Dream House Press Category:  Action/Thriller Publisher: Dream House Press ISBN-10:  0967155525 Type: Non-Fiction Pages: 276 Copyright: Aug 2002 As you read in Spanish, you will experience with Art Rodriguez the difficult time he had growing up, part of which was dealing with his father. This book will make your emotions run high. You will laugh, cry, and laugh again. It is an inspirational book, relating life’s experiences from the age of a delinquent teenager to his maturity as a successful businessman Table of Contents for Sueños del Lado Este o Prológo de la Traducción en Español o Derramando La Chrveza o Derramando la Cerveza o El Cuchillo Oscilante o La Gran Pelea o El Escape o El Paseo En Coche o Los Primeros Años o El Interrogatorio o La Primer Pelea o La Carrera Por la Chrveza o El Combatiente o El Reporte de la Escuela o El Crucero o Detrás de los Barrotes o El Tapete o Monos Negras o La Pelea a Pedradas o Viejitas, Pero Bontas o Los Monstruos o Perkins o El Rifle de Municiones o Preston o Rebelión o El Fuego o El Cuarto de Baño o Sopla tu Cuerno o La Huida o Las Hormigas o Libertad o Malcriada de Cabello Rizado o La Vía de los Enamorados o Vida Nocturna de un Jovencito o Los Angeles o Mis Tios o De Regreso a San José o Playa Redondo o Cambios o El Trato o Una Nueva Vida o Primer Trabajo o Una Mina de Oro o Una Nueva Aventura o El Impacto o El Ataque al Corazon o El Lugar Prohibido     Excerpt Dear Mr. Art Rodriguez, I am pleased to let you know that East Side Dreams, (Sueños del Lado Este), has been selected for inclusion on the 2001 Books for The Teen Age List. This List, now in its seventy-second year of publication, selects the best of previous years publishing for teenagers. All the titles chosen have been read and reviewed by young adult librarians and recommended for this very special publication.

Midwest Book Review
"East Side Dreams is the debut and memoir Art Rodriguez, of a Latino American who survived growing up on the rough side, at odds with a dictatorial father, and once an inmate of the California Youth Authority--a prison system for young lawbreakers. Reflections on both happy and miserable times of his childhood, growing up, learning maturity and finally making a comfortable life for himself fill this heartfelt and revealing personal testimony. Highly recommended reading for young adults, East Side Dreams has justly earned the distinctions of being named the "Best First Book of the Latino Literary Hall of Fame", and has been honored as one of 200 Best Teenage books in the United States by the New York Public Library System."—The Midwest Book Review

Voice of Youth Advocates Magazine
"This review is for Forgotten Memories, however, East Side Dreams is also reviewed. Growing up in San Jose, California, Arturo Rodriguez and his brothers and sister endured an abusive father, their parents' unhappy marriage, and their father's absence after he returned to Mexico. Rodriguez coped as best he could, but his drinking and drug use, hanging out with friends, fighting, and being in the wrong places at the wrong times led to his incarceration in California's prison system for young offenders. Against all odds, he put his past behind him, married and had a family, and worked hard to overcome injustices and start a successful business. After his retirement, Rodriguez began writing about his life and his family. This book is a sequel to East Side Dreams (Dream House 2001), published in Spanish as Sueños del Lado Este. In this second autobiographical book, he writes about childhood pranks and misdeeds, his mother's near fatal illness, his parent's divorce, the birth of his first child, and how his parents eventually become friends.
The writing here is unpolished but sincere in tone, and the reminiscences and descriptions and vivid and true to life. Neither didactic nor preachy, this memoir explains how he grew to understand his father and other relatives whom he loved despite their flaws. His message for young readers is clear. It is possible to survive and over come injustices and hardships. Rodriguez maintains a web site at www.eastsidedreams.com and invites readers to visit, view his picture album, and perhaps send him an e-message. He will answer."—

ASTORYWEAVERs Book Reviews
EAST SIDE DREAMS by Art Rodriquez is full of energy and the struggles that the author himself endured while growing up on the east side of San Jose, California in 1966.
I enjoyed reading this inspirational novel derived from the memories of a teenager who is now a mature and successful businessman.
EAST SIDE DREAMS has been translated into Spanish to reach the Spanish speaking population in the United States.
As I read the troubling times of Art Rodriquez I couldn’t relate to many of his predicaments, but I certainly felt compassion toward him and thanked God for my “normal” life.
Mr. Rodriquez touches your heart as you read his passionate book of self-taught lessons.
As you read EAST SIDE DREAMS, which captures the hopelessness of growing up with an unpleasant childhood, keep in mind that this life drove the author to his true passion—writing!
The author, Art Rodriquez has been honored by The New York Library System to be on the “2001 Books for teenage List” for his book East Side Dreams. He was also given “The Mariposa Award-Best First Book” at the Latino Literary Hall of fame for this same book. Bravo!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I encourage young readers to read it, as there are plenty to learn from this book. It will bring tears to your eyes.
--Reviewed by Jennifer LB Leese