My Life Is All I Have — V. Anthony Rivers

Packed with suspense and vivid descriptions of some of Los Angeles' toughest streets, My Life Is All I Have tells the gripping story of a young girl who will do anything to leave her troubled past behind her. Leesha Tyler is about to commit robbery when memories from her past start to consume her. Leesha looks back on her life and remembers the chaotic household she lived in -- with her mother and herself always at odds. Thoughts of the death of her grandmother and other untimely events only sadden Leesha further and make her more determined that the only solution to her problems is to get out of Los Angeles. And the only way to do that, or so she thinks, is to commit armed robbery. My LifeIs All I Have is a timely piece of fiction that paints a candid, upfront portrait of a section of Los Angeles known as "The Jungle." West Coast readers will welcome the familiar settings and others will enjoy a realistic slice of Los Angeles life. With echoes of The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah and Warmest December by Bernice McFadden, this novel shows how decisions one individual makes can alter many lives -- a perfect blend of contemporary fiction and street-lit flair.