Chapter Three Summary

Gunnar and his family have moved to a West Los Angeles neighborhood named Hillside. It is a neighborhood at the bottom of a hill. The Hillside neighborhood is composed of low-income families. At the top of the hill is Cheviot Heights, a neighborhood composed of wealthy, mostly white residents.

After the family has lived in their new residence a week, two police officers visit for no reason other than to warn Gunnar about illegal activities. They ask Gunnar if he is affiliated with any gang. Gunnar thinks the question is absurd since he has not lived there long enough to make any friends, let alone join a gang. To show his contempt but without the officers realizing it, Gunnar says that on weekends he is involved with the Gang of Four.

Gunnar and his sisters are subject to daily beatings by...