This book is mainly written for teachers to help them better understand students from difficult backgrounds, but it's conversational style makes it an excellent tool for teaching students about these issues. A great book to use in a social studies class or to pair with a book on social justice. The book tells the story of a teacher who attempts to teach two different groups of students that belong to gangs. He describes his conversations with them in and out of school and how he comes to understand their world view and how this impacts their ideas about education and the world beyond their neighborhood. Their input provides and inside look at what life is like for students in low-income, stereotyped neighborhoods and what teachers can to do help them succeed despite the many roadblocks they encounter.

This text is about a teacher and his students. Its filled with stories about the teachers experiences as well as his interactions with his students outside of the class room and in the future.

This would be an appropriate text for future teachers because it gives different perspectives on issues that many teacher face daily. There are stories of inspiration, defeat, and happiness, that all teachers can learn from and mimic in there own career.