Ben Alirez

A mother who has lost her youngest son. A family torn apart by violence. A new life in an unwelcoming part of town. Martin Luna couldn't protect his 8 year old brother Eric, who was killed by a hit and run gang shooting. Now Martin must try to cope with losing his little brother, moving across town, going to a new high school, and try to stay out of trouble. Well, that last part just isn't going to happen. In his first week Martin shows up late to every class, gets detention and in-school show more suspension, fights the star football player, and almost beats up his English teacher. Will Martin be able to recover from his brother's death? Will he ever be welcomed at Bluford High, and stop getting dirty looks from girls and teachers alike? Or will he succumb to the lure of his old gang, who insists they take revenge by murdering the guy who shot Eric?

"Brothers in Arms" is a powerful story with a clear but subtle message about inner city life. Martin's tongue-in-cheek appraisal of the world around him, coupled with the hardships he must overcome and his raw and passionate emotions will keep readers on the edge of their seat. The author is very good at making you see inside the protagonists head, understand his thoughts, and feel empathy for him. With short paragraphs and a lot of witty and interesting dialogue each chapter is easy to finish. The Bluford High series is marketed towards high school students, although it is written at a lower reading level. It is high-interest, action-packed, and fast-paced, and so readers who have trouble with regular chapter books should have less difficulty with Bluford books. show less

Martin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is still reeling from the tragic death of his younger brother, Huero, an innocent victim of drive-by shooting. Filled with anger and grief, Martin seeks revenge. His mother, however, has other ideas. Desperate to keep the only son she has left out of trouble, enrolls Martin at Bluford with the hope that a new, more supportive environment will do him good. Although an understanding teacher and a pretty, kind girl named Vicky try to help him heal, show more Martin finds it hard to disentangle himself from his old gang and their dangerous ways.

Brothers in Arms is an engaging book with a thrilling, fast-paced plot. This and the other books in the Bluford High series are unique in that they involve minority and/or mixed race characters in a less affluent urban setting. Without personal experience in this type of environment, it's hard to known for sure if the Bluford books are an accurate portrayal. However, Martin is a very likable character and his ethical dilemmas seem realistic. There are no easy answers.

While the subject matter is more appropriate for high school audiences, the Bluford High books are written at a much lower reading level, so they're a great pick for teens who are still learning. They would also appeal to strong readers in this age group looking for urban fiction.Though the style is simple, the story is no less intense and interesting. show less

This book is awesome, and really puts in perspective what some children have to go through while growing up. I am not saying all children, but children that grow up in different parts of our country where they believe joining a gang means gaining a family when in reality it sets them up on a path of self destruction and heart break. It proves that if you remove the people, or things in life that are tearing you down that you can truly make yourself into someone better. I really loved this show more book, and I highly recommend it. show less

This book was well written and even as somebody who couldn't relate to the events of this book i can see why many students can relate. This book was a real page turner and as soon as you put it down you wanted to pick it back up. My only rel issue with this book was that I felt the ending was rather abrupt, and a few of the charters were left out of the ending. I do understand that there are other books in this series but for this individual book I kinda felt like it left me hanging on show more waiting for more. As you read this you will follow a young man and his struggles with social life, school, and his gang following the death of his brother. show less