Books with author Luisa Rodriguez

The award-winning and bestselling classic memoir about a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles, now featuring a new introduction by the author.Winner of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, hailed as a New York Times notable book, and read by hundreds of thousands, Always Running is the searing true story of one man’s life in a Chicano gang—and his heroic struggle to free himself from its grip.By age twelve, Luis Rodriguez was a veteran of East Los Angeles gang warfare. Lured by a seemingly invincible gang culture, he witnessed countless shootings, beatings, and arrests and then watched with increasing fear as gang life claimed friends and family members. Before long, Rodriguez saw a way out of the barrio through education and the power of words and successfully broke free from years of violence and desperation. Achieving success as an award-winning poet, he was sure the streets would haunt him no more—until his young son joined a gang. Rodriguez fought for his child by telling his own story in Always Running, a vivid memoir that explores the motivations of gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevitably claim its participants.At times heartbreakingly sad and brutal, Always Running is ultimately an uplifting true story, filled with hope, insight, and a hard-earned lesson for the next generation.

Luis Rodriguez, author of the award-winning and bestselling classic memoir Always Running, chronicles his harrowing journey from a drugged-out gang member to one of the most revered figures in Chicano literature.Hundreds of thousands of readers came to know Luis J. Rodriguez through his fearless classic, Always Running, which chronicled his early life as a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles. The long-awaited follow-up, It Calls You Back is the equally harrowing story of Rodriguez starting over, at age eighteen, after leaving gang life—the only life he really knew.The book opens with Rodriguez’s final stint in jail as a teenager and follows his struggle to kick heroin, renounce his former life, and search for meaningful work. He describes with heartbreaking honesty his challenges as a father, and his difficulty leaving his rages and addictions completely behind. Even as he breaks with “la vida loca” and begins to discover success as a writer and an activist, Rodriguez finds that his past—the crimes, the drugs, the things he’d seen and done—has a way of calling him back. When his oldest son is sent to prison for attempted murder, Rodriguez is forced to confront his shortcomings as a father, and to acknowledge how and why his own history is repeating itself, right before his eyes.Deeply insightful and beautifully written, It Calls You Back is an odyssey through love, addiction, revolutions, and healing.

SELF IDENTITY ROOTED IN CHRIST: It is important that girls grow to have a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in Christ. “A Royal Mission” was created with that purpose in mind. Through striking illustrations and a captivating plot, girls learn about their God-given purpose, how much they are loved, and what it means to serve the King.PERSONALIZATION: In this children’s book, the reader has the chance to become part of the story. She is asked to insert her name into the pages of the book, making her the protagonist. THE PLOT: Her journey begins in a perfect kingdom as a beautiful princess, but she is soon interrupted by a messenger from the King's court who tells her the King wishes to see her. Upon arriving at the palace, the King tasks her with an important mission to a lost world and explains the difficulties she will encounter. The story then weaves through images of her life in the lost world, the details of her mission, and the circumstances of her return to paradise. It is only at the end that girls learn that this loving, powerful King is Jesus. A "FAIRYTALE" ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL: Little girls dream of kings, queens, and princesses in faraway lands and this book uses that to help girls understand who Jesus is. “A Royal Mission, therefore, portrays Jesus as a regal and powerful King reminiscent of modern-day fairytales, but with the gospel message at its core. It is a book that captures little girls’ hearts and helps them see Jesus for who He is, the King of kings. This allegorical story will help budding princesses understand their role and purpose in God’s overarching plan. It is beloved by children and parents alike. It is also an ideal book to introduce girls to Jesus for the first time. CULTURAL DIVERSITY: As a Hispanic woman, the author was intentional in illustrating characters that would reflect people of various racial backgrounds. Her desire is that girls, regardless of their background, could see themselves in the story and know how truly special they are to the King. ENGAGEMENT: The book also includes discussion questions at the end to help girls make the connection between this story and the Biblical record.ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Luisa Rodriguez is a prolific writer and illustrator with a passion for helping girls find their purpose and develop a positive self-image. She is a former pre-K Sunday school teacher and youth leader. Luisa aims to find creative ways to teach girls Biblical concepts in an easy to understand formats. She is inspired by her own two daughters, self-proclaimed warrior-princesses.

Luis Rodriguez, author of the award-winning and bestselling classic memoir Always Running, chronicles his harrowing journey from a drugged-out gang member to one of the most revered figures in Chicano literature.Hundreds of thousands of readers came to know Luis J. Rodriguez through his fearless classic, Always Running, which chronicled his early life as a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles. The long-awaited follow-up, It Calls You Back is the equally harrowing story of Rodriguez starting over, at age eighteen, after leaving gang life—the only life he really knew.The book opens with Rodriguez’s final stint in jail as a teenager and follows his struggle to kick heroin, renounce his former life, and search for meaningful work. He describes with heartbreaking honesty his challenges as a father, and his difficulty leaving his rages and addictions completely behind. Even as he breaks with “la vida loca” and begins to discover success as a writer and an activist, Rodriguez finds that his past—the crimes, the drugs, the things he’d seen and done—has a way of calling him back. When his oldest son is sent to prison for attempted murder, Rodriguez is forced to confront his shortcomings as a father, and to acknowledge how and why his own history is repeating itself, right before his eyes.Deeply insightful and beautifully written, It Calls You Back is an odyssey through love, addiction, revolutions, and healing.

Hearts and Hands focuses on healing through community building. Empowered by thirty years of experience with gangs in Los Angeles and Chicago, Rodríguez offers a unique book of change. He makes concrete suggestions, shows how we can create nonviolent opportunities for youth today, and redirects kids into productive and satisfying lives. And he warns that we sacrifice community values for material gain when we incarcerate or marginalize people already on the edge of society. His drive to dissolve gang influence on kids is as personal as it is societal; his son, to whom he dedicates Hearts and Hands, served more than a decade in prison for gang-related activity. With anecdotes, interviews, and time-tested guidelines, Hearts and Hands makes a powerful argument for building and supporting community life.

From the award-winning author of Always Running comes a brilliant collection of short stories about life in East Los Angeles. Whether hilariously capturing the voice of a philosophizing limo driver whose dream is to make the most of his rap-metal garage band in "My Ride, My Revolution," or the monologue-styled rant of a tes-ti-fy-ing! tent revivalist named Ysela in "Oiga," Rodriguez squeezes humor from the lives of people who are not ready to sacrifice their dreams due to circumstance. In these stories, Luis J. Rodriguez gives eloquent voice to the neighborhood where he spent many years as a resident, a father, an organizer, and, finally, a writer: a neighborhood that offers more to the world than its appearance allows.

It is important that girls grow to have a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in Christ. “A Royal Mission” was created with that purpose in mind. Through striking illustrations and a captivating plot, girls learn about their God-given purpose, how much they are loved, and what it means to serve the King. In this children’s book, the reader has the chance to become part of the story. She is asked to use her name throughout the pages of the book, making her the protagonist. Her journey begins in a perfect kingdom as a beautiful princess, but she is soon interrupted by a messenger from the King's court who tells her the King wishes to see her. Upon arriving at the palace, the King tasks her with an important mission to a lost world and explains the difficulties she will encounter. The story then weaves through images of her life in the lost world, the details of her mission, and the circumstances of her return to paradise. It is only at the end that girls learn that this loving, powerful King is Jesus. The illustrated images of the King step away from the iconic images of Jesus. Little girls dream of kings, queens, and princesses in faraway lands and this book uses that to help girls understand who Jesus is. “A Royal Mission, therefore, portrays Jesus as a regal and powerful King reminiscent of modern-day fairytales, but with the gospel message at its core. It is a book that captures little girls’ hearts and helps them see Jesus for who He is, the King of kings. This allegorical story with striking illustrations will help budding princesses understand their role and purpose in God’s overarching plan. It is beloved by children and parents alike. It is also an ideal book to introduce girls to Jesus for the first time. The book also includes discussion questions at the end to help girls make the connection between this story and the Biblical record. About the Author: Luisa Rodriguez is a prolific writer and illustrator with a passion for helping girls find their purpose and develop a positive self-image. She is a former pre-K Sunday school teacher and youth leader. Luisa aims to find creative ways to teach girls Biblical concepts in an easy to understand formats. She is inspired by her own two daughters, self-proclaimed warrior-princesses.

It is important that girls grow to have a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in Christ. "A Royal Mission" was created with that purpose in mind. Through striking illustrations and a captivating plot, girls learn about their God-given purpose, how much they are loved, and what it means to serve the King.In this children's book, the reader has the chance to become part of the story. She is asked to insert her name into the pages of the book, making her the protagonist.Her journey begins in a perfect kingdom as a beautiful princess, but she is soon interrupted by a messenger from the King's court who tells her the King wishes to see her. Upon arriving at the palace, the King tasks her with an important mission to a lost world and explains the difficulties she will encounter. The story then weaves through images of her life in the lost world, the details of her mission, and the circumstances of her return to paradise. It is only at the end that girls learn that this loving, powerful King is Jesus.The illustrated images of the King step away from the iconic images of Jesus. Little girls dream of kings, queens, and princesses in faraway lands and this book uses that to help girls understand who Jesus is. "A Royal Mission, therefore, portrays Jesus as a regal and powerful King reminiscent of modern-day fairytales, but with the gospel message at its core. It is a book that captures little girls' hearts and helps them see Jesus for who He is, the King of kings.This allegorical story with striking illustrations will help budding princesses understand their role and purpose in God's overarching plan. It is beloved by children and parents alike. It is also an ideal book to introduce girls to Jesus for the first time. The book also includes discussion questions at the end to help girls make the connection between this story and the Biblical record. Author BioLuisa Rodriguez is a prolific writer and illustrator with a passion for helping girls find their purpose and develop a positive self-image. She is a former pre-K Sunday school teacher and youth leader. Luisa aims to find creative ways to teach girls Biblical concepts in an easy to understand formats. She is inspired by her own two daughters, self-proclaimed warrior-princesses.

Luis Rodriguez, author of the award-winning and bestselling classic memoir Always Running, chronicles his harrowing journey from a drugged-out gang member to one of the most revered figures in Chicano literature.Hundreds of thousands of readers came to know Luis J. Rodriguez through his fearless classic, Always Running, which chronicled his early life as a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles. The long-awaited follow-up, It Calls You Back is the equally harrowing story of Rodriguez starting over, at age eighteen, after leaving gang life—the only life he really knew.The book opens with Rodriguez’s final stint in jail as a teenager and follows his struggle to kick heroin, renounce his former life, and search for meaningful work. He describes with heartbreaking honesty his challenges as a father, and his difficulty leaving his rages and addictions completely behind. Even as he breaks with “la vida loca” and begins to discover success as a writer and an activist, Rodriguez finds that his past—the crimes, the drugs, the things he’d seen and done—has a way of calling him back. When his oldest son is sent to prison for attempted murder, Rodriguez is forced to confront his shortcomings as a father, and to acknowledge how and why his own history is repeating itself, right before his eyes.Deeply insightful and beautifully written, It Calls You Back is an odyssey through love, addiction, revolutions, and healing.

Pacha Riley's family is being threatened, and they must leave Perú and head to safety in America to live with their Uncle Jamie and Aunt Nina. For one who prefers anonymity, the thought of being the skinny weird kid with the funny name in a new country is not appealing. One night, there is another sudden attack, and twelve-year-old Pacha and nine- year-old little sister Lucy must escape through the window...without Mami and Papi. Pacha begins to realize that there is more going on than protests over the sacred sun disk his archaeologist parents discovered at Machu Picchu. By the time he and Lucy arrive in America, he has more doubts and questions than hope. But Pacha is aided in his quest by his Traveller—animal spirit guide—and his Uncle Jamie. Their father's younger brother, Uncle Jamie is nothing like his buttoned-up sibling; he's a jokester, an adventurer...and a sorcerer? Uncle Jamie takes Pacha into his confidence and reveals a secret: Travellers can take their humans to visit past lifetimes. He also shares his suspicions about Tomás de la Vela, a Peruvian art gallery owner, who may or not be connected to the attacks on the Rileys. While amazed to learn his uncle's secrets, Pacha does not share his own fears that Aunt Nina may also be involved. The stakes are raised when Lucy is kidnapped by de la Vela and Aunt Nina. Searching for clues sparks a fire in Pacha, and he is able to overcome his insecurities and find the fight inside himself. He Travels to his past lifetimes as an Incan emperor and untangles a centuries- old tale of revenge to save both the sacred disk and his little sister.