Lockdown

Myers, Walter Dean.  Lockdown.  Amistad, a division of Harper Collins Publishers.  2010.


Annotation:
Reese, an inmate at the Progress Juvenielle Detention Facility is given a rare opportunity to remake his life.  He is put on a work release program at a nursing home.  As Reese struggles with life within the walls at Progress, he realizes that life is about the choices that you make.

Book Talk:
Reese has been serving time at Progress for 22 months.  He stole prescription drug pads from a doctor in his neighborhood and sold them to a drug dealer.  For the first time, he has been given the opportunity to change his life.  He has been admitted to the work-study program where he will be able to learn job skills which will help him to support himself once he is released from prison.  With a job, he won't have to return to stealing in order to support himself and his family.  He needs a plan.  He needs to make a plan for his life in order to keep him out of trouble when he returns home.

But life in the prison is tough.  Kids come and go, and all of them have an agenda.  Everyone wants to prove that they are the toughest kid on the block, and that they are not to be messed with.  Each new arrival looks for a victim as soon as they arrive.  Unfortunately, the always settle on the smallest kid, Toon.  Reese doesn't want to lose his one opportunity to get out of jail early.  He doesn't want to mess up and be sent upstate to the next level of prison - with the adults.  But can he honestly just sit back and watch as Toon gets beaten up by the newest arrivals who are out to prove themselves?

Author's Web Site:
http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/

Reviewer's Note: 
Walter Dean Myers has taken a place in my heart as one of my favorite authors of YA literature.  He was the first ever winner of the Printz Award - which is the best book written for young adults every publishing year.  I began my teaching career 20+ years ago in an inner city neighborhood.  Although I have since moved on, my heart has forever been touched by those kids who were exposed to the rough side of life entirely too young.  I find his books to be an honest look at the issues kids can face.  He tackles these issues with love, candor, and understanding.

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