Homeboyz

Homeboyz
Author: Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2018-12-04
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1423140184

Alan Lawrence Sitomer writes a compelling story of piecing together a life after a devastating loss--when the threat of violence lurks at every step. When Teddy Anderson's little sister Tina is gunned down randomly in a drive-by shooting, the gangstas who rule the streets in the Anderson family's rapidly deteriorating neighborhood dismiss the incident as just another case of wrong place, wrong time. According to gangsta logic, Tina doesn't even count as a statistic. After his elaborately laid plans for revenge against his sister's killer are foiled by the cops. Teddy soon finds himself in and then out of prison on house arrest, into the hands of Officer Mariana Diaz, the smart, tough probation officer assigned to oversee his endless hours of community service. As part of the innovative rehabilitation program Diaz runs, Teddy is assigned to tutor Micah, a twelve-year-old orphan and would-be gansta. As Teddy goes through the motions of complying with the terms of his probation, Diaz has no idea that he is using his genius-level computer hacker skills to plot his final vengeance and to defraud the state education system of hundreds of thousands of dollars. But even though Teddy thinks he knows it all, he fails to see how Micah's desperate need for love and trust just might have the power not only to pierce all Teddy's defenses, but to save his family.

Bronxwood

Bronxwood
Author: Coe Booth
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Total Pages: 338
Release: 2011-09-01
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 054533246X

The acclaimed author of TYRELL and KENDRA returns to PUSH to continue Tyrell's astonishing story.Tyrell's father is just out of jail, and Tyrell doesn't know how to deal with that. It's bad enough that his brother Troy is in foster care and that his mother is no help whatsoever. Now there's another thing up in his face, just when he's trying to settle down. Tyrell's father has plans of his own, and doesn't seem to care whether or not Tyrell wants to go along with them. Tyrell can see the crash that's coming -- with his dad, with the rest of his family, with the girls he's seeing -- but he's not sure he can stop it. Or if he even wants to.

The Hoopster

The Hoopster
Author: Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Publisher: Jump At The Sun
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2006-02-28
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 9780786849109

Andre Anderson is an African American teenager with a bright future. He loves to play basketball. He loves to hang out with his friends. He loves to laugh. Andre has skills, brains, and heart. He also has a dream. Then he is viciously attacked. Now everything he ever believed about the world has been called into question. Even his deadly jump shot. How can a man get up when he has been unjustly beaten down? Andre is about to find out. Andre is The Hoopster.

The Homeboy Way

The Homeboy Way
Author: Thomas Vozzo
Publisher: Loyola Press
Total Pages: 228
Release: 2022-02-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0829454578

2023 Illumination Book Awards Gold Medalist, Inspirational 2023 Independent Press Awards Distinguished Favorite, Business - Motivational 2023 Catholic Media Association Book Awards, Honorable Mention, Catholc Social Teaching Leading with heart, authenticity and purpose, Thomas Vozzo provides a clear path to a new bottom line—including 55 rules to break—bringing the Homeboy Way to life as the perfect anecdote to the massive tidal currents of social injustice and inequities. By every traditional measurement of success, Vozzo was a clear winner. In his world of billion-dollar revenues and million-dollar profits, he knew exactly what shareholders wanted and how to get it for them. Then, through a series of fateful events, Vozzo landed as CEO of Homeboy Industries, the most successful gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the country, founded by Jesuit priest Greg Boyle. “I arrived at Homeboy at a time when I needed to learn more about myself and my life’s journey,” Vozzo writes. “And after 8 years of working with the poor, forgotten, and demonized people of our society, I’ve come to learn that I didn’t really know as much about life as I thought.” Vozzo’s enlightening journey leads to his recognition that a radical approach is needed in business and in life: “What Homeboy has taught me is that we need to do business differently . . . . We need to bust up the system, swim upstream, avoid herd mentality.” Blending personal stories of his day-to-day with Fr. Greg and the Homies along with counterintuitive business ideas that are changing lives for the better, Vozzo shows you how you can live, lead, and shake things up with toughness, determination, compassion, and grit. That’s the Homeboy Way. 100% of author royalties go to support the mission of Homeboy Industries.

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez
Author: Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2018-12-04
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1423140192

Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States, but her parents are Mexican immigrants who came to California before she was born. Her father has three Social Security numbers, her mother is pregnant (again), and neither of them speaks English. Sonia's mother spends most of her time in bed, watching soap operas, and letting Sonia clean up after her brothers. Sonia's father works dutifully to support his family, but he knows that his daughter's dreams are bigger than making tamales for family get-togethers. When Sonia attempts to put school work before her familia, her mother decides that it's time for Sonia to visit her grandmother in Mexico to learn "the ways of the old world." While in Mexico, Sonia gets to know her wise grandmother and her cousin Maria, who teach her that while familia is important, the most important thing is to follow your heart. Sonia returns to the States determined to succeed in school, but the birth of her new twin siblings, inappropriate advances from her drunk uncle (Drunkle), and a forbidden relationship with an El Salvadorian boy push school to the back burner. If only Sonia can find the time to cook dinner, secretly meet with her boyfriend, avoid her Drunkle, AND finish her homework, she just might be able to graduate from high school. . . .

Snitch

Snitch
Author: Allison van Diepen
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2013-09-03
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1442490314

Lines are clearly marked at South Bay High School. It’s mixed territory for the Crips and the Bloods, which means the drama never stops. Julia DiVino wants none of it. No colors, no C-Walks— it’s just not her thing. But when Eric Valienté jumps into her life, everything changes. Lines are redrawn. And then they’re crossed.

I Hunt Killers

I Hunt Killers
Author: Barry Lyga
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Total Pages: 285
Release: 2012-04-03
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 031620174X

The first book in this thrilling, terrifying series by New York Times bestselling author Barry Lyga is perfect for fans of Dexter. It was a beautiful day. It was a beautiful field. Except for the body. Jazz is a likable teenager. A charmer, some might say. But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, "Take Your Son to Work Day" was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminals' point of view. And now, even though Dad has been in jail for years, bodies are piling up in the sleepy town of Lobo's Nod. Again. In an effort to prove murder doesn't run in the family, Jazz joins the police in the hunt for this new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows? From acclaimed author Barry Lyga comes a riveting thriller about a teenager trying to control his own destiny in the face of overwhelming odds.

Nerd Girls: A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions

Nerd Girls: A Catastrophe of Nerdish Proportions
Author: Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2012-07-31
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1423178084

Since their highly-contested battle over the middle school talent show, the Nerd Girls and the ThreePees have been engaged in an all-out prank war. So naturally, their principal decides that they must compete in the academic septathlon--as a team. Can they come together and win, or will their squabbles ruin everything?

Daddies Do It Different

Daddies Do It Different
Author: Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2015-06-04
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1484745795

Daddy sure doesn't do things the way Mommy does! Just in time for Father's Day, this hilarious picture book takes a high-spirited look at the way dads put their own spin on different parts of a child's life -- from going to a birthday party to bathtime. Alan Sitomer's debut picture book is inspired by his own experiences as a father and winningly complemented with delightful art by Abby Carter.

The Downside of Being Up

The Downside of Being Up
Author: Alan Sitomer
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 135
Release: 2011-09-15
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1101535652

Thirteen-year-old Bobby Connor is a normal adolescent boy--at least he hopes he is--just trying to survive middle school. But it seems he's being foiled at every turn, and even his own body is conspiring against him. And when his math teacher is seriously injured from the shock and fright of witnessing just how out of control Bobby's changing adolescent body is getting, he starts to worry he's anything but normal. Faced with expulsion from school for violating the student handbook code, Bobby opts for therapy--Correctional Erectional Therapy. It's official: Bobby Connor is not normal. But in this uproarious and heartfelt novel, he's going to do his darndest to make it seem that he is . . . or maybe just try to make it through middle school.