Many families and communities in San Jose experience gang problems.  There are many different perspectives on what causes young people to join gangs and the best methods of prevention and intervention.  One way to understand this issue is through reading  a variety of material.  We have created a bibliography of resources available in the library to help you find useful information.

Personal Experience - Autobiography and Memoirs: 

• Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez
• East Side Dreams by Art Rodriguez
• Father Greg and the Homeboys by Celeste Fremon
• Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times by Luis J. Rodriguez
• Peace in the Streets: Breaking the Cycle of Gang Violence by Arturo Hernandez
• Voices from the Streets: Young Former Gang Members Tell Their Stories ed. by S. Beth Atkin

Informational Books

• Everything You Need to Know About Street Gangs By Evan Stark
• Gangs by Hal Marcovitz
• Gangs ed. by Peggy Daniels
• Gangs: Opposing Viewpoints ed. by Scott Barbour
• A World of Gangs:  Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture by John Hagedorn

Novels

• Locas by Yxta Maya Murray
• Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• Party Girl by Lynne Ewing
• Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

For Children

• Dangerous Dues: What You Need to Know About Gangs by Lauri S. Friedman
• Gangs and Your Neighborhood by Stanley "Tookie" Williams
• It Doesn't Have to be This Way:  A Barrio Story by Luis J. Rodriguez

Boomerang kids : a revealing look at why so many of our children are failing on their own, and how parents can help / Carl Pickhardt

Many young people college age and older are returning  live with parents at a time when they themselves, their parents and society expect them to be living on their own and economically and psychologically independent. Psychologist Carl Pickett, writer for Psychology Today’s weekly blog Surviving (Your Child’s) Adolescence, describes the period between 18-25 as trial independence. The challenges during this time include: missing home and family, managing increased freedom, flunking out of college, unemployment and losing a job, roommate problems, broken love relationships, substance abuse, indebtedness, stress, emotional crisis, fear of the future.  This easy to read book gives “parenting prescriptions“ summarizing actions that parents can take in supporting their children's recovery and strengthening their readiness to try again for independence. Also recommended for teachers and others who work with those in this last stage of adolescence.

We're still looking for more entries for our Teen Photo Contest! If you're 12-18 years old and like to take photos or are just beginning here is a contest just right for you! We're inviting teens to show us why they love the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library by taking a photo showing why this library is special to them! You can print out this PDF entry form and return it to the Children's Room at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library by April 30. There will be cool prizes so don't miss this chance to be a winner. The library has many books on basic photography to get you started or give you ideas. Be creative and take a chance!

Hello teensReachers!

Join us at our Luv Yr Library event - Berryessa Library, Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 3 pm - Group Study Room C.

teensReach group members engage in a fun activity: using the branch’s flip camera, the teens collaborate on a 3 minute video about

- Why they like their library?

- What makes it a special place for them and other teens?

Be creative! This is a great leadership project for teens to show creativity and create a useful video for the branch.

Not a teensReach member yet? Please join and start making a difference at your local library!