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Fans of my book...I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE KIND WORDS AND THE PROPS THAT KEEP POURING IN. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR STORIES ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR PEOPLE...I finished your book last night and now I'm bummed because it was so much fun to read. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your style, and especially the way that you lay out the events without explaining a thing, and how Spanish is included without translation and without a glossary at the end or other "learning aids" for gringos. It's just a picture of real life, no preaching, no sociology, no lessons, take it or leave it. It's perfect, a gem. Thanks! F.D.C. ****4.5 Star Rating by Arcus Book Club THE HOOD: LATINO STYLE!Jenny Rivera is near death’s door as we take a look back into her disturbing life through her eyes. With a useless mother, and child protective services knocking down the door every few days; teenager Jenny had to assume the parent role to her sister, two brothers and even her addict mother. With minimal help from grandma who at least did what she could to keep CPS at bay, Jenny became a school drop out and then took a job…being a hustler.Jen run with her crew Jay and Danny who held down their own territory by any means necessary. With wanting to keep her family together and staying loyal to her crew/friends this meant that Jen put her life on the line and was up to any challenge to put food on the table.But the hood life starts to get real dangerous especially with the TC crew multiplying rapidly and putting the smaller crew’s out of business. Find out what happens when the TC crew decides that they want Jen, Danny and Jay’s spot for their own! Then Jen’s life takes a huge blow when her worst fear turns into reality and the result brings her father back into her life which she is none to please about! And then to top that off, she’s in love for the first time but does Vincent really love her?Jenny Rivera is a vulnerable yet tough character. She’s protective of her family and loyal to her friends. Seeing a loved one’s life being eaten away by drugs; but then knowing that selling those same drugs is the reason food was on the table was tough for this young girl.Author Carmen Noboa-Espinal did a great job bringing to life this Latino Urban drama. The sub-plots smoothly blend right into the main storyline which presented a realistic view of a young girl’s life in a gang/crime filled NYC. ****4 Star Rating by Mahogany Media Review Uptown Menace is a story about Jenny Rivera, a young Latina growing up in the streets of New York. This gritty and all to real drama pulls the heart strings. With a mother strung out on drugs and her father long gone Jenny feels the pressure to take care of her brothers and sister, and that she does. Jenny is a hustler. She holds her own with her crew. Then she meets Vincent, a rival gang member. Her crew doesn't approve and Jenny finds herself torn between loyalty and love. Between dodging bullets and keeping her siblings fed, Jenny loses her mother to drugs. Her father returns and tries to do right. The family she always wanted. But is it? Jenny feels something just isn't right with Vincent but he is the only love she has ever known and love leaves Jenny shot in the head, laying on the floor reflecting back on her life being young, poor and living in the gritty unkind streets of New York. Yes, Jenny has been to hell and back. This fast paced novel that kept me turning the pages. I was drawn to Jenny and her troublesome life. The end still has me wondering is it all over? Or will the past come back again. A stunning debut! A writer to watch! MAHOGANY MEDIA REVIEW ****4 Star Rating by APOOO Book Club In Uptown Menace, by Carmen Noboa-Espinal, Jenny Rivera galloped through her teenage years plagued by drug abuse, neglect, and the callings of the gang-filled, crime-ridden streets of New York City. With younger siblings to take care of, Jenny hustled money in any way she could, even putting her life on the line a few times. Things turned sour when Jenny was accidentally shot by her boyfriend. While her future was being determined, Jenny lay in limbo recounting the events of her life. Would those visions be enough to make her give up her will to live? Or would they provide her with more of a reason to fight for her life? Uptown Menace is a fast-paced read. The characters were well-developed and the imagery was good. The plot and subplots were solid and realistic. I recommend Uptown Menace to urban fiction fans who enjoy wholesome, life-like stories. Darnetta Frazier SEE READERS COMMENTS.....Carmen Noboa-Espinal exhales a story written in a prose that effortlessly creates a world of uncertainty, friendship, longing, small joys and tears with each word written. Uptown Menace finds beauty in the survival of one young woman's heartbreaking coming-of-age. JUAN CACERES, FILM PRODUCER, NUEVA YORK FILMS The Queen of Latin Lit. has arrived! This book is a must read. You won't want to put it down once you start reading this moving rollercoaster ride. JOCO, Movie Director Uptown Menace takes you on an insatiable journey through hell and back again. From page 1, you're drawn into an odyssey you're not sure you'll make it out of, living and breathing vicariously through the eyes and cojones of our anti-heroine Jenny Rivera. She is brave, gangsta and even a bit unexpectedly naive, but mostly she is flesh and blood with a whole lotta attitude on the side. Take the ride! KAREN TORRES - Productions Casting AssociateUptown Menace is about a young girl (Jenny) surviving the heartless streets of New York in the 80's. I could not put the book down...I will recommend this book to everyone to read! The author Carmen Noboa-Espinal has done something that most writers forget to do.. write a compelling, well written story! Evelyn Brito, Independent FilmmakerAn incredible story about everyday life in the ghetto and the struggles of a young woman and her family. This story touched me so much, because I myself have seen these things happen to family and friends. A must read! A. CARR I really enjoyed this story. There are not very many urban books geared towards Hispanics. The author tells a story about growing up in the '80's in the rough parts of the city. The spanish words and colorful characters make the story fun to read. I definitely recommend it! OSCAR P.