Mafia Dynasty


Book Description

The Gambinos--they arrived in America from Sicily when the `20's roared with bootleg liquor. For thirty years they fought a bloody battle for control of New York's underworld to emerge as the nation's richest and most powerful crime family. Now Mafia expert John H. Davis tells their compelling inside story. Here are the chilling details and deceptions that created a vast criminal empire. Here are six decades of the uncontrolled greed and lust for power of such men as Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello, Meyer Lansky, Vito Genovese, Albert Anastasia, Carlo Gambino, Paul Castellano, and John Gotti--men for whom murder and betrayal were business as usual. From the Gambinos' powerful stranglehold on New York's construction, garment, and waterfront industries to the government's onslaught against them in the `80s and `90s, Mafia Dynasty takes you into the mysterious world of blood oaths, shifting alliances, and deadly feuds that will hold you riveted from the first page to the last.




Childish Gambino: Multifaceted Artist


Book Description

This biography highlights the life and accomplishments of Childish Gambino, the musical alter ego of Donald Glover. Readers learn about Glover's early life, inspiration to pursue music, and successes as a hip-hop artist. With striking photographs and sidebars, the book also explores Glover's superstar career in television and film and the social commentary embedded in his art. Features include a timeline, glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.




Blood of My Blood


Book Description




Never Give Up


Book Description

An autobiography




Prince of Omerta


Book Description

Johnny Valenti is a hit man as well as a man committed to ethics. True, the standard he abides by is somewhat different from traditional ethics, yet he is a man of principle. His uncompromising commitment is to omertá - the code of silence. He believes when you are involved in murder, arson, extortion, and other such crimes, you keep your mouth shut, no matter what. So living up to his beliefs, Valenti takes the rap for a murder he did not commit, and serves eighteen years in prison. When he gets out, using his professional skills, he takes care of the rat that framed him. Finally free, he tries being a law abiding citizen but he simply can't cut it. He's had very little training, indeed none, on the right side of the law. Thus, he returns to his roots, working for a powerful organized crime family led by the brutal boss of bosses. He performs well, getting excellent job performance reviews, but as in most jobs, office politics is killing him - so to speak - and he clashes with the boss. Given his skills as one of the best in the murder-for-hire business, he smells that he may be the target of the boss of bosses, but Valenti turns the table on him. With the help of a mole in a special U.S. federal crime fighting unit, he outwits the boss, and devises an ingenious plan that assures he can live with his true love in anonymity and peace. He disappears leaving no forwarding address.




Surviving the Mob


Book Description

What do you do when the law wants you behind bars and the New York crime families want you buried? Surviving the Mob is a cautionary tale of the harsh reality of a criminal, inmate, fugitive, and witness who -- so far -- has lived to tell the tale.




Never Give Up


Book Description

Never Give Up puts the AIDS pandemic into cultural context, raising questions about international health issues, cross-cultural experiences, racism, and homophobia. In his role as executive director of Open Arms of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that provides meals and related services to people with HIV/AIDS, Kevin Winge shares his firsthand knowledge of the realities and challenges facing people living with the disease. While earning his master's degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Winge traveled to the townships outside of Cape Town, South Africa, where he lived and worked with AIDS workers for six months. He chronicled his daily activities by telling stories about the people he came in contact with, accounts that are included here. Emotional and highly personal, the lives and conditions depicted in Never Give Up are a strong call to action for all of us to respond to this devastating disease with compassion and determination.




Breach of Contract


Book Description

Ross Gallo is a rich, Las Vegas hotel owner who has it all: a beautiful wife and more than one sexy mistress. Caroline Gallo, suspicious of her husband's infidelity, hires a Privvate Investigator.




My Only


Book Description

Shy, awkward Adam is resigned to sit on the sidelines of life, overshadowed by his outgoing and popular twin brother, Aaron. But when a free spirited new girl with a troubled past moves in across the street, Adam's eyes are opened to a new world of possibilities. But why would ever anyone choose him when a better version exists? It seems Adam has a lot to learn about love....and life.




Organized Crime


Book Description