The Price of Loyalty by Mike Castan

This is not a new or original story. Walter Dean Myers told a similar tale in The Scorpions.
A group of grade school friends have recently begun middle school. They decide to form a secret club that isn't really a gang. But soon they are doing things like tagging, shop lifting, smoking weed and brawling that are very gang like. Some of the group is more gang like than others, skipping school, finding a place to hang (a cul de sac), doing meth. One of the group, Manny, really isn't comfortable with his friends' new activities and hangs less and less with them. Except, he is the one getting the marijuana for them. Then there is a nasty fight in which two middle schoolers who officially belong to a gang are beaten senseless and left lying in the cul de sac. Manny and his girl friend find them and with Henrietta's mother's help notify authorities so the two will get help. What follows is lots of questioning by police about who did the beating. Manny finally caves and rats out his friends. There are consequences for all involved of varying severity, including Manny who must deal with his abuela's disappointment in him, his friends disapproval and having been involved with marijuana distribution. For kids still looking for more gang related books. JDW 10/5

Orange Houses by Paul Griffin

This is a quick read in which illegal immigration, gangs, PTSD. hearing impairment collide.
The characters are Mik aka Tamika who is hard of hearing and objects to wearing hearing aids because the world is too loud with them, Shanelle, gang leader with a posse of box cutter girls,
Jimmi who went to war and came back damaged, he could not stop the horrific killing, Fatima, illegal refugee from Africa with hopes of becoming legal. The action takes place in the projects (orange houses), neighborhood high school, Jimmi's wilderness. Tamika, Jimmi, Mik, outsiders in the tough world of gangs, drugs and Feds searching for illegals, become fast friends. Tamika introduces Mik to volunteering and the art of paper folding, Mik teaches Tamika sign languages and helps with Tamika's classes for children of veterans at the VA hospital. Jimmi knew Mik and her family before going to the desert war. Mik knew him as a long time friend, visited his caves, cared about him and he respected her, cared about her. When Shanelle accuses Mik of stealing her boyfriend and getting her expelled and attacks with her posse, Tamika and Jimmi try to protect their friend. For all of them, things change forever. This is a fast high interest read. Its worth reading, I think. Its an interesting look at the meaning of friendship and at what PTSD, Hearing Loss, Illegal Status can do to a person. JDW 1/25/10