I read it 20 years ago, or so and I think it was new-ish then. It took place in NYC and a girl lost her parents. Maybe she was living somewhere else and lost them and then had to move to the city to live with another relative? There was this odd group that was like a gang that lived on the streets and I forgot what they were called, but they were like the worst of the worst. They were nocturnal and seemed to not care about anybody or anything. She was warned to stay as far away from them as possible. Anyhow, through a series of events that I can’t remember, the girl, at the end of the book, ends up one of these gang members who live on the streets. The copy I had was hardcover and light blue with no paper jacket. I think that the title was a quote of some sort? At the time I was into gritty urban books and this one was given to me. Thanks for any help!