HOWEVER, I have learned that these books are in the public library where you live, so you boys can go to the library and check them out and read them to your guys' little brother and sister. Okay? I will send you the library check-out information on these books as soon as I get it.

These books are about: "GANGS AND WANTING TO BELONG," "GANGS AND DRUGS," "GANGS AND SELF-ESTEEM" and so on. Although they were written for kids much younger than you, I think that it'd be a good idea if you go to the library and check these books out and read them for yourselves, and for your little brother and sister.

The guy who helped write these "GANG" books is Stanley "Tookie" Williams ( http://www.tookie.com ). When he was young he helped create the gang known as the "Crips." He was later charged with and found guilty of murder and given the death penalty. Although he was found guilty, he claimed to be innocent of the murders he was convicted of. The courts denied all of his appeals, and he was, sadly, put to death by the government of California on December 13, 2005.

Tookie spent 26 years in prison before being put to death. While he was in prison he realized that he was wrong for creating the Crips gang, and he wrote the "Gang" books with Barbara Becnel in order to help other kids like you guys resist the urge to join a gang, do drugs and so on. While in prison he educated himself and really turned his life around by not only reading books, but by thinking about the things he read.

I know that life is hard for you guys, and that it probably sometimes seems that there is no way to better your guys' lives -- but there is. One way is by reading books that will expand your knowledge and teach you things about yourself, others and life. And so I hope that you guys will do your best to read as much as you can.

The two books enclosed are for both of you, so be good and kind brothers and share them and help each other read and understand them. And take care of the books and make them part of your own library.

One of the books is "BLUE RAGE, BLACK REDEMPTION: A Memoir" by Stanley Tookie Williams. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but it's about his life and I hear it's pretty good. Maybe you guys can write me and let me know what you think about it after you read it.

The other book, "WE THE PEOPLE, A Call To Take Back America" by Thom Hartmann ( http://www.we-the-people-book.com ) is like a comic book, but its content or subject matter deals with "Civics," which is, according to my dictionary, the study of civic affairs and the rights and duties of citizens. In short, it will teach you about how the government of our country functions and how you can become involved and not only vote for and support your favorite representatives in government once you're old enough, but also how you too can become a representative or run for governor or president and so on.

I have not read the book yet, but I will soon. It may be a little hard to understand at first, but if you guys get a good dictionary and do your very best to understand what you're reading, then I think you can and will learn a LOT.

If you guys have any questions about either of the books, then please write me and we'll figure out the answers together, okay? I would like letters from both of you telling me what you think of the books, and what you've learned.

If you guys know the name of any other books you'd like to read, then let me know and I'll do my best to get them for you. Reading is one of the best ways to improve your guys' lives, so Uncle Caveman will always support your efforts to obtain the books you want to read.

I love you both very much, and I hope that you both will understand that you guys don't have to be gang members, drug users, thieves and the like, but with hard work and determination you guys can be doctors, lawyers, pro football players or whatever you want. But you must make good decisions, and believe in yourselves. I will help you guys learn to believe in yourselves. I love you both.

Love,

Uncle Caveman