Join us for Teen Book Club this Thursday!

“We Beat the Street” is an inspiring true story written in their own words about three young black kids who made a pact to rise up out of the ghetto and become doctors. Instead of falling victim to the drugs, crime, violence, and hopelessness that are simply accepted as part of life, these three friends worked hard to get good grades and scholarships that would enable them to succeed. This book shows just how difficult it is for some neighborhoods to foster talent, intelligence, and dreams instead of stifling them under peer pressure. The culture of smart people being looked down on, teased, and shunned, is compounded in poor neighborhoods where trying to better oneself invites violence from peers who don’t understand that education is a good thing, even if it’s not “cool”. Each chapter gives a narrative account of different episodes in the lives of the young boys told from their perspective at the time of the events. Afterwards, there is an interview-style aside from the present-day person who the chapter is about, adding matured, adult insight to the situations they faced in their youth. These situations ranged from drug-addicted parents to inspiring teachers to the boys committing crimes (and spending time in jail because of them). After beating the odds stacked against them and becoming the first ones in their neighborhoods and families to go to college and eventually medical school, the three doctors formed a non-profit organization to reach out to the young people in the neighborhoods they came from. They gave back to their communities by introducing the next generation to the idea that college was not only their best opportunity to succeed, but an attainable goal otherwise unheard of for people from their areas. This book is a wonderful example of potential realized despite hardships, and the best part about it is that it’s completely true, and it should serve as an inspiration to people everywhere. Regardless of age, race, or socio-economic status, everyone can enjoy and learn from this book.