Review of The El by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

The El is a raw, immersive journey through 1979 Chicago, following Teddy, a teenage Indigenous gang member, as he navigates a single, high-stakes day in the city. Van Alst’s writing is vivid and fast-paced, pulling readers into the streets, onto the train, and into the mind of a boy balancing loyalty, survival, and identity.

One of the novel’s biggest strengths is its authenticity—Van Alst’s depiction of Chicago’s neighborhoods, gang culture, and the racial and social dynamics of the time feels real and lived-in. The blend of gritty realism with elements of Indigenous storytelling, particularly Coyote’s presence, adds a unique and compelling layer to the narrative.

That said, the nonlinear storytelling and stream-of-consciousness style might not be for everyone. At times, the shifts in perspective and tone made it a little challenging to follow. However, once I got into the rhythm of the writing, I found it hard to put down.

Overall, The El is an intense, thought-provoking read that blends coming-of-age themes with a powerful sense of place. While not a light read, it’s a memorable one, offering a perspective rarely seen in fiction. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy literary fiction with a strong voice and a deep sense of atmosphere.

Fans of The Warriors will be a little disappointed by this book, although I still enjoyed the concept. My rating is a round up from 3.5 stars.

One thing that annoyed me a little bit is this book explicitly references The Warriors which was a little too self referential. The plot is effectively the same as the film except this takes place in Chicago. Rival gangs are traveling via public transportation to attend a summit of some sort and the book follows their journey. Unlike The Warriors, this book follows a gang that exists in real life, the Simon City Royals.

The plot is told primarily from the viewpoint of the gang leader Teddy who from his perspective is narrating from the vantage point of years later as an adult, and it alternates between the perspective of different members speaking from the present (1979) and then brief sections from CTA operators and a cop. This book does not engage in any stereotypes about gang leaders by portraying them as complex people with interests, thoughts, and desires (like everyone!) and by showing that only a small subset of them are interested in actual violence.

Aside from the dynamics of the gang members, it was really interesting how this book covered the topic of both how segregated the city of Chicago is (although this took place in 1979 this is still relevant today) in addition to the large Native population that Chicago has. Racial tensions were described as occurring both within gangs and between rival gangs.

The disappointing aspect of this book was not a whole lot happened plot wise. The bulk of the Simon City Royals' travel actually went very smoothly and focused on conversations between the various members and a brief interlude where they peacefully travel through a rival gang's territory. This was more of a meditation on the city of Chicago than an action driven plot. I actually kept anticipating something bad would happen at various points and it never did.

The summit was also very anticlimactic. It is interrupted by violence similar to The Warriors although I was a little unclear about what was happening and the rest of the plot does not follow The Warriors at all. There is one battle scene between gangs which comes near the very end and like the summit, is somewhat anticlimactic.

I appreciated this book for what it ended up being, but it did not entirely live up to what I thought it would be. I rounded up my rating as this book is well written, engaging, and provides a perspective that is not often encountered in literature.

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

Unique and entertaining, a day in the life of a young indigenous gang member in Chicago, in the days before everyone shot everyone else. It's a page turner and a fun read.

"The El" is a masterclass in atmospheric horror, weaving together threads of psychological terror, supernatural mystery, and visceral body horror. Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.'s prose is evocative and unsettling, conjuring images that will linger long after you finish reading.

I DNFed at 62%. I was really trying but I found myself just not wanting to pick it up and even when I did, I couldn't read more than 5 pages in a sitting. I just don't think this one is for me.

Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for this ARC of 'The El' by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

This book is a wonderful conundrum. Desperately and viciously violent in places and dealing with racial and societal divides that loomed large in 1970s America (and remain today) it sits cheek by jowl with a warm and nostalgic love letter to Chicago, its teenage gangs and, the star of this show, the famous Chicago El.

I've never been to Chicago and wasn't in American in 1979 but Van Alst describes everyone and everywhere so eloquently and evocatively I can place myself there with no effort.

Honestly, it took me a good chunk of this book to make me realize I was loving it. It can be repetitive and almost mundane (if the everyday lives of young gang members can ever be mundane) but it suddenly dawned on me that I was entranced by the characters - especially Teddy - and his descriptions of the people and places.

These are no thoughtless thugs - they're readers, they know and appreciate their history and heritage (native American heritage and storytelling plays a key role in the novel), they know people, they know culture, and they're deeply and impulsively violent at the same time.

There's a real sense throughout that not only is this the end of a decade, the 1970s, but the end of an era for the city, the El, and the gangs. Guns are coming into the scene and they will change everyone and everything for good. Several of the gang members' thoughts turn to escape and we learn (or think we do) some of their fates.

My advice, give this one time and you'll fall in love with it.

Raw, gripping, and vividly immersive, this novel plunges readers into the heart of 1979 Chicago, where gang lines, racial tension, and survival instincts collide. At its center is Teddy — a smart, tough, and fiercely loyal teenager who has found belonging in the Simon City Royals after being cast out by his mother for his gang affiliation. But Teddy is more than just a street kid — as the only Indigenous member of his branch, he carries a deep sense of otherness. As the novel unfolds, it becomes clear that his identity, survival, and future are all intertwined.

The story kicks off with an electric premise: a gathering of Chicago gangs, dubbed the Nation, is being formed with the audacious goal of uniting rival groups across racial lines. For Teddy, it represents more than just gang business — it’s a chance to be part of something bigger, a movement that could change the violent landscape of the city. But when the meeting ends in chaos — gunfire, sirens, and shattered hopes — Teddy and his crew find themselves stranded deep in hostile territory, tasked with navigating their way back home while staying one step ahead of rival gangs and betrayal from within their own ranks.

The pacing of this novel is nothing short of relentless. The tension never lets up from the moment Teddy leads his crew onto the El train. Every stop, every alley, and every encounter feels like life or death, and the author captures the raw, volatile energy of 1970s Chicago with haunting precision. The city itself becomes a character — sweaty, dangerous, and unforgiving — and readers will feel the pulse of the streets with every page turn.

What sets this book apart is the deeply layered portrayal of Teddy. He’s a boy caught between worlds — Indigenous but disconnected from his roots, a gang member but still clutching to his humanity, a leader among his peers but quietly questioning if this life will consume him. The presence of Coyote, the trickster spirit who grants him glimpses of a possible future, adds an unexpected and brilliant layer of mysticism to the narrative. It’s subtle, haunting, and powerfully symbolic — a reminder that Teddy’s struggle is about physical survival and choosing his own path, even when fate seems stacked against him.

The writing is razor-sharp, immersive, and unflinching. The violence feels authentic without being gratuitous, and the undercurrent of tension — from both the physical threat of rival gangs and the psychological threat of betrayal — keeps readers on edge. Yet beneath all the blood and bravado is a powerful story about brotherhood, identity, and the impossible choices young men like Teddy are often forced to make.

This novel is more than just a gang story — it’s a searing exploration of race, belonging, and the invisible forces that shape young lives in marginalized communities.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who’s had a lifelong love affair with the city of Chicago, this book easily transported me to 1970s Chicagoland and all the citywide issues it faced. Thank you Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC of The El.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The El by Theodore C. Van Alst JR is a story of a group of Chicago members of a gang (the Simon City Royals) in the 1970s told from the points of view of each gang member.

The most significant event in this novel is when the Royals have to make a dangerous trek across town (through other gang's territories) to attend a meeting with a friendly gang who wants to consolidate forces. As the Royals (split into smaller groups of 2 or 3 individuals to decrease the chance that all gang members will either be arrested or killed) make their way to the meeting they lose one team member to an arrest after the youth shoplifted from a local store.

The return trip back from the meeting (which turned out to be a waste of everyone's time) proves to be the most harrowing with numerous Royals' members encountering vicious fights, and a couple of the gang members (a native American and an African American) pulled over by racist cops as they navigate their way through the predominantly White community where the meeting took place.

Challenging to write a story from numerous points of view, and rather than the almost comically tough exteriors in Richard Price's The Wanderers (which the book is compared to in the description) we encounter largely atypical gang members who "fell into" the gang, and kids who are more into reading, art and similar pursuits than one might expect. Although racism is encountered, there is little of the posturing and imaginative swearing and put downs we typically find in gang stories (which contributes to the realism in this type of story).

The Simon City Royals were known as a greaser gang, I would be surprised to find the majority to be well-read intellectuals, who did not intentionally seek out gang membership.

For me, a huge fan of gang stories, I found this book to be slightly entertaining, but not one I would eagerly recommend for someone looking to read an authentic representation of gang culture.

Additionally, a few errors in this story (described in detail below) were a distraction.
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Although this is an eARC, at one point Alice Copper is incorrectly referred to as "aspirational" (rather than inspirational). I am unsure if this was an intentional error to show us although the gang member viewed himself as intellectual, he was not (if so, it doesn't work, it just appears the author used the wrong word and the editor did not catch the error). FYI: Aspirational means something you want to achieve, while inspirational means something that motivates you to do so.

Also, the cops pull over Teddy and search him, and although the gang member with him is carrying a bat, the cops frisk Teddy, and pull out his Goody comb while overlooking a CHAIN in his front pocket that he later uses in a fight in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I adore this novel so much! The author did a fantastic job setting up a story with so much heart, allowing readers to invest in the journey of the characters (which spans in just 1 day!). Teddy is a super lovable and so easy to root for. And I also enjoyed taking a step back in time to visit Chicago in August of 1979 and getting to know all its beautiful and diverse community.

10/10 recommend!

As a Chicago area native and lover of coming of age novels, I adored this book. The voice is so specific, and it captured the city so well - both the parts I know and love and parts that were new to me. Part adventure story and part coming of age novel, I was totally gripped by it and could not put it down.

Sorry ... got about 20 percent of the way through and had to put this down. Not my cup of tea at all. Rough language, slang I don't understand, and characters who don't interest me in the least. Might interest others, but definitely not up my literary standards.

Very enjoyable and gripping at times. Loved the story being told from the different characters point of view. Made the story move at a good pace.
Quite interesting and highly recommended.

Like the cult classic *The Warriors*, *The El* by Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. takes place over the course of a single day in 1979 during a summit where gangs gather for peace talks. However, one gang must fight their way back through a hostile city to their home turf.

Set in Chicago, which serves as a prominent character in the story, the author marries/replicates the Warriors narrative with the city's rich history. Before colonizers arrived, the area was inhabited by various Indigenous tribes, including the Potawatomi, Miami, and Illinois nations. Chicago later became a trading hub and a melting pot for immigrants due to its strategic location, which made it a significant meeting point. The city is also known for its political and police corruption, organized crime, and remains one of the most segregated cities in the country.

Through this one-day narrative, we are taken on a journey through diverse neighborhoods, each with its own unique cultures and populations, much like passengers on the EL train. The gang itself represents a melting pot, offering a snapshot of the group's intersectionality and providing insight into their motivations and aspirations at this moment.

This book is perfect for fans of Tommy Orange, Kyle Edwards, and Aaron John Curtis. Special thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC.