You should definitely read this book. This book is a romantic gang book. If you are into gangs and romance then this is the book for you. This book shows you what it is like in that world. One day your a normal student living life, then next thing you know you are hanging with gangs, fighting, drugs, cops, and love. ( )

I really liked this book. If you’re into books about gangs and drugs this is the book for you. All I can say is that things will seem really good but then towards the ending you’re left with a big cliffhanger. I want a sequel to this book to find out what happened to the characters and if they ever got back together. It really shows how love can change a person especially in this story with people being jumped in and out of gangs and people beating each other up. If you don’t like books like what I have described then I wouldn’t recommend it. ( )

I really like this book! It talks all about gangs and how being in one can alter your life forever for either the better or worse. In Julia's case, it was almost always to the worse. The characters are all human, which may sound strange, but some authors aren't able to convey a proper sense of emotion and they come off cold. Allison Van Diepen doesn't have that problem. The ending of the book is also really unexpected and I like that about the book. There's a comical sadness to it. ( )

I see why my students wanted me to buy this -- it's a page-turner, it's full of drama and excitement, it feels "real." According to her website, Van Diepen didn't grow up around gangs herself, but she taught in Brooklyn and did her research.

That said, now that I've read it I don't feel comfortable keeping it in a middle school library. My students need to see the challenges of their urban lives reflected in books -- including gangs, drugs, and pressures to have sex -- and they need to have access to books that make them want to read. But a few scenes give me pause. For instance, at one point Julia learns that girls are inducted to the Crip girl gang by "fucking" a Crip. There's a whole discussion about who she'll pick, and then she's sent upstairs with her boyfriend to the dirty room the gang sets aside for this purpose. He's an absolute gentleman, proposing that they "mess up each other's hair" and pretend. The whole incident, and its implications, are so awful and so dark that I don't think I can in good conscience put that in front of 8th graders, even 8th graders who might already have this sort of story as part of their lives, without knowing we'll get to have a serious conversation about it later.

I need to find the books that deal with these issues, that feel edgy, but aren't quite this edgy. Already have all the [a:Sharon M. Draper|51942|Sharon M. Draper|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1236906847p2/51942.jpg], [a:Sharon G. Flake|69480|Sharon G. Flake|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1193783109p2/69480.jpg], and [a:Renée Watson|4381088|Renée Watson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png], and while they're great, they aren't always cutting it with my students -- I think largely because the covers are packaged for literary credit rather than edgy teen appeal. ( )

The book was addictive, compelling, and full of exciting and intriguing parts. I never thought that I’d get hooked on this book. I had read it for just one whole day, which is very seldom to happen to me.

“I don’t know what I would have done without my poetry. When you’re laid up and want to cry but don’t want to bust your stomach open, you have to find some way of venting your feelings” – Julia DiVino

The story revolves around this girl named Julia. She is studying in a school where gangs are everywhere. Joining one never occurred to her as she is too focused on her study. Being able to graduate and go to college is what she only thinks of. Even if her friends, Marie and Black Chuck, are members of those gangs, she never thinks of herself joining and becoming one of them. She is always on a neutral side. But, everything turned upside down when Eric came into the picture. She was able to make a decision that will change her stay in South Bay High School.

I liked Julia. She has this personality that you’ll find very amusing and very refreshing. She has this strong will and great determination. Aside from that, she is also smart. She always stands on her opinion as long as she knows she was right about it.

What I don’t really like about her is she seems not to care for her dad. She always talked back to him, and she even thought that he doesn’t care for her when it’s the opposite. She is lucky to have an understanding and loving father because, until the end, he was always there for her even when she got into a fight.

This book is amazing. Allison van Diepen did create a story that will keep you on turning the pages. The book talked about real life problems – father-daughter relationship, friendship, school gangs, etc. The characters were great. I felt that they were real and that I’m just reading someone’s life.

I suggest this book to everyone, especially if you liked stories that will keep your heart racing will make you feel different emotions and will make you want more. ( )