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First Blood [Paperback]

Johnny Russell (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Price: $16.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Book Description

April 15, 2009
In the novel First Blood, one family is caught up in the never-ending cycle of gang violence after seeking a fresh start in Los Angeles, California. Ever since he was a small boy in Texas, Rodney ?Neon? Robinson always called the shots. But when his newly-single mother moves him and his six siblings to southern California, their new life introduces them to more than a new urban existence. Twelve-year-old troubled Neon falls victim to the streets and becomes incarcerated, spending the better portion of his adolescent life inside the Los Angeles criminal justice system where he discovers the beginnings of a new family?the Bloods. Neon manages to slip under the radar of law enforcement while slowly building a loyal following, beginning with his cellmate. When he finally emerges from prison, Neon spawns one of the gravest epidemics of modern life: the curse of modern gang violence. As the Bloods and the Crips begin a vicious rivalry like no other, another heartbreaking story is taking place behind the scenes as Neon?s family suffers the devastating results that come from a young man?s choices in a city that shows no mercy.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 264 pages
  • Publisher: iUniverse (April 15, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 059550387X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0595503872
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,478,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Johnny has faithfully served the city of San Diego for more than 30 years as a Professional Law Enforcement Officer. In the interim he has published several articles in the SDPD and SDPOA publications.

He is a licensed pilot, and has a brown belt in the art of Shotokan karate. He also holds a patent for a sealed mailbox invention called, Prismmailbox.com. He is single with three adult children.

His book FIRST BLOOD inspired by true events, is an AWARD WINNING NOVEL, receiving its honors in the 2008 PSWA Writing Competition. "The novel's chief virtue is it's vigorous and pungent" says Kirkus Discoveries. FIRST BLOOD is now a screenplay. Visit http://studios.amazon.com/users/13945
See a preview of the movie and download the script. Please leave a review.

FIRST BLOOD Synopsis - While many Americans remember the 1960s as the era of peace, love and flower power, in many urban neighborhoods something quite different was happening - the rise of violent and deadly street gangs.

Johnny is excited, deeply humbled and honored that THE RISE, his screenplay for his novel FIRST BLOOD won the 2011 PSWA first place award. That's two first place screenplays two years in a row. See his pitch for a T.V. Pilot at: http://johnnyrussellwriter.blogspot.com/

All new from Johnny Russell, writer and double screenplay award winner!


 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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4 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Done Johnny!, May 23, 2009
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This review is from: First Blood (Hardcover)
Awesome book! It flows nicely and the descriptions give the reader a clear mental picture of all the characters and scenes. I recommend this book and cant wait for Johnny to write the screenplay,so I can watch the movie!!!!
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4.0 out of 5 stars Is Blood Thicker Than Water?, April 12, 2010
This review is from: First Blood (Hardcover)
Rodney "Neon" Robinson has always been a natural born leader. But he is introduced to a whole new life when his single mother moves him and his six siblings from Texas to California. Despite his mother's best efforts, Neon fell victim to the streets and spends more time in the Los Angeles criminal system than at home. Unfortunately, Neon finds a new family in the form of the infamous street gang known as the Bloods. Neon's affiliation with his new street family will spell nothing but disaster for the rest of his real family at home.

Johnny Russell brought a thought-provoking tale with First Blood. Russell shows how disastrous it can be when the dynamic of the African-American family unit is disrupted. Although Neon's mother tried to do her best to keep him and his brothers off the streets, she clearly needed Neon's father to step up to the plate. Russell also did a good job of showing the formation of the Bloods and the Crips. This book really illustrates how street gangs are still a deadly problem in our society. First Blood is a good debut novel full of life lessons.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert for Urban Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF INNER-CITY GANGS, April 2, 2010
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This review is from: First Blood (Paperback)
JOHNNY RUSSELL has drawn deep from his memories as a young man.

His descriptive words paint a vivid picture of a part of America's youth caught up in drugs and hatred, promulgated by a total lack of good parenting, lack of compassion by teachers, lack of direction and spiritual guidance. It is a road where taking the fork one way lands the kid in prison, or if he (she) chooses the other fork, he (she) ends up on a cold steel table in the Medical Examiner's autopsy room. JOHNNY RUSSELL's experience, both as a young man, who with the enduring love and guidance of his Mother, was one of the fortunate. Instead of spending time in prison as two of his brothers, he chose a career in Law Enforcement. As next to the youngest of nine children, he witnessed the pain and anguish his mother sufferd from a phliandering husband, whom she loved deeply, and then another man who broke her heart again. His mother was determined to raise her children to be good people, and she succeeded with Johnny Russell. His oldest brother, Neon was the founder of the "BLOODS" Gang in Los Angeles, later joined by another brother, RAP. As leaders of the "BLOODS", the brothers lead a fast paced life of dealing drugs, gang wars with another gang, the "CRIPS" and mulitple murders. This book is a facinating read, it jolts the reader into the truth about the vulnerability of todays youth in America who are at risk of falling into the vioence of gangs and drugs. I know that as a Police Officer, JOHNNY RUSSELL, without question made an impact and saved more than just one kid from following in his older brother's path of self-destruction.
I highly recommend this novel and hope Mr. Russell continues his new career as an Author. I would love to read about his career with the San Diego Police Department.
in my opinion, Johnny Russell's debut novel is a MUST READ.

MICHEL PHELPS
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