Loyalty

Considering the loyalty that is typically inspired by the gang mentality, it's little wonder that loyalty is one of the overriding themes of this book. Those unfamiliar with the ideals upheld by gangs may find that loyalty misplaced. One of the most outstanding examples of this kind of loyalty occurs when Kody is shot. After the first incident, his fellow gang members immediately rally and mount attacks on those responsible for Kody's injuries. The result is an immediate escalation in the violence to the point that police call on Kody to stop it. After Kody is shot the second time, fellow gang members go to the apartment building of the man who shot Kody and shoot up the entire building. While Kody admits that the reaction was rather extreme, he appreciates the fact that his friends were willing to retaliate on his behalf. Kody himself says that the...