The Free

December 12, 2016
Trying to make 30 days in juvie go by as quickly as possible, 16-year-old Isaac West learns surprising things about himself in this emotionally charged novel from McLaughlin (Wishing Day). A slick thief whose racially mixed background only adds to his sense of being an outsider, Isaac started stealing to provide for his younger sister, Janelle, since their mother is more concerned with drinking and other unsavory pursuits. He moved on to boosting cars and ended up in the Haverland Juvenile Detention outside Boston after taking the fall for a job that turned violent. The center is akin to a small war zone, with rival gangs rumbling in the cafeteria, but group therapy sessions become a place for Isaac to both listen and unlock a part of himself as the members write out their “crime stories” for the others to perform—it’s the most macabre theater class ever. McLaughlin never shies from her characters’ difficult backstories or the crimes they committed, giving teenagers that society often thinks of as broken a chance to speak, in their own voices. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

January 15, 2017
A Boston-area youth in juvenile detention finds redemption in stories--his and his fellow inmates'.Car thief Isaac West just has to get through 30 days in juvie, and then he'll be out and able to protect his beloved little sister from their appalling single mother, an alcoholic prostitute. But he doesn't bargain on the group-therapy program that has him writing down his "crime story" and then acting it out in a process that combines story critique and reliving his most painful memories. When he's not in therapy he hangs with the geeks in computer class, mostly so he can email his sister, which is how he almost unwittingly becomes "poems and shit" editor of the inmate newsletter, The Free. McLaughlin creates a correctional facility that's realistically organized along gang and racial lines, with the exception of the geeks, a multiethnic crew of lovable cons. Actually, all the inmates are lovable in the end, believably victims of circumstance despite their horrifying crimes. These circumstances, despite the constant acknowledgment of race, are largely race-free however, mostly contingent on terrible parenting. Biracial, brown-skinned Isaac himself possesses a physical ambiguity he uses to avoid attention, allowing others to see him as black or Hispanic to avoid conflict. But the only acknowledgment the book makes of institutional racism is Isaac's dismissive acceptance of an " 'essay'...about how racist the criminal justice system is." A penetrating look at the power in the stories we tell ourselves but just a glancing one at the juvenile-justice system. (afterword) (Fiction. 14-18)

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January 1, 2017

Gr 8 Up-In this gritty story of survival and self-actualization, a troubled youth tries to gain control of his life. Isaac West is a biracial teen who steals for survival-his own and his sister Janelle's. He ends up taking a 30-day juvenile detention rap for a carjacking gone wrong. While navigating the complicated social culture of incarceration, Isaac also attends therapy with an assorted group of teens, and during the sessions, he begins to acknowledge the role of his addicted mother, his sister's safety, and his repressed memories in his choices. Each therapy session peels back Isaac's guarded exterior and defense mechanisms that have been triggered by his traumatic experiences. McLaughlin, whose previous YA titles include Cycler and (Re)Cycler, unrolls a plot with unexpected twists that will leave readers to wonder about Isaac's future. Many will find Isaac a likable protagonist as he seeks clarity and grapples with how to make responsible choices. The supporting characters, mostly other incarcerated teens, are well-developed and create the varying degrees of tension needed for Isaac to face pivotal moments in his life. VERDICT Recommended as a supplementary purchase, especially where there is demand for stories about incarcerated teens.-Tiffeni Fontno, Boston College Educational Resource Center

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