jess read and liked george's review of This Is for the Mara Salvatrucha: Inside the MS-13, America's Most Violent Gang:

"I was really looking forward to reading this book after hearing the author on a radio interview.

I wasn't so thrilled by the end.

It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I was happy to know that it revolved around Brenda...more I was really looking forward to reading this book after hearing the author on a radio interview.

I wasn't so thrilled by the end.

It wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I was happy to know that it revolved around Brenda, a teenage member of the gang, and her story. She grew tired of the gang life and became an informant. Then, of course, she was killed. But that's to be expected.

What I absolutely hated was the writing style. Logan writes the scenes in the book and instead of simply descibing what happened, he makes up shit about what the people are thinking. The gang member fighting. The guy dying. Brenda. Her boyfriends. Those that suspect her of betraying the gang. Come on, this guy cannot know what Brenda is thinking as she goes down. Nor most of the other gang members because they're sure as hell not going to talk to him or the police. It was weird and I didn't like it.

Aside from that, it is a good overview of the gang and a glimpse inside the MS-13. Note that I wrote glimpse. There's not a ton of info on them, but enough to get an idea. (less) "