This autobiographical narrative describes the early life of Luis J. Rodriguez, a journalist and poet who was immersed in the youth gang culture of Los Angeles (California). Framed by the story of the pull of the gang life for the poet's son, it recounts his experiences from his childhood on the United States-Mexico border through his family's arrival in California and his troubled childhood and teenage years. Rodriguez witnessed countless acts of violence, but found that education and involvement in community activities provided a way out of the gang and away from street violence. The influence of a dedicated youth program leader was a major factor in the ability of Rodriguez to escape the gang culture. The memoir explores the motivations of gang members and depicts the factors that hold gangs together. (SLD)