Allen Richards a.k.a. Pooney , learns the hard way just how fast a life filled with promise can become the greatest of urban tragedies. Blessed with a loving mother and younger sister, Pooney is a star student athlete. But when an argument with another young man over a girlfriend causes Pooney to join a local gang, his life takes a drastic turn.

Pooney quickly falls in love with his new "family" and the foul activities that now dominate his life. With his single mom working constantly to support herself and two children, Pooney finds the freedom to indulge in his new self-destructive habits.  However, when the highest ranking member of the Deuce-Nine Crips shows a romantic interest in Pooney's sister, his love affair with the gang is over. Unfortunately, Pooney finds that getting out of a gang proves much more difficult than getting into one.

*****Deuce-Nine Is For Life?

Regina Richards is a struggling single mother of two forced to shoulder the responsibility of being sole provider and caregiver after the father of her children is incarcerated. Six years later and the struggle has only increased now that she is dealing with teens. As the plight with many single mothers, Regina has to do what she has to do in order to keep food on the table and a roof over their head. In this case, Regina works overnight and sleeps during the day, not affording her much of an opportunity to spend time with her children. It's during those lost times that her oldest child, Allen aka Pooney, falls prey to the streets.

Pooney has great potential. He is a gifted student possessing both academic and athletic talent. That potential soon begins to fade, as Pooney is ill advised by his best friend Tony to join the Deuce-Nine Crips. From there, Pooney's life kicks into hyper-speed on a path that nothing good can come from. He's hustling. He's drinking. He's smoking weed. He's gangbanging. His dreams of playing football and going to college have quickly become dreams deferred. Can the love and support of his family and friends prevent his imminent crash with self-destruction? The events and decisions of one summer will forever change the Richards' household.

Gangsta Lean is an emotionally gripping tale of one young man's loss of innocence and the ramifications of his decisions; ramifications that are far reaching that just himself. Rochan Morgan paints a vivid sense of the dangers, both physical and emotional, of day-to-day existence in this urban environment where gang activity is the norm. Morgan achieved accuracy and dramatic resonance in this story of an at-risk youth. I absolutely loved the relationship between Pooney and his sister. Rochan Morgan's talent is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Reviewed by: Toni

**** A True Soldier