Customer Reviews

East Side Dreams

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Art Rodriguez takes us to jail with him so that we never need to go. He sits us next to him in his cell with nothing left to do but sit and remember. We try with him to connect the memories to being imprisoned, but there is no connection at all.

Although Art had an abusive father, he never once cites this as a reason for his violent behavior. He was a kid that made poor choices and got what he deserved. He blames no one but himself, and it is with this realization of responsibility that Art turns his life around. He went from street punk to a successful business man, a supportive father and an award winning author. He shows us that people can change and that bad mistakes are not the end of your life unless you allow them to be. Art Rodriguez is the silent roll model all troubled children are looking for.

This book is a great experience for audiences young and old. Buy it and read it.

I couldnt put it down! The language is simple ... and while reading it I kept thinking ... wow the editor didnt do a good job cleaning it up ... but after a few chapters I realized ... it was PERFECT the way it is. Art's life story could only be written in his words. It needs to be written in his style; it is the only way we can truly appreciate what he has done with his life. He has taken an empty vessel and made it into a fullness the rest of us can only dream of achieving! His story is truly an inspiration for ALL young people everywhere regardless of nationality.

East Side Dreams is the debut book and memoir Art Rodriguez, of a Latino American who survived growing up on the rough side, at odds with a dictatorial father, and once an inmate of the California Youth Authority -- a prison system for young lawbreakers. Reflections on both happy and miserable times of his childhood, growing up, learning maturity and finally making a comfortable life for himself fill this heartfelt and revealing personal testimony. Highly recommended reading for young adults, East Side Dreams has justly earned the distinctions of being named the "Best First Book of the Latino Literary Hall of Fame", and has been honored as one of 200 Best Teenage Books in the United States by the New York Public Library System.

Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine October 2002 VOYA
Growing up in San Jose, California, Arturo Rodriguez and his brothers and sister endured an abusive father, their parents' unhappy marriage, and their father's absence after he returned to Mexico. Rodriguez coped as best he could, but his drinking and drug use, in the wrong place at the wrong times led to his incarceration in California's prison system for young offenders. Against all odds, he put his past behind him, married and had a family, and worked hard to overcome injustices and start a successful business. After his retirement Rodriguez began writing about his life and his family. This book is sequel to East Side Dreams (Dream House, 2001, published in Spanish as Sueños del Lado Este. In this second autobiographical book, he writes about childhood pranks and misdeeds, his mother's near fatal illness, his parent's divorce, the birth of his first child, and how his parents even eventually became friends.
The writing here is unpolished but sincere in true, and the reminiscences and descriptions are vivid and true to life. Neither how he grew to understand his father and other relatives whom he loved despite their flaws. His message for young readers is clear. It is possible to survived and overcome injustices and hardships. Rodriguez maintains a Web site at www EastSideDreams. com and invites readers to visit, view his picture alum, and perhaps send him an e-message. He will answer.-Sherry York Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine

The Midwest Book Review. May 7, 2002
East Side Dreams by Art Rodriguez is full of energy and the struggles that the author himself endured while growing up on the east side of San Jose, California in 1966.
I enjoyed reading this inspirational novel derived from the memories of a teenager who is now a mature and successful businessman.
East Side Dreams has been translated into Spanish to reach the Spanish speaking population in the United States.
As I read the troubling times of Art Rodriguez I couldn't relate to many of his predicaments, but I certainly felt compassion toward him and thanked God for my "normal" life. Mr. Rodriguez touches your heart as you read his passionate book of self-taught lessons.
As you read East Side Dreams, which captures the hopelessness of growing up with an unpleasant childhood, keep in mind that this life drove the author to his true passion-writing!
The author, Art Rodriguez has been honored by the New York Library System to be on the "2001 Books for Teenage List" for his book East Side Dreams. He was also given "The Mariposa Award-Best First Book" at the Latino Literary Hall of fame for this same book. Bravo! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and encourage young readers to read it, as there are plenty to learn from this book. It will bring tears to your eyes.

James A. Cox
Editor-in -Chief
The Midwest Book Review.

My son who is 21 came home with this book and said Mom you have got to read this book it is so good. So I said o.k. mejio let me read it! When I started to ready it it brought back so many memories (I grew up in the East Side of San Jose) and most of the things he was talking about I lived it. I laughed and cried and could not put down the book. This is a great book for all ages. After I got done reading it I gave it to my Father to read and he enjoyed it too.

Excellent book, well organized and keeps the reader's attention with multiple smaller stories that tie into the big picture. Great for high school and college students, as well as adults!

East Side Dreams is a book you have to read! Living in East San Jose, Art Rodriguez had a lot of friends in his teenage years that were rebels. He was a rebel too. Part of the way he behaved was due to his aggressive father. He got hit a lot when he was a little boy. He had many wild, scary, crazy, enjoyable experiences as he grew up. Some memorable moments in the book were when; his father pushed him to start fighting with older guys; a group of his friends ran over someone with a car during a big fight and left burned rubber in his stomach; his baby-sister forced him to eat ants in this cereal; and when he was in jail he sniffed so much glue that minutes later he got violently sick and vomited. As the years went by he started to straighten up and he lived his life as a responsible adult. Although his father was aggressive with him as a young boy, he learned to love his father very much. Before we read the book, we invited him to come to our school to speak. It was a very awesome experience. It created a lot of motivation for us to read his book! Fatima Vazquez and Leslie Paco from East Palo Alto, CA

I'm from San Jose, so I appreciated the book's local orientation, but it's a story that everyone will enjoy. Rodriquez takes us back to a time when San Jose, "capital of Silicon Valley", was a city of canneries and country roads. He uses nicely layered flashbacks to show us his memory of getting into trouble, moving in and out with family, and settling down into his own business. His relationship with his father, honestly reflected upon, helps us to understand his choices and youthful misbehavior.

A great read!