Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient and Then Turned 16

 Shirley J.            Adult Non-Fiction: Biography                                       The title says it all

Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient and Then Turned 16 by Moshe Kasher   320 pages

The title eloquently sums up the entire book.   The story is about Moshe Kasher, who is the son of deaf parents, although both he and his older brother are able to hear.   Things go relatively o.k. for Moshe until his parents divorce, his older brother goes away to college and his best friend moves away.   After stealing cigarettes in a local convenience store he is noticed by a local tough guy, Donny, also from the Oakland area.  They get to talking and Moshe shares some of the stolen smokes, being impressed with Moshe's brass, he invites him to hang out with some of the other guys (Donny's crowd).   Moshe, being lonely without his friend, jumps at the offer.   Moshe is overweight and becomes known in the bunch of guys (he always points out they were not a gang) as fata** or other monikers on that line.  They turn Moshe on to the drugs they are doing, first weed (marijuana) then acid (LSD) etc.   Oh yeah, and they drink like youthful alcoholics so with Moshe's dexterity, he is designated liquor thief so they can party for free.   This is a most excellent tell-all a bout the realities of teenage life trying to fit in, doing drugs, drinking, whatever it takes to be accepted as a part of the group.   This should be mandatory reading for all young folks as a cautionary tale on how easy it is to fall into and how hard to drag yourself out even if you want to and sadly many don't.   It shows the ugly, mean side of addiction and the violence perpetrated on family and friends that will push you to do whatever necessary to achieve another high.  It is sad and true and real.   Bravo to Moshe Kasher for sharing his life so that others may know what is on the other side of the trip.   I highly recommend this as required reading for middle and/or highschoolers on up through adults.   It will keep you glued to its pages cover to cover and the good news is he climbs out of his hole at the end and writes this book.