Every Step You Take

Every Step You Take is a hard-hitting focus on inner citysurvival from a kids perspective. Using his life in New Yorks Spanish Harlem and South Bronx, Joseph Alicea provides readers withtrue-life examples that speak to the successes and failures of teenagers. Joesstories communicate directly with young readers. His secondary intent is toshare these experiences with parents, hoping that they use them as a means fordiscussing critical growing up issues with their children. Joe links hismessage through the paths he took as an example of how every step you take willdefine your Character, Future, and Legacy. Portions of the text may seemtoo direct. However, Joes intent is not to preach. He firmly believes thatyoung readers need to hear the words ashe intended them passionate, honest, to the point, and with a sense of caringfor them. He wants young readers to recognize the fact that many kids gothrough tough and confusing times just as they may be having; yet those kidssurvive. He also hopes that his frank discussions will encourage parents to beas forthright with their children about their own experiences as he has been inhis book.