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Lady Q: The Rise and Fall of a Latin Queen
This is a raw and powerful memoir not only of one woman’s struggle to survive the streets but also of her ascent to the top ranks of the new mafia, where the only people more dangerous than rival gangs were members of her own. At age five Sonia Rodriguez’s stepfather began to abuse her; at 10 she was molested by her uncle and beaten by her mother when she told on him; and by 13 her home had become a hangout for the Latin Kings and Queens who were friends with her older sister. Threatened by rival gang members at school, Sonia turned away from her education and extracurricular activities in favor of a world of drugs and violence. The Latin Kings, one of the largest and most notorious street gangs in America, became her refuge, but its violence cost her friends, freedom, self-respect, and nearly her life. As a Latin Queen, she experienced the exhilarating highs and unbelievable lows of gang life. From being shot at by her own gang and kicked out at age 18 with an infant daughter to rejoining the gang and distinguishing herself as a leader, her legacy as Lady Q was cemented both for her willingness to commit violence and for her role as a drug mule. For the first time, a woman’s perspective on gang life is presented.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
January 17, 2009
This is a sad book. It really isn't the story of a high ranking female gang member so much as it is a story of an abused and confused girl-turned-women who can't seem to escape the cycle of poverty and abuse. It's a story about what happens when you grow up in a dysfunctional family and don't learn from your mistakes. Sonia, who grew up in a very abusive household, basically went on to make one mistake after another and cannot seem to make "good" decisions even through the very end of this story, which spans about 15 years of her life.
This story is well written so it makes for an interesting read and I liked that it was Reymundo Sanchez telling the story rather than Sonia Rodriguez. I felt like he didn't make as many excuses for her behavior and called her out on her shit more than I think she would have had it been written in first person. Sonia's not really a super likable character but she's well developed and you do see the many dimensions of her personality and way of thinking. She's kind of smart but makes stupid decisions and I think we can all relate to that. She just never learns from her mistakes and that gets to be frustrating to the point that by end of the book I really didn't feel sorry for her when Miguel was being extremely abusive. It was hard for me to just read through and accept a lot of her dumb decisions because I kept thinking to myself "OMG, I would never do that! I'd get out!" but I think that's the problem. Until you are in that situation yourself, you like to think you'd make all these really intelligent decisions but the reality is that you'd probably do nothing and hope things improve on their own.
I liked that this book made me reflect a lot as I was reading. I thought about my life. I thought about my parents as immigrants (Sonia's family moves from Chicago back to Puerto Rico back to Chicago). I thought a LOT about the students I teach, especially since most of the story is set right by where I currently teach. I also just thought about teens in general and how we all seek acceptance (often in the wrong places) and then thought about society and how we can ever possibly "win" this ridiculous thing called "the war on drugs."
The book is powerful on some levels because it will make you think. I don't think it's necessarily too insightful in terms of giving me an idea of what gang life is like. That I think Reymundo Sanchez's My Bloody Life is probably a better read. But it is an interesting read, especially for Chicagoans who know many of the places/intersections described in the book, and anyone who works with teens.
This story is well written so it makes for an interesting read and I liked that it was Reymundo Sanchez telling the story rather than Sonia Rodriguez. I felt like he didn't make as many excuses for her behavior and called her out on her shit more than I think she would have had it been written in first person. Sonia's not really a super likable character but she's well developed and you do see the many dimensions of her personality and way of thinking. She's kind of smart but makes stupid decisions and I think we can all relate to that. She just never learns from her mistakes and that gets to be frustrating to the point that by end of the book I really didn't feel sorry for her when Miguel was being extremely abusive. It was hard for me to just read through and accept a lot of her dumb decisions because I kept thinking to myself "OMG, I would never do that! I'd get out!" but I think that's the problem. Until you are in that situation yourself, you like to think you'd make all these really intelligent decisions but the reality is that you'd probably do nothing and hope things improve on their own.
I liked that this book made me reflect a lot as I was reading. I thought about my life. I thought about my parents as immigrants (Sonia's family moves from Chicago back to Puerto Rico back to Chicago). I thought a LOT about the students I teach, especially since most of the story is set right by where I currently teach. I also just thought about teens in general and how we all seek acceptance (often in the wrong places) and then thought about society and how we can ever possibly "win" this ridiculous thing called "the war on drugs."
The book is powerful on some levels because it will make you think. I don't think it's necessarily too insightful in terms of giving me an idea of what gang life is like. That I think Reymundo Sanchez's My Bloody Life is probably a better read. But it is an interesting read, especially for Chicagoans who know many of the places/intersections described in the book, and anyone who works with teens.
February 18, 2010
this book was really interesting. im not going to lie the first time i started reading it, it got me so curious on keep reading more and more. Its About sonia trying to fit in her family never liked her they always blame her for whatever her sisters do. Her mom never finish school, remarry a couple of times, only had babies never work, alwayz depending on her man. All started when she move in to chicago to live with carlos her mother's new husband. At first he seems nice to the girls treated them with care, but them the problems started he was a drug dealer, will alwayz hit her and blame sonia for everything. one day her uncle, aunt, cousin decided to go 2 chicago, so since they didnt have anyone to live with only sonia's family they move in with her. Sonias uncle was soooo religious and will alwayz carry a bible with him.Sonia had to sleep with her sister, and her uncles on the living room. Everynight a strange man would alwayz go 2 sonias room and touch her parts. she was scare she didnt know who it was. So one night she decides to stay up late to find out who was this man, who was touching her and when she found out who it was she was surprise, her uncle was abusing her and touching her. how could this be.?????
find out what happens next??
I just leave you a little bit of what the story is like. now its for you to find out, what's next
I recommend this book to anyone that loves reading gangster books and really interesting.
find out what happens next??
I just leave you a little bit of what the story is like. now its for you to find out, what's next
I recommend this book to anyone that loves reading gangster books and really interesting.
August 15, 2013
All 3 books that I have read by Reymundo Sanchez, have been stellar. From the first page to the last, I could not put the books down. I’m an advocate reader and these books are on my top ten list. Maybe is due to how I can relate. When I was younger I was involved in gang activity. Majority of what Mr. Sanchez writes about is reality, which occurred during his generation, my generation, and with the current generation. As sad as this may be and/or sound is the truth and reality. As a Latino and Puerto Rican male, I have witnessed many of my friends die and spend time in jail for their gang activities and life styles. I was fortunate that by God grace and my Mother influence I escaped the life style and have become a productive member of society by joining the military. I recently completed my Masters program and once retired from the military look forwards towards working with inner city kids as a counselor.
I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the truth about minority inner cities life style. Because whether an inner city minority is involved in gangs, we/they are all affected by it.
I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in the truth about minority inner cities life style. Because whether an inner city minority is involved in gangs, we/they are all affected by it.
December 28, 2008
The girl this is about says something in the afterward about how she hopes that it could help just one person, etc., but you can't help anyone if they're too bored to finish your story. There is not a whole lot devoted to her actual experiences as a high-ranking member of the Chicago street gang, this is more of a portrait of an abused, impoverished single mother in the city, and not a very good one at that. Reymundo Sanchez who interviewed Lady Q for the book, previously wrote his own autobiography, "My Bloody Life," which is a lot better.
November 15, 2025
Absolutely loooooved. Great rec from a youth at work
March 16, 2008
This book was written to tell the story of a female gang member's life, not pull off amazing literary feats. The writing is simplistic, but the story is powerful.
A common sentence in the book was something like, "Lady Q had finally had enough of the dangers of gang life/selling drugs/living with abusive family member, and was ready to make some positive changes. She got a job and found a new apartment with [family member that used to abuse her but she has made up with]." It never lasts, and over and over she loses her jobs, fights with whoever she has grown to trust, returns to gang relationships, the drug trade, abusive family members, and everything she repeatedly tries to escape. Perhaps the most depressing thing was that, throughout the entire book, she never has a lasting, positive relationship with anyone. Every friend or relative she ever trusts, or is ever close to, fucks her over, often repeatedly, and she does her own share of fucking them over. The only person she never experiences some form of betrayal with, was a boyfriend who was in prison throughout their entire relationship.
A common sentence in the book was something like, "Lady Q had finally had enough of the dangers of gang life/selling drugs/living with abusive family member, and was ready to make some positive changes. She got a job and found a new apartment with [family member that used to abuse her but she has made up with]." It never lasts, and over and over she loses her jobs, fights with whoever she has grown to trust, returns to gang relationships, the drug trade, abusive family members, and everything she repeatedly tries to escape. Perhaps the most depressing thing was that, throughout the entire book, she never has a lasting, positive relationship with anyone. Every friend or relative she ever trusts, or is ever close to, fucks her over, often repeatedly, and she does her own share of fucking them over. The only person she never experiences some form of betrayal with, was a boyfriend who was in prison throughout their entire relationship.
January 8, 2009
I throughly enjoyed reading this book. I several times through out the book found myself aching and getting pissed off at "Lady Q," Sonia's family, especially her mother. I cannot imagine living my life in that manner, feeling as though my family did not love and support me. I was saddened at the very end of the book to find out from Reymundo that Lady Q had not left the 'hood to make a better life for herself and her children. It was sad to know that her daughter turned out just like her mother did. I was so hoping that Lizette would make it and be different from her mother. Though this was not possible as the reading continued as Sonia ended up treating her daughter just as her mother had treated her. I am hoping that Tony was not lost to the streets. I feel this book should be a required reading for parents, espeically mothers, to know what thier abuse and neglect does to a child, especially a girl. Great book, and I am glad to see a true life account of gang life from the female perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2014
This is a tough book to get through, not just because it is a heartbreaking story about a life of abuse, abandonment and violence, but because it falls into the well-intentioned trap of trying to let the "true voice" of the subject come through, while sacrificing actual flow and good story-telling. I really appreciate Reymundo Sanchez's passion about getting Sonia's story out into the world, but it reads like a long legal dissertation that you might hear at a trial. There is no flow to the story - it's more like a long list of facts strung together. It's also touted as "the rise and fall of a Latin Queen," implying that we are going to hear a story about gang life and the ins and outs of that culture, and while that is present in this book, Sonia's gang life is actually a very small aspect. I really respect Sanchez's desire to tell the story of female gang life (and more importantly, how and why girls choose that life) and it's a shame that this book fell so flat.
March 11, 2011
I choose to read this book because a friend kept on telling me how good of a book it was when he was reading it and well i read the first page and it seemed interesting.I think this story is considered nonfiction because it is based on a true story that many young girls get involved in.This book takes place in many places but i think the one that is most mentioned is in chicago. Her life has to do with the fact that this book really doesn't have a setting because of the way she is treated she has to go from one place to another. Sonia is the main character in this book. Sonia has two sisters Vivian and Jazmin. Vivian is the oldest and Jamzin in the youngest which leaves Sonia in the middle. Sonia grew up without the love of her mother who always beat her and that blamed her for anything that happened even though she knew it was one of her other daughter's fault.
It all started when Sonia was about 5 years old... her step father started to physically abuse her. When Sonia was 6 years old her mom got herself a new boyfriend after Carlos had left. Her new stepdad was named Juan who at first she thought was really nice but when she started to grow older she noticed the police was over at their apartment alot. When Sonia was about nine years old her and her sisters started to drink rum because Juan thought it was funny how they fought for a 50 dollar bill. When Vivian was drunk she called Juan many things and well it kind of became daily for him to insult the girls too.Sonia's baby brother ''Bobby'' was born and her house became peaceful for some months while they cared for him. But eventually things got back to normal, juan started to yell at the girls for any little thing. Sonia's moms' family came to live with them for a while and during those days sonia started to live her worst days ever. Her uncle Jose molested her, he touched her and she tried to tell her mom but her response to that was a slap and name calling and beating Sonia. Her aunt and uncle eventually left but Sonia had to go along. She begged her mom not to let her go but it wasn't worth it. The first night Sonia slept in the same room with her cousin Nito he touched her. She told her mom about this too but she told her to stop lying. Eventually she returned back home because some money was missing in her aunts house and she got blamed for it so she had to return back home. All throught out Sonia's life she got beaten by her mom. Sonia got beaten up by her sisters one time too when she accidently kicked her mom, Vivian,Jazmin and her mom beat the crap out of her.Sonia always lived in gang areas and well its too easy for girls like that to get involved in one. Sonia got involved in the Latin Queens. She progressed in this gang up to the point she was the girlfriend of the king of the kings(Tino). Sonia was one of the most respected queens (Lady Q) until she left to puerto rico because she made the mistake to talk about the life of kings and queens in a talk host show. She left to Puerto Rico and lived with her aunt who had a son named Pedro.Pedro and Sonia got along very quickly to well until the point they started to have sex. Pedros sister found out about their relationship and told the family they kicked them both out. They were together for a couple of months until Pedro's family forgave him and he went back to them. Sonia later on found out she was pregnet. No one from the family helped her out throughout her pregnecy but when Lisset her daughter was born the family accepted her again and she lived with Pedro for some months until he started to beat her and she didnt take it so she went back to the latin queens and kings. She was afraid of what they could do to her once they saw her but everything came out well. Sonia got involved in selling drugs, she hooked up with any guy and was almost always high. Not noticing how much that was going to damage her little girl. Sonia got pregnet with her second child when she hooke up with Miguel. Little Tony was born. At first she really loved the way Miguel treated Lisset he was very respectful towards her.But after Sonia had tony anything poor Lisset did bothered Miguel. Sonia didn't want to leave Tony without a father.
Sonia ended up giving up drugs to try and be a better mother to Tony after what had happened to Lisset at such a young age made her relize that Lisset had lived a bad childhood with the bad examples she sat. She also left Miguel she couldn't stand his beating and wasn't going to take it like her mother did with her stepdads.Thats why she ended up pregnet at age 15.Sonia asks for Lisset to forgive her and tries to raise Tony to be a gentelmen. Lady Q admits that the only man that truely ever loved her and that she loved was Tino.I really liked this book i think that this is a good book for teenage girls especially so they think about it twice before joining a gang and seen all the problems it leads to. And i also think that it is a good book for boys because it teaches them what some poor girls go through and they should help them out if they know any those girls are probably looking for some love like Sonia(all she ever wanted was for her mother to show her that she loved her).
It all started when Sonia was about 5 years old... her step father started to physically abuse her. When Sonia was 6 years old her mom got herself a new boyfriend after Carlos had left. Her new stepdad was named Juan who at first she thought was really nice but when she started to grow older she noticed the police was over at their apartment alot. When Sonia was about nine years old her and her sisters started to drink rum because Juan thought it was funny how they fought for a 50 dollar bill. When Vivian was drunk she called Juan many things and well it kind of became daily for him to insult the girls too.Sonia's baby brother ''Bobby'' was born and her house became peaceful for some months while they cared for him. But eventually things got back to normal, juan started to yell at the girls for any little thing. Sonia's moms' family came to live with them for a while and during those days sonia started to live her worst days ever. Her uncle Jose molested her, he touched her and she tried to tell her mom but her response to that was a slap and name calling and beating Sonia. Her aunt and uncle eventually left but Sonia had to go along. She begged her mom not to let her go but it wasn't worth it. The first night Sonia slept in the same room with her cousin Nito he touched her. She told her mom about this too but she told her to stop lying. Eventually she returned back home because some money was missing in her aunts house and she got blamed for it so she had to return back home. All throught out Sonia's life she got beaten by her mom. Sonia got beaten up by her sisters one time too when she accidently kicked her mom, Vivian,Jazmin and her mom beat the crap out of her.Sonia always lived in gang areas and well its too easy for girls like that to get involved in one. Sonia got involved in the Latin Queens. She progressed in this gang up to the point she was the girlfriend of the king of the kings(Tino). Sonia was one of the most respected queens (Lady Q) until she left to puerto rico because she made the mistake to talk about the life of kings and queens in a talk host show. She left to Puerto Rico and lived with her aunt who had a son named Pedro.Pedro and Sonia got along very quickly to well until the point they started to have sex. Pedros sister found out about their relationship and told the family they kicked them both out. They were together for a couple of months until Pedro's family forgave him and he went back to them. Sonia later on found out she was pregnet. No one from the family helped her out throughout her pregnecy but when Lisset her daughter was born the family accepted her again and she lived with Pedro for some months until he started to beat her and she didnt take it so she went back to the latin queens and kings. She was afraid of what they could do to her once they saw her but everything came out well. Sonia got involved in selling drugs, she hooked up with any guy and was almost always high. Not noticing how much that was going to damage her little girl. Sonia got pregnet with her second child when she hooke up with Miguel. Little Tony was born. At first she really loved the way Miguel treated Lisset he was very respectful towards her.But after Sonia had tony anything poor Lisset did bothered Miguel. Sonia didn't want to leave Tony without a father.
Sonia ended up giving up drugs to try and be a better mother to Tony after what had happened to Lisset at such a young age made her relize that Lisset had lived a bad childhood with the bad examples she sat. She also left Miguel she couldn't stand his beating and wasn't going to take it like her mother did with her stepdads.Thats why she ended up pregnet at age 15.Sonia asks for Lisset to forgive her and tries to raise Tony to be a gentelmen. Lady Q admits that the only man that truely ever loved her and that she loved was Tino.I really liked this book i think that this is a good book for teenage girls especially so they think about it twice before joining a gang and seen all the problems it leads to. And i also think that it is a good book for boys because it teaches them what some poor girls go through and they should help them out if they know any those girls are probably looking for some love like Sonia(all she ever wanted was for her mother to show her that she loved her).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2014
The book Lady Q by Reymundo Sanchez has permitted me to see the life of a gang banger in a whole new perspective. Lady Q , her real name is Sonia ,was a smart student that had brains, dreams , and had love inside of her like any other student. Yet there was something that lacked in her life and that's what started her life filled with gangs and drugs and sex. That something was "love" from others . Her mother preferred to let her get beaten or beat her herself than having to fight her boyfriends or being in the risk of getting kicked out. Lady Q never really had a relationship with her sisters either since they were at least shown a little bit of love . The lack of love in her family made her desperately seek love wherever she could. She resided in a neighborhood infested with Latin kings so it was no surprise where the first place she looked and thought she found was in the streets involving the latin kings . Since there was a bunch of kids getting mistreated like her as well she felt like she could relate to them . The latin kings also carried her with respect and that made her feel like they were their actually family. Once the laying kings became her family she put her whole heart to them , becoming a loyal street soldier, drug dealer and even the queen of all queen and kings at one point. Yet after she had her kids the kings were nowhere in sight . Since she no longer had drugs , money or sex to offer the kings completely forgot about her . There were a few kings that remained loyal to her but most of them were just loyal to themselves . Lady q's choice of wasting her life in the Latin kings payed a high price when she was on her mid twenties because she had no longer anybody to help her and she had to survive on her own . This made her rely on men which she had pretty much always relied on but the only man that actually treated her good was Tino , which was the king of all kings of the Latin kings , the true inca. Yet he was in jail so he couldn't really be with her and support her other than money wise. That's when lady Q met a man named Miguel that she believed was different and actually lover her but like all the other man the drugs and alcohol that surrounded them turned him into a monster that abused her and beat her whenever he pleased. Just like that Lady Q went from the most highest and respected women in the streets to a women that never went out because she was always bruised up , and later on left with her two kids which she had to struggle to support and maintain.
I feel like more people should read this book , no matter what race or age . There is so many kids that are exposed in to the life lady Q was exposed to and that she exposed her children to which was full of drugs , sex and gang activity. There is plenty of kids that don't feel the love they crave for in their houses and they go looking for them in other locations . Most of them to young to even recognize true intentions find this supposedly love they are receiving in gangs or men/women , without realizing the people that are giving them this love are only doing it for their own advantage. This is how they end up in this life where they get abused sexually without themselves even realizing, end up in jail or dead. Since they crave love so much that wherever they find it they become loyal to whoever is giving that life throwing their own life's away because after they are no longer needed they are thrown just like Lady q was thrown . I myself used to be like lady q at some point trying to find love somewhere because my mother was to busy trying to provide for us that she had little time sometimes to sit with us and just even talk. That's where I found a boy that I thought loved me and gave me the attention that I have always wanted . Yet just like Lady Q I was used until they wanted and then just easily replaced by somebody else. The only difference was that even though my mother was always busy she loved me dearly and when I told her instead of scolding me or telling me I deserved it for doing the wrong thing , she held me and understood me , most importantly she comforted me . I feel like some parents are also responsible in a way of what fate their kids carry out . Lady Q's mom is a perfect example , she barely ever showed love or comfort towards Lady Q even when she needed it the most. She ignored her because that seemed like a easier outcome than actually putting effort into her daughter. Parents should as well read this book so they could be able to identify what triggers these behaviors with their teenagers kids and are able to do something before the streets take them .
I feel like more people should read this book , no matter what race or age . There is so many kids that are exposed in to the life lady Q was exposed to and that she exposed her children to which was full of drugs , sex and gang activity. There is plenty of kids that don't feel the love they crave for in their houses and they go looking for them in other locations . Most of them to young to even recognize true intentions find this supposedly love they are receiving in gangs or men/women , without realizing the people that are giving them this love are only doing it for their own advantage. This is how they end up in this life where they get abused sexually without themselves even realizing, end up in jail or dead. Since they crave love so much that wherever they find it they become loyal to whoever is giving that life throwing their own life's away because after they are no longer needed they are thrown just like Lady q was thrown . I myself used to be like lady q at some point trying to find love somewhere because my mother was to busy trying to provide for us that she had little time sometimes to sit with us and just even talk. That's where I found a boy that I thought loved me and gave me the attention that I have always wanted . Yet just like Lady Q I was used until they wanted and then just easily replaced by somebody else. The only difference was that even though my mother was always busy she loved me dearly and when I told her instead of scolding me or telling me I deserved it for doing the wrong thing , she held me and understood me , most importantly she comforted me . I feel like some parents are also responsible in a way of what fate their kids carry out . Lady Q's mom is a perfect example , she barely ever showed love or comfort towards Lady Q even when she needed it the most. She ignored her because that seemed like a easier outcome than actually putting effort into her daughter. Parents should as well read this book so they could be able to identify what triggers these behaviors with their teenagers kids and are able to do something before the streets take them .
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April 16, 2010Its About sonia trying to fit in her family never liked her they always blame her for whatever her sisters do. Her mom never finish school, remarried a couple of times and she didn't really have anywhere to live, she jus depended on friends and her husbands. When Sonia's mom moves from puerto rico to Chicago with her kids and her husband carlos, carlos is all nice to them and treats them like his all but them problems started, he was a drug dealer he also startes hitting sonia and blamed her for everything. There was a time when her uncle, aunt abd cousin decided to go 2 chicago and they didn't have anyone to live with only sonia's family they move in with her. Sonia's uncle was very religious and would carry a bible with him.SHe had to sleep in the same room as her sitster's bcuz the other family had moved in. After a while somoe guy would come into the room and start touching her. she was really scared and didn't kno who it was until she found ou it was her uncle. She also had to move in with her asunt and uncle when they got there own place, while she was there her cousin abused her.
Sonia was a good student and she loved going to school.
She lived in the Latin Kings hood' and her school was in the oppiste place by anther gang. so she jus started hanging out with the kings and slowly dropping out of school.
her sister vivan wanted to join the kings too, but they thought she was a fake. there was one time when sonia and her friend when on the oprah show, well before she started the real show. on the show sonia and herfriend talked about the gang life and what it was all about.
when the other kings found they were gonna give her a violatin so she got some money and and went to lancester with her other familyy soon she started hanging ou with her second cousin pedro and theyy started to have a little thing she got pregnant and soon her family found otut and they threw her on the street. she was homeless for awhile. until she got some money to buy a bus ticket back to chicago. when she got there she moved back in with her mom with her little girl. she then had talked to the other kings about the whole vilation thing and they had said that nothing was really gonna happen tht she jus needed to talk to the king of all kings. and when she did they started dating they dated for awhile and he provied her with money and a lace to live. sonia also got involved in the drug dealing she would deal for tino her boyfriend and everybody would byu form her so she wouuld have lots of money and her daughter and her were alwass in style.
it was wasn't till she got caught. she sat in jail for one night and the next day they let her go. but she had probation for a few years.
she was doing good until she decided to snort some cocanie. and her parol officer found out
Sonia was a good student and she loved going to school.
She lived in the Latin Kings hood' and her school was in the oppiste place by anther gang. so she jus started hanging out with the kings and slowly dropping out of school.
her sister vivan wanted to join the kings too, but they thought she was a fake. there was one time when sonia and her friend when on the oprah show, well before she started the real show. on the show sonia and herfriend talked about the gang life and what it was all about.
when the other kings found they were gonna give her a violatin so she got some money and and went to lancester with her other familyy soon she started hanging ou with her second cousin pedro and theyy started to have a little thing she got pregnant and soon her family found otut and they threw her on the street. she was homeless for awhile. until she got some money to buy a bus ticket back to chicago. when she got there she moved back in with her mom with her little girl. she then had talked to the other kings about the whole vilation thing and they had said that nothing was really gonna happen tht she jus needed to talk to the king of all kings. and when she did they started dating they dated for awhile and he provied her with money and a lace to live. sonia also got involved in the drug dealing she would deal for tino her boyfriend and everybody would byu form her so she wouuld have lots of money and her daughter and her were alwass in style.
it was wasn't till she got caught. she sat in jail for one night and the next day they let her go. but she had probation for a few years.
she was doing good until she decided to snort some cocanie. and her parol officer found out
December 31, 2013
I thought this biography was way too shallow, and never felt I ever really understood Sonia aka "Lady Q". The scenes from her childhood in which Sonia grew up in an abusive home in the barrio held my interest. But as she grows older and finds solace in a gang I lost track of who she really was as a person. A lot of this biography is expository, "Lady Q did this"/"then she did that", without really conveying to the reader any sense of what was going through her head.
Also, there are a number of dangling threads that are never really connected for me. We have Sonia assuming this persona of "Lady Q", this tough, self-assured woman who becomes the girlfriend of the main gang lord, Timo, supposed in control of a crime network from his prison cell. But Lady Q somehow has to take on menial jobs to make ends meet and is homeless for periods of time.
I found her relationship with Timo sketchy. Throughout most of the book, Lady Q has a long distant romance with Timo, but at some point later she falls in love with another man, moves in with him, and has his child. You would think at this point that man's life would be danger, but we, the readers, are simply told matter-of-factly that Timo was already told this (and, evidently, okay with her decision). Why wasn't the reader shown this?
Overall, this image of "Lady Q" and the details we learn of Sonia's story seem so out of sync with each other that I speculate whether this was a persona contrived from hyperbole. If this were a work of fiction I would blame the author for not making a character plausible enough. To be fair, perhaps, she is cagey about disclosing more details about a very real Chicagoland gang. Still, the idea beyond a biography is to paint a picture of someone's life in words -- it isn't simply pasting facts together collected from an interview. Sadly, if I come up to the last page of biography without an understanding of the person, the biography isn't working.
Also, there are a number of dangling threads that are never really connected for me. We have Sonia assuming this persona of "Lady Q", this tough, self-assured woman who becomes the girlfriend of the main gang lord, Timo, supposed in control of a crime network from his prison cell. But Lady Q somehow has to take on menial jobs to make ends meet and is homeless for periods of time.
I found her relationship with Timo sketchy. Throughout most of the book, Lady Q has a long distant romance with Timo, but at some point later she falls in love with another man, moves in with him, and has his child. You would think at this point that man's life would be danger, but we, the readers, are simply told matter-of-factly that Timo was already told this (and, evidently, okay with her decision). Why wasn't the reader shown this?
Overall, this image of "Lady Q" and the details we learn of Sonia's story seem so out of sync with each other that I speculate whether this was a persona contrived from hyperbole. If this were a work of fiction I would blame the author for not making a character plausible enough. To be fair, perhaps, she is cagey about disclosing more details about a very real Chicagoland gang. Still, the idea beyond a biography is to paint a picture of someone's life in words -- it isn't simply pasting facts together collected from an interview. Sadly, if I come up to the last page of biography without an understanding of the person, the biography isn't working.
May 30, 2010
This book was painful to read at times and tended to read like a run-on newspaper story. I would have appreciated more insight into the characters, such as finally did appear in the epilogue. On the other hand, it was thought provoking, exposing me to a world so different from my own that it's almost unbelievable. In fact, I do think some of it was so biased to Lady Q's perception of herself that in parts it really was not entirely true.
It left me with alot of unanswered questions. In her homeless times, did Lady Q ever have the opportunity to seek out a shelter or mission where she could get help changing her life? She expresses a bitterness towards "the so-called Christians" who were not there for her when she needed help and tried not to look at her when she was battered and on the streets. Again, were there opportunities to seek help that she never sought out? Where did she get her ideas of what a "real Christian" should be like? She did alot of drugs, yet seemed to be able to go off them without a real addiction issue. How was that possible? She was so tough and yet so easily misled and seemingly unable to really judge the character of another and therefore made the same mistakes over and over again.
What led some of the kids from "good homes" to pursue gang life? Have there been any successful programs to help reduce gang activity? What kind of experiences/motivations promote the kind of abusive behavior reflected in her mother?
And finally, how can I myself be different in my perception of and compassion for the many people less fortunate than I am?
It left me with alot of unanswered questions. In her homeless times, did Lady Q ever have the opportunity to seek out a shelter or mission where she could get help changing her life? She expresses a bitterness towards "the so-called Christians" who were not there for her when she needed help and tried not to look at her when she was battered and on the streets. Again, were there opportunities to seek help that she never sought out? Where did she get her ideas of what a "real Christian" should be like? She did alot of drugs, yet seemed to be able to go off them without a real addiction issue. How was that possible? She was so tough and yet so easily misled and seemingly unable to really judge the character of another and therefore made the same mistakes over and over again.
What led some of the kids from "good homes" to pursue gang life? Have there been any successful programs to help reduce gang activity? What kind of experiences/motivations promote the kind of abusive behavior reflected in her mother?
And finally, how can I myself be different in my perception of and compassion for the many people less fortunate than I am?
January 12, 2009
After reading Reymundo's previous books about himself, I was anxious to read this one. I was pleasantly surprised once I reached page 200 and it was confirmed that I personally knew Lady Q and her daughter. I remember the conversations I had with both of them back in 1992. This book talks about real events and even though the names have changed, most of the events are believable. But what bothers me is calling Lady Q the "Queen of all Kings" and making her seem like she was the larger than life, when actually all she was is just another homeless girl trying to get over and acted like the world owed her something because of the abuse she suffered as a child. Knowing the so called Lady Q, Reymundo must have a hard time putting up with her trying to get "paid" from him for her story. But Lady Q is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I remember when Lady Q would asked her daughter in front of a crowd "Lisette, who is your father?" and she would answer Lord Tino ALKN!
Lady Q also mentioned to me that gangbangers were negative people.She never let it be known that she was a queen and dated many folks, to us she was just a neighborhood garden tool and claimed that she slept with a lot of guys who she actually didn't sleep with, which caused alot of guys to get mad. I must admit though when I first met Lady Q she did leave an impression on me and she did have charisma that made people like her when first meeting her.
Book was a waste of money for me, but at least it showed me how small the world really is.
Lady Q also mentioned to me that gangbangers were negative people.She never let it be known that she was a queen and dated many folks, to us she was just a neighborhood garden tool and claimed that she slept with a lot of guys who she actually didn't sleep with, which caused alot of guys to get mad. I must admit though when I first met Lady Q she did leave an impression on me and she did have charisma that made people like her when first meeting her.
Book was a waste of money for me, but at least it showed me how small the world really is.
April 6, 2016
Took a star off simply because of Reymundo's attitude towards Sonia. He was extremely judgmental as if he has forgotten what it was like to have to struggle. It was jarring at some points in the book because I could so clearly see it was Reymundo's voice and not her. Otherwise it was an interesting look into her life.
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September 17, 2008teaches u alot!! u shuls read it!!
May 29, 2023
This book is filled with personal experiences of a female gang member, Sonia Rodriguez. Her life started out rough, with her father abusing her at the young age of five. She was also abused by her uncle and her mother. She was exposed to gang activity very young, as the Latin Kings and Latin Queens hung out in and around her house. Her sister was friends with them, which led to her becoming involved with the Latin Queens. Her experiences of life in the gang were wild and shocking. Gang life is a rough life, but I can see the appeal of it. It gives you a bizarre sense of family and community, which a lot of people are missing with their poor home lives. A lot of people get involved for protection in the neighborhoods in which gangs often reside. It's a really sad and scary situation.
This book is currently available to listen to on Audible Plus, and it is a pretty short listen. I finished this is no time, but I also never sleep, which probably helps. I added this one to my library because I had read My Bloody Life by this same author and liked it. The writing was well done, and the story was interesting. It gives a really personal, first hand perspective of life in a gang. If you are interested in gang life, or the Latin Kings and Latin Queens in particular, check this out. Reymundo Sanchez has another book besides this one and the one I mentioned before, called Once A King, Always A King. I have not gotten to read that one yet, but I would like to and believe that it would be very good.
This book is currently available to listen to on Audible Plus, and it is a pretty short listen. I finished this is no time, but I also never sleep, which probably helps. I added this one to my library because I had read My Bloody Life by this same author and liked it. The writing was well done, and the story was interesting. It gives a really personal, first hand perspective of life in a gang. If you are interested in gang life, or the Latin Kings and Latin Queens in particular, check this out. Reymundo Sanchez has another book besides this one and the one I mentioned before, called Once A King, Always A King. I have not gotten to read that one yet, but I would like to and believe that it would be very good.
February 11, 2017
Great Book!! I have read it twice and saw a documentary about her life which is why I read the book in the first place. She was a girl who went through a lot during her childhood where she didn't have a real Dad in her Life and Her mother never really showed love to her. The mom had boyfriends that mistreated her and her sister hung around a very well know gang where Lady Q felt love by the girls in this Gang. The boyfriends she had were also Gang members where she thought she found love from these boyfriends. Since she didn't get love from her Mom and the guys she dated were not a good influences she entered a World where The Gang members "The Latin Queens" was where she found Loyalty, Trust, and Love and that is the Life she felt she needed to be until she realized that wasn't the Life she wanted. She is one of the very few that got out of the Gang life (a real CREDITED gang) and was able to tell her story and still be alive to tell it. She is a very intelligent and Tough girl where "She meant what she said and said what she meant" type of girl. She deep down was a good girl but grew up in a non loving family. I Loved this book and probably will read it again a couple of times more. A Definite Must Read!!
October 23, 2020
I've checked this book out for 10+ years and my curiosity got the best of me. I really appreciated the perspective of a young woman rising through the ranks in the gang world.
April 25, 2017
Brutal.
October 24, 2021
I'll start by saying that I commend Reymundo for not only escaping gang life, but for his quest to warn young teens away from following his same path. I admire the mission of this book. But it's not a very good book, and Sonia is an extremely frustrating figure to read about.
The prose is unpolished and somewhat juvenile, and the voice is not quite formal enough to be academic and not quite informal enough to be familiar. We're given a fairly dry, chronological account of Sonia's life up until she met Reymundo. We're told about her joining the Latin Kings (abuse at home made her long for a "family" that would have her back) and her constant cycle of abusive partners and drug use, but we aren't given much insight into what she's thinking or feeling as these things happen. By the end of the book, I still didn't feel like I knew or understood Sonia. I couldn't really tell you why she kept falling into obviously unhealthy relationships, why she ignored her cancer for years, why she kept turning to drugs when drug use was ruining her life and her friends' lives.
I started out sympathizing with Sonia and understanding why she turned to a gang for security and validation - her mother and sisters heaped abuse on her, and her mother's male partners and relatives molested her. But as Sonia continued to make poor decision after poor decision, it became harder to feel bad for her. By the end of her life, Sonia hadn't learned much except to not explicitly associate herself with a gang. She seems to be in this weird state of learned helplessness despite her former life as an influential gangbanger.
There's also a lot of detail I felt was left out: How and why does Sonia have repeated fallings out and makings up with her sisters and mother? What was her gang career like? We see very little of it. Why was she so in love with and devoted to a high profile gangbanger who remained incarcerated for as long as she knew him?
It seems that Reymundo shared my opinion of Sonia as he sort of rips her a new one in the afterword. I recommend passing on this and finding other, more detailed accounts of former gang members.
The prose is unpolished and somewhat juvenile, and the voice is not quite formal enough to be academic and not quite informal enough to be familiar. We're given a fairly dry, chronological account of Sonia's life up until she met Reymundo. We're told about her joining the Latin Kings (abuse at home made her long for a "family" that would have her back) and her constant cycle of abusive partners and drug use, but we aren't given much insight into what she's thinking or feeling as these things happen. By the end of the book, I still didn't feel like I knew or understood Sonia. I couldn't really tell you why she kept falling into obviously unhealthy relationships, why she ignored her cancer for years, why she kept turning to drugs when drug use was ruining her life and her friends' lives.
I started out sympathizing with Sonia and understanding why she turned to a gang for security and validation - her mother and sisters heaped abuse on her, and her mother's male partners and relatives molested her. But as Sonia continued to make poor decision after poor decision, it became harder to feel bad for her. By the end of her life, Sonia hadn't learned much except to not explicitly associate herself with a gang. She seems to be in this weird state of learned helplessness despite her former life as an influential gangbanger.
There's also a lot of detail I felt was left out: How and why does Sonia have repeated fallings out and makings up with her sisters and mother? What was her gang career like? We see very little of it. Why was she so in love with and devoted to a high profile gangbanger who remained incarcerated for as long as she knew him?
It seems that Reymundo shared my opinion of Sonia as he sort of rips her a new one in the afterword. I recommend passing on this and finding other, more detailed accounts of former gang members.
February 29, 2016
This was assigned reading in an English class focusing on "gang memoirs". Lady Q is certainly unique in this genre since female gang members are rarely discussed.
I was excited to read Sonia/Lady Q's story, but I was quickly disappointed.
It's important to note that this book is ghostwritten by Reymundo Sanchez, cobbled from interviews with Sonia. Because of this, the reader never gets to hear Sonia's "voice" throughout her story. Sanchez wrote in straightforward, "just the facts, ma'am" style as he presented Sonia's life. While the hardships and adversities Sonia endured are not lost, I feel that the book would have been much more improved if Sanchez abided by the age old writing mantra "show, don't tell". There is a lot of telling at how powerful Sonia was in her Lady Q days, how feared the Latin Kings were, how much of this and that everything was back then. Personally, I never truly connected to Sonia and her story because of this narrative distance Sanchez inadvertently created.
The main goal of this book was to deter young adults from gang life (Sanchez and Sonia directly state this goal in the foreword and afterword of the book) and I do think this book might steer kids away from gang life, regardless of the empty prose. However, I wish the authors included more besides the finger wagging "Don't join a gang or bad things will happen to you" moral. I'm sure Sanchez (who was a former Latin King himself) and Sonia were warned against gangs when they were younger so I doubt the impact of a "Don't do this, kids!" message will have. I wish the authors include more concrete suggestions to avoiding gang life that they believe would be helpful.
I mean, if a book like Lady Q existed when Sonia was younger, would she really have listened to it?
I feel that there are better written gang memoirs out there but I suppose Lady Q shouldn't be discounted completely. As I stated before, it IS a rare look into the lives of female gang members and is important for that reason alone.
I was excited to read Sonia/Lady Q's story, but I was quickly disappointed.
It's important to note that this book is ghostwritten by Reymundo Sanchez, cobbled from interviews with Sonia. Because of this, the reader never gets to hear Sonia's "voice" throughout her story. Sanchez wrote in straightforward, "just the facts, ma'am" style as he presented Sonia's life. While the hardships and adversities Sonia endured are not lost, I feel that the book would have been much more improved if Sanchez abided by the age old writing mantra "show, don't tell". There is a lot of telling at how powerful Sonia was in her Lady Q days, how feared the Latin Kings were, how much of this and that everything was back then. Personally, I never truly connected to Sonia and her story because of this narrative distance Sanchez inadvertently created.
The main goal of this book was to deter young adults from gang life (Sanchez and Sonia directly state this goal in the foreword and afterword of the book) and I do think this book might steer kids away from gang life, regardless of the empty prose. However, I wish the authors included more besides the finger wagging "Don't join a gang or bad things will happen to you" moral. I'm sure Sanchez (who was a former Latin King himself) and Sonia were warned against gangs when they were younger so I doubt the impact of a "Don't do this, kids!" message will have. I wish the authors include more concrete suggestions to avoiding gang life that they believe would be helpful.
I mean, if a book like Lady Q existed when Sonia was younger, would she really have listened to it?
I feel that there are better written gang memoirs out there but I suppose Lady Q shouldn't be discounted completely. As I stated before, it IS a rare look into the lives of female gang members and is important for that reason alone.
January 15, 2013
This book is amazing it show you a lot of positive things and negative things about gangs. How they work and the consequences you get after you do something that can damage the gang. My favorite part of this book was when the author tells the consequences for breaking an important rule. Lady Q was a gang member of the Latin kings she was a loyalty gang member and willing to do everything for the gang, but she break an important rule for the Latin Kings to not been seen in camera, she and her friend that was also a member of the Latin king to show up at a show wearing the Latin king color and talking about them like nothing after the show was over, she return home just to find out that his friends were mad at her just for showing at the show, a drive shoot was realized at Lady Q house in response for breaking the rule. This book was one that i finish soon, it took me 1 week and three days to finish it. It was so interesting that I couldn’t put it down I just wanted to finish it and see what happened with her life.
My favorite character was lady Q, she was the main character of the book she was a tall and skinny woman, also she was the queen of all kings. This reminded me of my parents because they the ones who gives the orders to us and if will don’t do what they said they will give us our consequences. I’m a little similar to Lady Q, because I do what I want to do without fear of the consequences.
Hate/revenge= the author shows us that hate will always be around you even if you don’t wanted it, also revenge if you do something bad to someone sooner or later someone will do the same thing to you.
My favorite character was lady Q, she was the main character of the book she was a tall and skinny woman, also she was the queen of all kings. This reminded me of my parents because they the ones who gives the orders to us and if will don’t do what they said they will give us our consequences. I’m a little similar to Lady Q, because I do what I want to do without fear of the consequences.
Hate/revenge= the author shows us that hate will always be around you even if you don’t wanted it, also revenge if you do something bad to someone sooner or later someone will do the same thing to you.
January 15, 2013
Well i think that Lady Q is a great book. Its a book about how life was to Sonia in her world she lived. Sonia was the middle girl between her two sisters. One was older then her and the other one was younger then her Since her childhood in Puerto Rico her life was tuff. Her Mother never believed her and never trusted her. When her mother decided to move to Chicago from Perto Rico Sonia thought her nightmare had ended but in reality it has just begun. Once they got to Chicago her older sister began to hang out with the latin kings. Later on Sonia begun to hang out with them. One day Sonia and her older sister were invited to join the gang they decided to join so they had to get a violation beating. After that day Sonia had been in the gang. Soon after that her Mother and sister moved back to puerto rico where they party all night everyday. Sonia came back to Chicago alone And she needed all the help from the latin kings because she was alone. The latin Kings became like a second family to her but she new not to trust no one. After years she became well know in around the latin kings. She started Dating the king of all latin kings so she became real powerful in between all latin kings. She Became Lady Q the queen of all latin kings/queens after been so powerful everybody respected her and help her out. Years after She ended up from her own family. Find out what happen In her life by reading this book.
January 17, 2011
i chose this book because i read the first two and i liked them. so i wanted to read this one because it has the female side to it and i also like the cover. my book is non fiction beacuse it actually happend in chicago. the main character is a girl who dont take no for an answer. she gets abused by her family so she grows up to b a gang banger. she falls in love with with the king of all kings and she becomes the queen of the kings and she gets what ever she wants. money power drugs what ever she wants and she gats it all. the main problem for her is shes trying to get out of it but shes has problems trying to. but she finally does and she has a gud life with her daughter. my opinion in this book is that its a great book because there was action and a little mystery to it. i loke those books because there are cool and fun to read. i hope they right another book like this 1 because its about a girl and there arnt many books about girls and gang life. also she was a really high ranking gang banger.
March 14, 2011
This book is about a girl named sonia she had a horrible childhood, when she was a little kid she got abuse by her uncles and cousens, she tells her mom about wat happens but her mom dosen't belive her so she beats her. as she grows older a gang called The Latin Kings hang in her house, one day she decides to join the gang and gets baeat up for 3 mins from shoulder to toes. she is called Lady Q she gets alot of respect among the gang so one day she goes live on tv to see opra so she decides to throw her gang sign and say how cool her nation is. the LK'S get mad so dat day they drive by snd shoot her house. She is scarredof wat her suppously called family did t her. she fleds her house and stays at her aunts house, she falls in ove her cousen soon her aunt finds out and kick her out to the streets. she finds out she is pregnet, now she can barly keep her job dosent have a house and no one to soppurt her. she struggles to survive the streets with her newborn baby.
March 14, 2016
I think that there should have been more to this book, such as what did Sonia learn from all the mistakes she made, or explain what she has realized since she left that life. The book just explained Sonia's downward spiral of a life and I honestly thought the ending would have been a bit more positive and uplifting since, she did leave that life behind. I would have liked the author to describe what her life has been like since walking away from the gang. It was very catchy at first but I lost interest towards the end. I just really felt Sanchez could have described her life after all the heartache.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2017
this book was so good I was captivated by this book from the beginning to end. It was realistic and I could not put it down. I read this book ages ago but I still remember the name of the book!!!!!! Girls living in the hood go through this 70% of the girls I went to school with was & still is Sonia.It's a story about what happens when you grow up in a dysfunctional family and don't learn from your mistakes. WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM WHAT SONIA WENT THROUGH AND BECOMING A BETTER WOMAN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OURSELVES. Lady Q really left it's place in my heart <333
May 11, 2018
I think when some one makes a stupid disunion in real life is just a musket. But when some one did that stupid thing because she wanted to or need to, that have a lasting effect on me. this book starts of with a kid who was brought in to a world of hurt then became the bad gal of the year, then fall back to the human life to become a mother. This book is like two story's being told by one person. we begin with Sonia Rodriguez a Bright Child who broke in to being Lady Q the women who went form the top slowly to the bod-um. please read this book
January 7, 2013
This book was really good I dont really like reading but as soon as I started this book I had to keep going I really got into it because of the beginning it was really sad I would totally read this book again but I hope their will be a second book because I really want to know about what happens between sonia and Tino does he ever get out of jail??? Will they get married and live a better life?? I would like to see another book to see if that happens.
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