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Book Recommendation

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way: A Barrio Story / No tiene que ser así: Una historia del barrio

It Doesn't Have To Be This Way is a compelling tale of a young boy's encounter with the world of gangs—a world that author Luis J. Rodríguez knows firsthand.
By: Luis Rodríguez & Daniel Galvez
Published: June 2023

Monchi likes to write poems, hang out with his cousin Dreamer, and tell stories to his uncle, Tío Rogelio. Then one day, a member of the local gang tells him it's time to join up. "But first you have to prove yourself," he says.



Monchi is scared but excited. He writes his name on the school wall, steals a bike, and buys a knife. The older boys give him a handshake, girls talk to him, and even teachers are afraid of him. But when a tragic event changes everything, Monchi must make an important decision.

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