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Summary: A brutal glimpse into big city gang life
Review: For what this book is, it's absolutely great! This kid never had a chance from the get-go. Tho I don't condone the brutal murders & violence, Sanchez creates a disturbing picture of his survival from a very early age. With virtually no family whatsoever, he quickly climbed the ranks in gang life because of his survival on the streets of Chicago & not neccesarily cuz he wanted to or that he didn't know right from wrong. I live only a few blocks from where most of the story takes place. Although, a lot of these neighborhoods have cleaned up somewhat I still see & hear about a lot of what he describes. And it's not a pretty picture.He writes almost as we speak w/o using flashy vocabulary & the flow of his story makes you want to keep turning pages. I knocked this book out in just 3 days cuz I couldn't put it down. And the best part, IMO is how he indirectly tells you that this life is no path to follow. And how he discourages any young, would-be readers from this lifestyle & tells the reader the outcome of this lifestyle in a brutally honest fashion.
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Summary: Memories
Review: Good book. Maybe not from a literary point of view, but it definitely says it like it is. Rey Sanchez' story is really how it is (or used to be) in the streets of Chicago. Many of his characters totally remind me of people I used to know and hanged with back throughout the 80's and early 90's. Even the nicknames are too close for comfort. I finished the book in two days; that is how entertaining it was. Would I recommend it for educational purposes or to steer kids away from the banger life? No way. IMHO, I think it makes Rey's King years way too cool from a teen's point of view. I would go deeper into why I feel that way, but then I would have to give out too much of the story or the ending and you wouldn't want me to do that. Read it and make your own opinion. Chevere!
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Summary: BEST book I EVER read!!!
Review: Living in a neighborhood with Latin Kings, just like "Reymundo" I picked up the book and read it from reading the first page i was hooked. It took me about a month to read it, and enjoyed evry page of it! It's not like anything i ever read and was interesting because I could relate. VERY GOOD BOOK!
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Summary: Just Goes to Show, Our Kids Need Role Models
Review: Reymundo Sanchez is to be commended for truly telling it like it is. It is so sad to see our kids killing each other as the outside communities just go about their business. It only took me two days to read this book and I must admit I cried through many of his horrific experiences. The girl attempting to set him up; the rape; the beatings -- what a horrible life Reymundo had to live. I praise God that he was able to walk away from this before it was too late. This is definitely a book that should be required reading in every inner city high school. Too many of our young Latinos glamorize gangs without understanding the "hell" they are getting involved with. Too much potential, talent, and success is being thrown away by nuestra juventud who seek the streets for the love they don't feel they get at home. I go to church on Fullerton and Kedzie and think of Reymundo as I pass under the viaduct; as I walk across the street; as I park my car. It is truly heartbreaking that there was no one to reach out to Reymundo. To the Latino community I say, "please, these are our children -- we must all join hands and reach out to them." Only by pulling together will we save the future Reymundo's from looking to the gangs for love!!
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Summary: A Voice From the Hood.
Review: This is one great book. As I read it, many memories of my childhood on the southside of chicago came back. The life he writes about is true now as it was then. This book is surely a voice coming out of the hood. But as reymundo states in the first page, "Unfortunately the people who need to hear this message the most will probsbly never read this book." This book should be given to someone in the gang life to open the eyes of the kids who have taken the wrong road. It should be looked at not only as a story to read but also as a lesson to learn and teach to others. Because there are many scared youth today in the clutches of the gangs in all neighborhoods looking for a way out and all they need is a path to follow. I hope Mr. sanchez does not give up his dream of getting his degree. The book about that story will truely be even greater that the one about his past. It will teach the latino youth that we can achieve all our goals. I am close to receiving my degree and I know this is the best example I can set kids and other young latinos who have no postive role models to follow and admire. Don't quit trying mi hermano. ""AMOR"
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Summary: "loco"
Review: I enjoyed the book, MY BOODY LIFE by Raymundo Sanchez. The main character Lil Loco is trying to find his place in life. He was a little boy growing up in Puerto Rico. Later he moved to Chicago. It was hard for him to live there because of his race. There was much discrimination. He was scared to be alone so he started to hang out with different gangs and gang members. They helped him out if he ever had any trouble with anyone. He found lots of friends including those in the Latin Kings.He later became one and had to deal with murder, drug addictions, sex, gang violations. He even dealt with killing some one he used to get along with. I recommend this book to anyone who would even think about joining a gang.
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Summary: Best book I have ever read!
Review: WOW! I ABSOLUTLY HATE READING!!! I never read! But this book is incredible! I couldnt put the book down. Everything was so real. Kids get trapped into things like this everyday where I live and they dont even know what they are getting into. I highly recommend this book. Its easy to read, and its exciting and you just want to continue reading to see what happens next. I have just finished reading it and im about to start the second book by Reymundo Sanchez called "Once a King always a king" Deffinatly a great book!
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Summary: BEST book I EVER read!!!
Review: Living in a neighborhood with Latin Kings, just like "Reymundo" I picked up the book and read it from reading the first page i was hooked. It took me about a month to read it, and enjoyed evry page of it! It's not like anything i ever read and was interesting because I could relate. VERY GOOD BOOK!
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Summary: got to think about it twice
Review: well what i got to say stays between you and me, you see i live in chicago not so far from humble park moust of my cousins are kings and you know how people say sometimes you follow in to your family steps? well that is something that i was going to do, since i was little i never seen anything else but gangs. since i read the book it got me thinking of what i was about to do, about all the things that reymundo zanches had to go trough that is something that i don't whant to go throug.
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Summary: Teacher who suggest you read this
Review: Living in Wicker Park I am amazed by how many artist and yuppies are clueless about the lives still being led in adjacent Humboldt Park. Every teen and tween should read this book. I do believe it will deter many city kids who are enamoured by the Gang Life and others from joining. This life is hard and sad. Yes it gave him a sense of belonging and a bad way to rage but it is dead end. They should open up art and youth centers in WickerHumboldt Park to help these kids feel part of a normal community. Read this book it will make you take action or at least understand a city kids fascination with the gang culture.
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