There and Now: Volume One Kindle Edition

"There and Now" engages you with the raw, simplistic, and authentic voice of the writer. You will feel as if you're living on the author's street; going to his school; and sharing his emotions. As an ELA teacher, I think this book would be ideal for struggling readers who reside in urban communities. While the vocabulary of the main character is not sophisticated, and the vernacular of the 80's and Philadelphia might be different for today's youth, themes connected to adolescent angst would be appealing as well as relative to young readers, especially African-American young men."

I like that the book offers good advice while sharing personal details that confronts the issue of bullying especially child abuse. It also goes into what a typical young boy that's black would do.

Lil E went through a lot. The story is about every youth of color who grew up in inner city America.

The book is off the hook but I was disappointed ,that I have to wait for more.Excellent reading with a lot of excitement.

Life in the 1980s can seem like a century ago for those who never experienced it. From technology to new societal norms, much is different from only a generation ago. Like an Atari game, there were good guys, bad guys, and you felt like you just needed to survive until you got that next quarter. In There And Now, Volume 1, Eric Reese tells the story of a young man growing up in Philadelphia during a time of Saturday morning cartoons, belt whippings, and finding your way.The story is that of Lil E, a first person account of a young man, his family, friends, and neighbors. Most of the story is his life from elementary school through middle school. To those who didn’t grow up during the time, life can seem harsh (fights, drug abuse in the neighborhood) but the character faces it all as facts of life. If someone jumps you, pick yourself up and move on. If you act up in class, your mom was called to straighten you out in front of the class.Even in what may seem harsh circumstances, the good times will always shine through. From hanging out with friends playing music and video games, to family gatherings and school activities, Lil E looks back with fondness. This is probably the most original indie novel I have read this year. As a snapshot of life in Philadelphia, it was hard to put down and made me eager for Volume 2.

This book is comprised of a collection of anecdotes chronicling the author's childhood. The memories shared were interesting, often humorous, and were sprinkled with the occasional life lesson for good measure. The interjections of historical references were nice, and I often found myself saying, "Oh, yes, I remember that!" I even played some of the songs mentioned as I read the book. Yes, Little E's story took me way back!At first, I was not quite sure how I felt about the formatting, as the collection of anecdotes sometimes felt like they would have been better served with entry dates like a diary. However, as I settled into the story, my initial misgivings fell away and I enjoyed the ride. Now to see what Little E is up to in Volume 2...

There and Now: Love and Respect Volume 1 by Eric Reese for me is a five star readThere and now is an amazing memoir. I enjoyed this book as it was REAL. This book is brutally honest and it is so refreshing to read.I found myself looking forward in anticipation to the next scene. The story flowed very well and at the end I wanted more. This book had me gripped right from the start and there are many twists and turns. I did not want to put it down. I definitely want to follow this author's series of memoirs.This book can be enjoyed time and time again.I highly recommend it.Will definitely recommend to all friends and family

This short book follows the story of Lil E who endured many hardships in his life, including bullying and degradation at the hands of his peers. Yet he rose above it all whole and unscathed. And this is the most important message delivered by this book. You can survive anything! I would recommend this book to anyone who has been the target of bullying, and especially those who are still suffering through it.