[Edvige Giunta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fierce collection!