Author Description

"By the time Alicia Cass is fifteen, she is homeless, a high school dropout, and out of options. Turning to the only family she knows she can trust--after her own family and the foster care system leave her abused and broken--Cass joins a gang on the streets of Los Angeles. It's the 1980s--cocaine and gang violence are at an all-time high, and Cass soon finds herself in the eye of the storm, struggling for survival. Cass's memoir is rooted in courage and determination. It's a story that shows what it's like for one woman grappling with the perilous cycles of abuse. After a childhood buried under the emotional weight of abuse and fear, Cass emerges as a symbol of hope and the power of second chances. You will be inspired by her courage and touched by her eloquent honesty. This riveting memoir delves deep into the gripping account of life in a gang--when you don't know if you can even trust yourself--and the only family you know is the one you have found on the streets" --