Customer Reviews

Gangs and Violence (Tookie Speaks Out Against Gang Violence)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My second grader just read this book to me. I think the book teaches many excellent lessons about why gangs and violence are not good. There are valuable examples any caring parent would appreciate teaching a child. Tookie writes that he made many mistakes growing up and wishes he could undo many of them. He regrets he ever founded the Crips and admits he was bully. I recommend this book to any parent who'd like to keep his/her child out of gangs or using violence as a solution.

I also work with high-risk youth, and I purchased a complete set of Tookie's books. At first I was surprised that the book are written in such an elementary style--very simple and direct. I was afraid that the young people who would read them might feel "talked down to." But it hasn't been that way at all--they have found the books perfectly reasonable, often *because* they lack the educational skill to process a more complex treatment, to be honest. The books do not stereotype gang members (and since when would "too many negative stereotypes" be a bad thing? Should we give teens a book that offers POSITIVE stereotypes of gangs? Teens already get PLENTY of that from gangsta media). Tookie describes the mentality that makes a gang attractive, why power and control are so alluring, and how he has learned to overcome the seduction of aggressive power.

It seems that the so-called reviewers in this space are not real reviewers but people who want to condemn the man who's already condemned for his violent past. He has paid the price. He's dead. Tookie sought redemption and part of that was to keep others from entering the life of gangs. This book and others he wrote talk to kids before they enter gang life. They are heartfelt and come from the mind and heart of one who lived it, who knew it as the rest of us never could.

Tookie finally got over his own anger. He knew what he did, and he tried to do things to help others. The books are part of that.

How do you get a gang member or potential gang member to read a book?? If troubled youth don't really care for books, how was Tookie really reaching them?

My mom has worked in south central libraries for 25 years. We saw gangmembers doing many things, but I cannot say that reading was one of them. In fact as I recall from school days many had reading difficulties, poor vocabulary, and inability to concentrate......

On top of that, Tookie himself said if someone had approached him with books like these, as a young person, he probably would have rejected them..........are books the right medium?

I find it interesting that the author would make such a wonderful effort to help children, after having murdered parents. I wonder if he sent autographed free copies to the children of the people he murdered.

I also find it interesting, that in over 20 years on death row, he was only able to write a handful of "children's books".

That these books would find their way into our public school systems, where this man takes on the role of Martyr and Folk Hero, speaks volumes about our schools.

The book is as shallow as the man who wrote it.

I have not yet had the privlege to read any of the books written by this man Stan Tookie Williams, but i see alot of negative feedback twards him. I beleive that most people are ignorant to the fact about gangs, because they know nothing of gangs. The man was charged with the murder of four people which is hanous in itself, but how many more did he save by acting out against his past. We all make mistakes, if a man is able to congregate thousands of youth to follow down a violent path, then what better person is there to act against that violent path. Perhaps people who actualy have to face the reality of gang bangin have a different view on the matter, but who are children going to listen to, someone who has never witnessed gang bangin , or someone who has seen the carnage first hand. Respect the man and his asperations as well as his literary works, theres not many people out there trying to stop the cival war that this country is currenlty being plauged with. Thank You

I am a gang and youth violence expert working with the San Diego County Office of Education, Safe Schools Unit. I have alerted many of our schools about the series of books by Stanley "Tookie" Williams. I do not recommend the purchase of this book. The content of the books are not appropriate for young people. The images of gangs are not accurate (Too much negative sterotyping). The book is written in a simplistic style that will quickly bore young students. Youth need to critically examine information not be talked down to. You may email me for alternate suggestions for gang prevention books for youth.