Honor Few, Fear None: The Life and Times of a Mongol
Adult/High School—Cavazos had a rough start and continues to live a life with rough edges. Raised by a single father in East L.A., he was welcomed into the Avenues, a prominent gang, before he even knew the difference between a criminal life and a straight one. "Doc" had few chances to escape the violence around him. After obtaining a license to work as a radiologist and an eye-opening turn in county jail, he left gang life and entered the world of motorcycle clubs. At first glance, readers find the two worlds not dissimilar, and cops would certainly agree, but Cavazos has worked for more than a decade to transform his motorcycle club, the Mongols, and cleanse it of drugs, stealing, and roughing up women. He wants to ride with a group, not a gang, and from this book readers learn of the roadblocks he has had to face in order to turn the Mongols into a respected club. Those looking for "lemonade out of lemons" tales of gang survival and redemption should turn to Luis Rodriguez'sAlways Running(S & S, 1994). Including a smattering of black-and-white photos,Honor Few, Fear Nonecould easily grab the attention of reluctant male readers and fill the need for gritty urban stories. Since Cavazos uses simple phrasing and tells a gripping story, his book would work well for hi/lo reading. Because of its clear structure and order, teachers could use it as a tool for helping students construct their own biographies.—Sarah Krygier, Solano County Library, Fairfield, CACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.