Customer Reviews

Two Badges: The Lives of Mona Ruiz

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a young adult in Santa Ana,California, I could totally relate to most of the things Mona Ruiz wrote in her book. I loved it because just by reading it she made me feel close to her and made me realize even more that there is a way out of that lifestyle,I'm almost there. I was never in a gang like her but I associate with that way of living. I hope she writes more books because I would buy them. I like that she writes about the way the gang life is, it's all true, but there is also more that is behind the lifestyle. Hopefully you will read and enjoy it.

I am an English teacher at Santa Ana Valley High School, in Santa Ana, CA. Ms Ruiz spoke at Valley several years ago. Her presentation was as memorable as her book, "Two Badges." I bought three copies the day of her presentation, I have since bought ten more. My students love the book. Young men and young women, alike. They relate, and it is such a strong story with a postive, true life ending. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on your view) these books do not make it back to my room after being checked out. I am down to three copies. In a way I am happy, in that I know the books are in contiuous use, they are getting passed around to friends. Cool. It is just that I can not afford to buy a bunch more books for my kids this fall.

This book is one of the best books that I have ever read. I recommend anybody to read this book, especially the girls out there that are struggling through life and are involved in the gangs. This is a very touching story and Mona tells it like it is, the way that most teenagers out there may not see it until after they may read this book. This book didn't just open my eyes more to whats out there it made me believe more in myself and know that I can do anything and never to give up Like Mona I grew up in Santa Ana and I've been through a lot. Now that I've read her book made me realize that I can even write my own book and I know that I can do it. Hopefully it can help kids see how hard life is out there in the gangs and think twice about what they may be doing out there right now. I know that a book can't change a human being but hopefully it can help them see life different. The way it really is.

Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It's really entertaining & the fact that it's non fiction makes it even better. I'm sure Mona is doing a great job as a cop as she knows how to treat all people respectfully, since she's been on the other side of the law, growing up. This is why she gains respect from the people in the streets as well. More cops need to realize that in order to get respect, they have to give it.
C/S

Mona Ruiz is an inspiration, someone both young men and women can relate to, who sees herself and the world she lives in as honestly as possible. This book, written with reporter Greg Boucher, is actually the best written and most fairminded I have read about the gang lifestyle and someone who overcame great obstacles to turn her life around, ultimately using her former life as a gang banger to her advantage as a fine policewoman. I admire her and am happy for her as she continues to try to make her old barrio a better place. As a middle/high school librarian in a school with a number of students who are fascinated by gangs, I am delighted to have found this book and will recommend it to ALL our students. Be safe, Mona.

This is a really good book to have a teenages read, I read it just because and I liked it so much that I gave it to my little sister to read who then passed it on to her friends.

This book was required when I took one of my college classes. After reading it I knew why. The book offers an inside look into the life of a young woman, hispanic and in a gang. She struggles with many obstacles and in the end pulls herself through. The book is not only inspirational but it is also a demonstration of triumph in spite of obstacles! I give it Five stars and hope that more people can get to reading this book. Maybe instead of requiring it as a college course they should offer it in Junior high's and High Schools. This is the kind of book that should be read.

I had to read this book for a class, I never thought i'd enjoy it. I couldn't put it down. This book is one of the best books i've ever read. I'm glad a chicana can overcome so much. A+ for mona!

Mona Ruiz paints a touching story of a young womens struggle to overcome the difficulties of her background to achieve her goal of becoming a police officer. A real eye opener, I strongly recommend this book for someone who needs a role model. Well done!

I must say that it has been a long time coming that I have wanted to comment personally to the writer..I'm sure someday soon I will. I will first start by saying that I will agree with another reviewer on this board in saying kudos to Mona Ruiz for overcoming all that she has endured or encountered in her lifetime to accomplish all that she has. That is not in question for me, I don't doubt that any or all of it is true. What I do have a problem with is that in writing this book, she did not take in to consideration her family...the ones she wrote about and the ones who she doesn't even know personally. She lost me after the beginning of the book where she said "names were changed"...Mona you should be ashamed of yourself. You don't know me and I'm sure you didn't think of how this might effect me. You spoke about someone I love dearly and exploited his name. I have struggled with the strong emotions I feel about this book and you because of that. By exploiting your family, you lost the power your story has...at least for me. Of course people who have no ties to characters written about in this book find it very interesting, as they should..but to me..well let's just say I find it to be quite a low blow. Sorry that you felt your own personal story wasn't enough, and that you had to bring in stories of other's personal lives (without permission)...and sad that you are profiting from the exploitation of them. Just so you know, you could have written the same story and actually "change the names" of people you wrote about...