Luis J. Rodriguez

Author profile

born

El Paso, Texas, The United States

gender

male

website

http://www.luisjrodriguez.com

genre

Nonfiction, Literature & Fiction, Poetry

About this author

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Luis J. Rodriguez (born 1954) is an American poet, novelist, journalist, critic, and columnist. His work has won several awards, and he is recognized as a major figure of contemporary Chicano literature. His best-known work, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A., is the recipient of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, among others, and has been the subject of controversy when included on reading lists in California, Illinois, Michigan, and Texas schools due to its frank depictions of gang life. Rodriguez has also founded or co-founded numerous organizations, including the Tía Chucha Press, which publishes the work of unknown writers, Tía Chucha's Cafe & Centro Cultural, a San Fernando Valley cultural center, and the Chicago-base...more

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Books by Luis J. Rodriguez

Average rating: 3.95 · 2,202 ratings · 379 reviews · 19 distinct works

	Always Running 3.95 avg rating — 1,806 ratings — published 1993 — 14 editions	My rating:
	The Republic of East L.A. 3.83 avg rating — 117 ratings — published 2002 — 3 editions	My rating:
	East Side Stories: Gang Life in East LA 4.23 avg rating — 48 ratings — published 1998 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times 4.11 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 2001 — 5 editions	My rating:
	The Concrete River 4.11 avg rating — 35 ratings — published 1991 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Music of the Mill: A Novel 3.45 avg rating — 38 ratings — published 2005 — 3 editions	My rating:
	It Calls You Back: An Odyssey through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing 3.58 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2011 — 6 editions	My rating:
	Trochemoche 3.96 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 1998	My rating:
	America Is Her Name 3.89 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 1998 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Poems across the Pavement 4.36 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 1989	My rating:

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Quotes by Luis J. Rodriguez

“cry, child, for those without tears have a grief which never ends.”
― Luis J. Rodriguez, Always Running

10 people liked it

“i'm sorry young man but the classes you chose are filled up.”
― Luis J. Rodriguez, Always Running

2 people liked it

“You 'will never belive it.”
― Luis J. Rodriguez, Always Running

2 people liked it

See all Luis J. Rodriguez's quotes »

Polls

What frequently challenged or banned children's or young adult book should we read in February and March?

[Note: books chosen by random number generator]

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

12 votes 25.5%

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

12 votes 25.5%

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson

11 votes 23.4%

Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez

5 votes 10.6%

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

5 votes 10.6%

The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree by Bill Brittain

2 votes 4.3%