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

This book was a recommendation from Mayim Bialik in some post as a must-read and life-changing, so I was intrigued and picked it up. I have mixed feelings about this book. It is honest and open, and a bit too detailed for my taste when it comes to the drugs being used and the mind-altering experiences associated with them. It was also sad and upsetting. It is distressing—especially to see how society and people can be enablers by overlooking, not paying attention, or simply turning a blind eye to what the youth around us are actually doing. At the same time, it is inspiring to see someone get so lost and yet make the right turn when you are convinced there is no way out for them. What I didn’t like at all was the foul language and the generalizations. The constant use of the word retards and the making fun of special-needs children was distasteful. Much of the humor also felt overcompensating and tiring.

It was an okay read. One can read it, but you don’t really miss out if you don’t.

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