Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri. Lee and Low Books, 2010. 85 Pages.

Fictionalized account of the true story of the short life and death of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, a young gangbanger whose death at the age of 11 came to symbolize the crises of poverty and violence overtaking US cities in the 1990s. 11 year old Roger, the fictionalized narrator, tells a documented and factual story of Yummy. Roger is also dealing with the fact that his older brother is also deep into the street life. While this end badly for Yummy, the additon of the fictionalized Roger allows for a hopeful note -- important for middle school students-- the main audience for this book. Recommended.