Wheelchair Warrior

March 1, 2008
A former gang member who is now wheelchair-bound after being shot and paralyzed in a gang dispute, Juette, here joined by Berger (sociology, Univ. of Wisconsin, Whitewater), offers an informative ethnography on both gang life and wheelchair basketball. In the introduction, Berger describes how the handicapped have historically been victims of prejudice and discrimination and sometimes even relegated to "freak shows"; this perception changed only with the rise of the "medical model" of disability. Now, those wheelchair bound can still pursue and enjoy sporting activities, including wheelchair basketball. Juette describes how he was "recruited" into gang life on Chicago's Southside. His accounts of gang life alone would recommend his book as a worthy assigned text by those who teach courses on the sociology of deviance and gangs. Those who teach sport sociology courses would also find merit in the firsthand accounts of participation in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA), which was founded in 1949. In short, this book has something to offer to both academics and lay readers. Recommended for academic and all public libraries.Tim Delaney, SUNY at Oswego

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2008
Some readers who pick up this memoir may be put off by the introductory chapter, written by coauthor Berger, a sociology professor. Although it is an important part of the book (it puts the experiences of Juette, a young Chicago gang member paralyzed by a bullet, into a sociological context), it is written so awkwardly, so dully, that it is instantly off-putting. But stick around, because the bulk of the book, evidently written by Juette himself, is entirely different: clean, straightforward prose; virtually no clunky sociological jargon; and plenty of raw drama and emotion. Juettes story follows his evolution from boy to man, from gang member to wheelchair athlete, and its a story of determination and inspiration that will touch everyone who reads it. The book is aimed at both general readers and scholars, which perhaps explains the virtually impenetrable introduction; just ignore that, and focus on what Juette has to tell us.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)