Who Is Johnny Álvarez?
Johnny Álvarez is a runaway with a fierce determination to escape his abusive Miami home. At just twelve years old, he sneaks out in the middle of the night and boards a bus to New York City, hoping to leave his pain behind. It’s 1972, and the city is in crisis—crime, drugs, and economic turmoil rule the streets.
For Johnny, the chaos offers both danger and a chance to start over.
New York City: A City of Shadows
A Gritty Backdrop
The New York City Johnny arrives in is far from glamorous. Crime and drugs are rampant, and abandoned buildings dominate the skyline. This seedy, chaotic environment becomes both a shield and a threat for Johnny.
Camouflage and Survival
Yet for a runaway like Johnny, the chaos offers both camouflage and a shot at survival. He finds refuge in a vacant apartment and quickly falls in with a group of streetwise kids who are also navigating their own hardships. Together, they form a fragile alliance, dreaming of a better life even as the city forces them to grow up fast.
Wrestling With the Past
Memories That Won’t Stay Buried
Though he’s escaped Miami, Johnny can’t outrun the scars of his past. Fragmented memories of abuse haunt him, leaving him with unanswered questions and deep emotional wounds.
A Reputation Built on Rage
The violence he encounters on the streets often triggers these buried memories, leading to explosive outbursts of rage. While this rage helps him build a reputation as someone not to be crossed, it also complicates his quest to find peace.
A Dangerous Path
Into the Underworld
Johnny’s street smarts and determination catch the attention of a mid-level drug dealer, pulling him and his friends deeper into the city’s underworld.
A Family Forged in Survival
What starts as a way to earn quick money becomes a slippery slope. Running deliveries and dodging authorities puts their lives on the line, but it also strengthens the bond between Johnny and his crew. For the first time, Johnny feels like he has a family—a brotherhood built not on blood but on loyalty and survival.
Why Johnny’s Story Matters
A Flawed but Relatable Hero
Johnny Álvarez isn’t a typical hero. He’s flawed, vulnerable, and forced to make impossible choices, but that’s what makes his story so compelling.
Hope in the Darkness
In a city that seems determined to swallow him whole, Johnny’s resilience and humanity shine through. His journey isn’t just about survival—it’s about hope, belonging, and finding light in the darkest corners.
What Lies Ahead?
As Johnny faces mounting dangers, he’s forced to confront an impossible question: how far will he go to protect the family he’s built? Will he rise above the city’s darkness, or will it pull him under?
Discover Johnny Álvarez’s unforgettable journey in STREET—a gripping tale of loyalty, survival, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of 1970s New York City.
Grab your copy today.
Ready to learn how Johnny’s journey unfolds?