Lockdown

                                                                           Book Review:

 

Bibliography-

Myers, W.D. (2010). Lockdown. Harper Collins Publishing.

ISBN 9780061214806

 

Plot Summary- 

It seems as if the only progress that's going on at Progress juvenile facility is moving from juvy jail to real jail. Reese wants out early, but is he supposed to just sit back and let his friend Toon get jumped? Then Reese gets a second chance when he's picked for the work program at a senior citizens' home. He doesn't mean to keep messing up, but it's not so easy, at Progress or in life. One of the residents, Mr. Hooft, gives him a particularly hard time. If he can convince Mr. Hooft that he's a decent person, not a criminal, maybe he'll be able to convince himself.

 

Critical Analysis-

This story was inspired by Myers's own experiences talking to young, incarcerated men. The main character, Reese, is the 14-year-old narrator with an absent father, a drug-addicted mother, and his only joy in life, Icy, his little sister. Reese's story is all about being forced to make choices, though his choices are never straightforward and certainly never easy or fair. It is a realistic look at what it means to be a young person in the prison system, but it also could be viewed as a microcosm of the teenage experience, especially for young readers from low-income families. The complexity of this story is Walter Dean Myers's greatest strength.

 

Review Excerpts-

-“A moving tale of a kid who may have made a mistake but who still deserves the modest future he seeks. Refreshingly avoids cliché.” — Booklist starred review

-“Myers creates a nuanced, realistic portrait of a teen dealing with incarceration and violence. Myers gets his voice just right.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

 

Connections-

-Students can respond in their reading response journal to these critical thinking questions:

1. What are some of the symbols in Lockdown?

2. What conflict exists between Reese and someone else in the story?

3. What do Maurice and Mr. Hooft value most?

4. What are some events that enable Reese to come to an understanding of himself?

5. How can a character’s self-knowledge lead to a positive or negative result, in relation to Lockdown?

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