"...Mantarakis does a skillful job of setting the background for the profound changes Nick eventually makes in his life. Nick's experiences in the streets of New York shape him into a savvy, resourceful young man. The author, who also hails from The Big Apple, makes good use of his own background in crafting this well-developed story of one boy's perilous journey to adulthood."

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Another professional review of CityRats, written January 2005, had this to say:

"...As his first foray into fiction, the author displays a fine sense of word play and dramatic turn of phrase... Visual, smart, and hooky...A nice debut and an author worth watching." ."

To read the review in its entirety, click on this link.