Into the Dangerous World

At a family meeting, Ror declares her purpose- I am an artist. But she doesn't really know what that means. Raised on a commune, she's never attended a day of school, and has seen little of the outside world. What she knows best is drawing. To her, it's like breathing; it's how she makes sense of the world. When her father torches the commune-and himself-Ror's life changes. She, her mother and hersister end up in Manhattan, in a residence for the homeless, where she runs into trouble-and love-with Trey, the leader of Noise Ink, a graffiti crew. On the city's streets, and in its museums and galleries, Ror finds herself pulled in different directions. Her father wanted her to make classic art. Noise Ink insists she stay within their lines. Her art teacher urges her to go to college. What does she want? What kind of artist am I? Ror's journey is a seamless blend of words and pictures, cinematic in its scope-a sharp-edged, indelible work of art that will live inside your head. 'This bold book wakes us up to an urban tribe that operates in the margins. The powerful, primal art feels so organic to the text, it's hard to imagine one without the other.' Nikki Grimes, award-winning author of Bronix Masquerade ' Shimmers with authenticity and the actual dynamics of the volatile world of street art and the insular nature of high art.' Ron English, street artist and culture jammer