"OMG. That was my reaction after reading the words and understanding the hardships endured and overcome in Underprivileged Overachiever: A Crenshaw Story. For all the stereotypes of growing up in South Los Angeles, this is a no-holds-barred story how a teenager somehow made it to the Air Force Academy while being homeless and facing obstacle after obstacle.

"It’s stunning for its truth and refusal to hold anything back. I'm not a big fan of profanity but understand how it's used in sports and in life and used in telling this story. I was an outsider and observer during Yohancé Salimu’s Crenshaw football days. He played on one of the most talented Crenshaw teams ever with the likes of future NFL players De’Anthony Thomas and Hayes Pullard. As a sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times, looking back it was his story of perseverance that should have risen to the top.

"Fortunately, we all now get to look back and understand the depths of despair that he was able to overcome and the many kind people he ran into that helped him along the way. Some of those same people, like his football coach, Robert Garrett, are still trying to help others in a world that's changing but also not changing.

"This story is shocking for its honesty. It might need a warning label before parents allow their teenagers to read. But it's a compelling read and one that provides insights into today's daily struggles for families seeking a path to a better life."

—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times