Incarcerated Teens
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-- School Library Journal, 2/25/2009 8:15:00 AM
Current projections from the Department of Justice indicate that the juvenile population in prison will be 36 percent higher in 2020 than it was in 2000. Existing research indicates that juveniles convicted in criminal court are more likely to be incarcerated and receive longer sentences than juveniles retained in the juvenile system. Get the attention of your teens with these books that deal with being in the juvenile detention system, and what can go wrong if warnings and advice are ignored.
KORMAN, Gordon. The Juvie Three. Hyperion. 2008. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-0158-1.
Gr 6-9–Korman is a perennial favorite among boy readers, and no wonder–his characters make realistic, sometimes serious mistakes; have distinct personalities; and engage in authentic teen dialogue. In this title, three juvenile delinquents are biding their time in a halfway house after getting out of jail, but almost blow it when their social worker ends up in the hospital.
KUKLIN, Susan. No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row. Holt. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7950-0.
Gr 8 Up–Five stories depict life on Death Row for crimes committed while the subjects were still considered juveniles. Not easy to read, but sure to prompt intense discussion on what’s right, what’s wrong, and what the punishment ought to be for making a bad decision or a deadly mistake.
JACOBS, Thomas A. They Broke the Law, You Be the Judge: True Cases of Teen Crime. Free Spirit. 2003. pap. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-57542-134-6.
Gr 7 Up–This well-organized title can be used for forensics and debate study, criminal justice classes, or simply to prompt discussion on the consequences of stepping outside the law and getting caught. Twenty-one real cases, with actual judgments, cover a variety of crimes, from cutting school to drug possession to breaking and entering. A glossary, resource list, and index are included.
RAPP, Adam. The Buffalo Tree. Front St. 2007. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-93242-599-4.
Gr 7-12–A thirteen year old boy describes his life at a juvenile detention center. Initially quite naïve when he is incarcerated for stealing hood ornaments, Sura is a sharp observer and finds his niche at the center. Readers learn more about Sura, his ability to be rehabilitated, his inner struggles, and the sadness he feels as his bunkmate Coly Jo succumbs to constant bullying and physical abuse. Look for a new paperback edition from Harper in May 2009 (ISBN: 978-1-4352-8001-4).
WILLIAMS, Stanley “Tookie” & Barbara Cottman Becnel. Life in Prison. Chronicle. 2001. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-58717-093-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-58717-094-2.
Gr 6 Up–Williams presents a frank and compelling portrait of his life on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison, where he has been since 1981. Each chapter covers a particular aspect of life in prison, such as “the hole” (solitary confinement) and “the strip search.” Black-and-white photos add to the grim reality of correctional facilities. There’s nothing glamorous about this book, and that’s the point–to keep young adults from entering the system.
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