Too Young to Die: The Story of Jose

Rating:
Summary: Riveting! Intense! Emotional!
Review: "Too Young To Die" is written by Margot Webb, who lived with the reality of street gangs on a daily basis for years...in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

She worked to save children from the gangs' clutches. She had a gun held to her head by gang leaders. She was repeatedly targeted for gang violence. She had a series of undercover police officers assigned to protect her life.

Most important, Margot listened while the younger siblings of gang members poured out their hearts, told their terrible stories, and asked for help.

Margot's help included personal intervention but also publications like her bestselling "Coping With Street Gangs" (it's in every public and school library in California and they can't keep them in stock...every copy is lifted within 3 days!)

"Too Young To Die" is the lightly fictionalized story of a brave young Latino who got into a gang, then realized he had to get out. Just one problem: when you join a gang "family," they consider you their property for life.

The searing reality of Margot's personal experience with gangs and the stories she heard, saw, and lived, jumps off the pages at you. She's also a sensitive writer who can capture the confused, raging emotions of teens and younger kids...their fascination with the forbidden, their fear and confusion over the unknown...and most of all, their deep love and loyalty to each other.

Reading "Too Young To Die" is like plunging into the life of an L.A. neightborhood, walking the halls of its public schools, hearing the sights and sounds of the streets, and getting to know the people -- from the courage and determination of Jose, to the cunning seductiveness of gang leader Luis, to the powerful yet innocent religious faith of Jose's younger sister, and so many more. You will come to know these people. You will care about some of them, and be disturbed by others. You will turn the pages, wanting to know "what happens to them next?"

There is an unknown history behind this book. Margot tried to get it published by several big publishing companies. The editors ran up and down the halls, reading chapters to each other. They said it was one of the most gripping books they had ever read. They couldn't put it down.

But they couldn't, or wouldn't, publish it either. They said it was too violent for children. Too violent to read about it, but okay to live -- and die -- with it every day in L.A. schools? Bowing to political correctness, the editors feared "Too Young To Die" might be viewed as unfair to the Hispanic Community. An unfair portrait, written by a woman who worked so hard to learn flawless street Spanish so she could teach these kids? A woman who literally risked her life every day, to help as many as she could?

Decide for yourself. Maybe "Too Young To Die" is just too real for some people. But those who read it, will never forget it.

Rating:
Summary: New Inside.
Review: Margot Webb has come through which might be a bomb shell. Her book is reflecting the life and death in gangs. Obviously, she has an insight into what is going on in a world not known to us normally. The impact of these tragedies on our young people is impossible to exaggerate. The life style depicted is beyond comprehension for us regular readers. Young people at Middle School level should be exposed to these facts of life.

Rating:
Summary: New Inside.
Review: Margot Webb has come through which might be a bomb shell. Her book is reflecting the life and death in gangs. Obviously, she has an insight into what is going on in a world not known to us normally. The impact of these tragedies on our young people is impossible to exaggerate. The life style depicted is beyond comprehension for us regular readers. Young people at Middle School level should be exposed to these facts of life.