9live's "finding a Way Out"

by Andrew Ross

This book is an excellent "couldn't put it down" serious pager turner! Mr. Ross should be commended for writing an unflinchingly honest and inspirational memoir about his personal triumph over a life once filled with violence, brutality, addiction and crime.He was raised in Southeastern Queens at a time when gang violence, juvenile delinquency and drug trafficking statistics were at their highest in the nation. Furthermore, Andrew was raised in a home, where he experienced habitual physical and psychological abuse by his father. As a result, he was compelled to "act out" his frustration and anger by engaging in acts that would lead him down a path of self-destruction. Starting at the age of 16, he segues into a life of alcohol and substance abuse, gang violence, incarceration and promiscuity.After experiencing a near death experience after a severe beating to the head by a rival street gang, he believes God spared his life for a higher purpose. He became committed to teachings of Jesus Christ and became a born-again Christian. From then on, his life changed radically by leaps and bounds; while in jail he completed his GED and, upon his release, he received his BA and MA degrees. He is currently working on his PHD. I highly recommend this book. It should be required reading for at-risk teenagers, who is dealing with similar issues. It will provide them with the hope that they can turn their lives around with God's help, regardless of all the horrible things they`ve done or experienced in their lives.This book is written in a clear, concise way, which makes it accessible to all readers. The book provides a section where you can begin the work to address the problems similar to Andrew's through deepening one's relationship with the Lord. I was uplifted by Andrew's basic message that all things are possible when you accept Jesus Christ into your life and place your entire faith in God.