Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
What do you get when you mix three juvenile delinquents on their last chance before doing some long-term hard time, one do-gooder out to help them become better people, and Gordon Korman? THE JUVIE THREE! It is a fast-paced page-turner complete with humor, action scenes, romance, and some fascinating twists and turns.
Douglas Healy lived through his own hard times, and now he is determined to give some hope to a new crop of troubled teens. He has worked hard to cut through the red tape and bureaucratic nonsense to open a small halfway house (apartment) for three lost boys. Gecko, Terence, and Arjay have committed a variety of crimes, from driving a stolen getaway car to murder, and society seems to say their are beyond hope. The efforts of Douglas Healy have given the three a last chance.
Gecko seems grateful and determined to do the right thing. Arjay is confused and suspicious, yet strangely appreciative, that a stranger would take the time to reach out a helping hand. Terence looks at the situation as an opportunity to make a quick buck and escape ASAP.
When Terence breaks the rules one night and attempts to sneak out by way of the fire-escape, the other two boys step in to protect what they view as their last chance at a real life. The scuffle between the boys is interrupted by a sleepy and angry Douglas Healy, who has the unfortunate luck to plummet head-first from the fire-escape to the pavement below.
Fearful of the outcome if they are caught, the three boys load an unconscious, bleeding Healy in the back of a stolen car and rush him to the nearest emergency room, where they dump him and then hightail it back to the apartment. Until they can decide what to do next, they agree to keep up appearances and stick to their usual daily routine. What follows is an amazing tale of how three supposedly "no good" kids follow the rules and make the right decisions without adult supervision.
The plot twists and turns will keep even the most reluctant readers on the edge of their seats. Don't miss THE JUVIE THREE.
What do you get when you mix three juvenile delinquents on their last chance before doing some long-term hard time, one do-gooder out to help them become better people, and Gordon Korman? THE JUVIE THREE! It is a fast-paced page-turner complete with humor, action scenes, romance, and some fascinating twists and turns.
Douglas Healy lived through his own hard times, and now he is determined to give some hope to a new crop of troubled teens. He has worked hard to cut through the red tape and bureaucratic nonsense to open a small halfway house (apartment) for three lost boys. Gecko, Terence, and Arjay have committed a variety of crimes, from driving a stolen getaway car to murder, and society seems to say their are beyond hope. The efforts of Douglas Healy have given the three a last chance.
Gecko seems grateful and determined to do the right thing. Arjay is confused and suspicious, yet strangely appreciative, that a stranger would take the time to reach out a helping hand. Terence looks at the situation as an opportunity to make a quick buck and escape ASAP.
When Terence breaks the rules one night and attempts to sneak out by way of the fire-escape, the other two boys step in to protect what they view as their last chance at a real life. The scuffle between the boys is interrupted by a sleepy and angry Douglas Healy, who has the unfortunate luck to plummet head-first from the fire-escape to the pavement below.
Fearful of the outcome if they are caught, the three boys load an unconscious, bleeding Healy in the back of a stolen car and rush him to the nearest emergency room, where they dump him and then hightail it back to the apartment. Until they can decide what to do next, they agree to keep up appearances and stick to their usual daily routine. What follows is an amazing tale of how three supposedly "no good" kids follow the rules and make the right decisions without adult supervision.
The plot twists and turns will keep even the most reluctant readers on the edge of their seats. Don't miss THE JUVIE THREE.
If they choose to, I will employ YA novels in reading and group discussion among 15, 16, 17 year olds interested in bolstering their reading skills (they often prefer nonfiction, though). This book is eminently suitable for such use and is something not often found in other YA books.
There are many opportunities to have the reader predict about something before the author reveals what happened. This book is easy to read, with many plot complications, and moves right along. There are also nice turns of phrase to be encountered.
A couple of the plot complications seem a bit much. Also, this takes place when the NYPD was hassling people like the protagonists with their stop and frisk policy--that fact is ignored.
There are many opportunities to have the reader predict about something before the author reveals what happened. This book is easy to read, with many plot complications, and moves right along. There are also nice turns of phrase to be encountered.
A couple of the plot complications seem a bit much. Also, this takes place when the NYPD was hassling people like the protagonists with their stop and frisk policy--that fact is ignored.
