A thought-provoking tragedy
James is a fifteen-year-old with problems. His neglectful
mother and her abusive boyfriend force him out of the house and he wanders the
streets aimlessly. The trouble starts when his brother offers him a job
delivering purchased drugs. Unfortunately, the job does not bring profits. Instead,
it lands him a cell in juvenile detention. There, he'll have face abusive
guards, violent inmates and other dangers. He'll have to learn who he is and
whether he can survive to become a man. The question is, will he make it out
alive?
This
book was a great book, worthy of the classics. A fantastic basis for several
essays, it makes readers truly think about standing up for a belief and the
integrity of one's character. James is a truly likeable character whose naivety
and kindness make him easy to root for. The author, a school psychologist, worked
at detention facilities with troubled youth and the story is written from his
experience. Thus, the story portrays a clear, realistic, but frightening image
of our juvenile justice system. The story encourages teenage readers to think
about their own lives and how they act compared to the characters of the story.
I do have to warn readers, however, that because of the harsh environment and
questionable ethics of many of the characters, the book contains severe
profanity. Also, for readers who don't like sad stories, I would not recommend
this book, as it can be sad at times and may cause tears in the eyes of the
more emotional readers. I gave it five stars for a provocative story and real-life message.
