Kindness for Weakness

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.