Scan barcode
prairie_fairie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I've seen a couple of prison movies before. This is kind of like one of those, only in a written form (and not as long). It's an excellent account and very hard to put down once you start it. (I feel ashamed to say that it is excellent, as prison movies are typically quite violent and portray a less-than-desirable life for the protagonist, but I wasn't always a Christian). Casey is the protagonist in this story. His early life is violent. He's looking for a sense of belonging and probably a sense of purpose. He finds both in the gang life. But he also finds prison and admits that prior to that his soul turned black. He knew what he was doing to people prior to going to prison wasn't good, but he didn't care.
While locked up in the SHU ( say "shoe"), or solitary as some of us know it as, Casey has an encounter with God. The way it reads to me comes off as a bit of a 'story of your life' kind of thing, only Jesus is there, being nailed to a cross saying why He's being crucified. For Casey, it's humbling. It affects him in a way probably nothing has ever affected him. This is the beginning of Casey 2.0
Reading this, I am reminded of someone very dear to me who has had a hell of a life and it's only half way through that life when he finally let God take the lead that God is now using all those truly awful experiences and turning them into awesome testimonies into how God can work in our lives and reach people that nobody else can, because they get them. Jesus uses people who have come out of situations so they can be relatable to others who are still in those situations. Just like the agent and some of the COs and judges and all those who saw Casey 'find God' and 'get religion' while in prison could see this was something different to someone trying to impress a parole board, I see it also in that close relative of mine.
Casey had his Frances Proctor whom barely knew him praying for him while he was in 23 hour lock-down. My relative had his mother while he was enduring some similar things.
To those Frances Proctors who go into spiritual warfare regularly for someone's salvation, this book is for you. To those who have been to prison and wonder what the purpose to your life is, this book is for you. And to those who know one of these people, you need to buy them this book. It will change someone's life. I know it will. I'm about to buy another copy for my loved one to give to someone he thinks would benefit from it. And while I said the protagonist was Casey. The protagonist is God, but God likes to use people to get the message across. So what are you waiting for....buy the book.
While locked up in the SHU ( say "shoe"), or solitary as some of us know it as, Casey has an encounter with God. The way it reads to me comes off as a bit of a 'story of your life' kind of thing, only Jesus is there, being nailed to a cross saying why He's being crucified. For Casey, it's humbling. It affects him in a way probably nothing has ever affected him. This is the beginning of Casey 2.0
Reading this, I am reminded of someone very dear to me who has had a hell of a life and it's only half way through that life when he finally let God take the lead that God is now using all those truly awful experiences and turning them into awesome testimonies into how God can work in our lives and reach people that nobody else can, because they get them. Jesus uses people who have come out of situations so they can be relatable to others who are still in those situations. Just like the agent and some of the COs and judges and all those who saw Casey 'find God' and 'get religion' while in prison could see this was something different to someone trying to impress a parole board, I see it also in that close relative of mine.
Casey had his Frances Proctor whom barely knew him praying for him while he was in 23 hour lock-down. My relative had his mother while he was enduring some similar things.
To those Frances Proctors who go into spiritual warfare regularly for someone's salvation, this book is for you. To those who have been to prison and wonder what the purpose to your life is, this book is for you. And to those who know one of these people, you need to buy them this book. It will change someone's life. I know it will. I'm about to buy another copy for my loved one to give to someone he thinks would benefit from it. And while I said the protagonist was Casey. The protagonist is God, but God likes to use people to get the message across. So what are you waiting for....buy the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
franquie's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Wow wow wow. I’ve been on a bit of an autobiography kick the last week or so, and this one did not disappoint. Darwin “Casey” Diaz grew up in Los Angeles, and joined a gang at the age of 11. This is his story of the things that happened to him, the crimes he committed, and how God reached into his life and pulled him out (the vision he had while in prison was amazing). If God can save a convicted murderer (as Casey is), who is beyond His reach?? NO ONE. I can’t recommend this book enough!
jkjoy_books's review against another edition
4.0
The Shot Caller by Casey Diaz and Mike Yorkey is an honest look into Casey's gang life. It is not a book for the squeamish at all. This book, in my opinion, needs to be in all prison libraries across the whole world. This a wonderful story of God at work in this man’s life. I really enjoyed reading how Jesus lives in Casey’s heart and life. Casey offers his services in the back of the book to speak in churches, schools, and prisons. I believe this is a wonderful way for this man to spread God’s word to others. I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
jamie_o's review against another edition
5.0
I love a good redemption story, and this one did not disappoint. It is intense.
Darwin "Casey Diaz" was born in El Salvador and emigrated to the U.S. with his parents as a baby. His parents were poor and his father an alcoholic who couldn't hold down a job, leaving his mother to work several jobs. Worse yet, his father ruthlessly and regularly beat and verbally abused Casey and his mother. It's easy to see how gang life appealed to him.
Casey was jumped into a gang at age 11. He pulls no punches in describing his life in the Rockwood gang. He earned the fear and respect of others by being extremely aggressive. He beat, stabbed, and killed other gangbangers and watched as others did the same. The violence is difficult to read but necessary to understand his story - it's explicit in places, though not over the top. He respectfully uses symbols for swear words.
At age 16 he was sentenced to 12 years for second-degree murder and armed robbery. He was eventually transferred to the notorious New Folsom prison near Sacramento where he spent three years in solitary confinement (he was considered to be among the most dangerous of prisoners). At some point, a little old black lady doing prison ministry began to pray for him. Months later he had a jarring experience with God in his cell and accepted Jesus as his Savior. His life was radically changed and he began to read the Bible daily and attend prison Bible studies. The remainder of his time in prison consisted of beatings from other other gang members, something of a prison revival, and God working in his life in amazing ways.
The book was fascinating. All of it. I learned about the struggles of poor immigrants, gang life, prison life and the corruption that often goes along with it, and the faithfulness of a man transformed by Christ.
"Mr. Diaz," he said, "we don't let anyone out early, especially on such serious charges such as yours, but we believe that something special has really taken place in your life. We also believe that you became a changed young man in here. The very fact that you've turned your back on your gang members speaks volumes. We know all about the beatings you took for doing that. There's documentation and proof in your file. You've apparently gone through some extreme changes inside this prison and risked your life for what you believe. You're to be commended for taking those actions."
Darwin "Casey Diaz" was born in El Salvador and emigrated to the U.S. with his parents as a baby. His parents were poor and his father an alcoholic who couldn't hold down a job, leaving his mother to work several jobs. Worse yet, his father ruthlessly and regularly beat and verbally abused Casey and his mother. It's easy to see how gang life appealed to him.
Casey was jumped into a gang at age 11. He pulls no punches in describing his life in the Rockwood gang. He earned the fear and respect of others by being extremely aggressive. He beat, stabbed, and killed other gangbangers and watched as others did the same. The violence is difficult to read but necessary to understand his story - it's explicit in places, though not over the top. He respectfully uses symbols for swear words.
At age 16 he was sentenced to 12 years for second-degree murder and armed robbery. He was eventually transferred to the notorious New Folsom prison near Sacramento where he spent three years in solitary confinement (he was considered to be among the most dangerous of prisoners). At some point, a little old black lady doing prison ministry began to pray for him. Months later he had a jarring experience with God in his cell and accepted Jesus as his Savior. His life was radically changed and he began to read the Bible daily and attend prison Bible studies. The remainder of his time in prison consisted of beatings from other other gang members, something of a prison revival, and God working in his life in amazing ways.
The book was fascinating. All of it. I learned about the struggles of poor immigrants, gang life, prison life and the corruption that often goes along with it, and the faithfulness of a man transformed by Christ.
"Mr. Diaz," he said, "we don't let anyone out early, especially on such serious charges such as yours, but we believe that something special has really taken place in your life. We also believe that you became a changed young man in here. The very fact that you've turned your back on your gang members speaks volumes. We know all about the beatings you took for doing that. There's documentation and proof in your file. You've apparently gone through some extreme changes inside this prison and risked your life for what you believe. You're to be commended for taking those actions."
artmushroommoth's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a good, good testimony. Honest, brutal, straight-to-the-point and right to God. I couldn't ask for a better book.
My father gave me this copy to borrow..but I think he forgot he gave it to me.
My father gave me this copy to borrow..but I think he forgot he gave it to me.
More...