Boy Without a Flag: Tales of the South Bronx

Rating:
Summary: Tales of the South BX
Review: I was kind of disappointed after reading this book...First of all I dont know why this book was connected with the South Bronx...the stuff in the book could've happened an any urban community/ghetto...and his writing style made it hard for me to get into a reading groove. it was a pretty quick read, 1 or 2 sittings, but I found myself getting bored so many times. Sometimes Rodriguez spent so much time describing the area that you never really get a chance to connect with the character. The best stories, I think, were Shortstop and the Lotto...Overall its a good read if you aren't easily distracted

Rating:
Summary: Casualties of urban life
Review: The sordid lives of children growing up too fast in a wasteland.
There is no regeneration or hope of escape available to these kids hardened by the necessity of defending themselves in the ghetto. No parents guide and comfort these children as they introduce each other to sex without love, violence and drugs. In these short stories of growing up in the South Bronx Rodriguez pinpoints the casualties of the worst ghettos. And he does it with a style and voice that transport the reader into these children's lives. After this sojourn the reader will emerge shocked, angry and with a new sympathy for the so-called "at-risk" youth of urban life.