8 Ball Chicks by Gini SikesThe book "8 Ball Chicks", written by Gini Sikes, is a thrilling and shocking book about gang girls. The book explains in gruesome detail the roles and existence of girls in these gangs. Sikes traveled to several different cities to experience the lives of gangster girls. She traveled to Los Angeles, San Antonio and Milwaukee. Through these trips, she immersed herself in the lifestyle of each gang and had first-hand accounts of what it was like to be in a gang. Sikes met many girls who she couldn't believe what had persuaded them to live the way they did. Most girls just wanted to fit in, have power, or be safe. Sikes recognized that all of these girls were victims of their environments, so she looked for what she could present to show others that children of poverty need a good education to be able to succeed and have a successful life. But they didn't know how to go about it. Gang life was all they knew because they grew up there and were taught it. They talked about their dreams outside of gangs. Some of these girls were unable to achieve these dreams due to their lack of education (mainly because of their environment). Most of the girls she meets grew up in poverty. Also because of poverty, many of their parents were as bad as their children. Some were raised by single mothers who slept or were even prostitutes. Other girls were molested by their mother's boyfriend or stepfather. These girls had a bleak vision of their future. In reality, all they knew how to do was survive. So they all turned to gangs. When a girl was initiated into gangs, she had several choices, being "jumped in" (beaten by x...... middle of paper ...... gs. They are basically just children caught in a desert with nothing really to turn to. In turn, the pressures of the streets overwhelm them. We should not view children as the problem, but rather as the environment they come from. counselor for teenagers. I always wanted to reach out and help people, mainly children Reading this book gave me a better understanding of the teenage mind We all go through adolescence differently, and see under. many different angles would obviously help me to see why children evolve the way they do We need to study and understand their thought process and why they make these decisions. Plus, it makes me want to know more about them. problems that children face today and what can be done by society as a whole. try to change these problems and help these children so that they can have a prosperous future.