Review: The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman

The summary is provided by http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

Gecko Fosse drove the getaway car.

Terence Florian ran with the worst gang in Chicago.


Arjay Moran killed someone.




All three boys are serving time in juvenile detention centers until they get a second chance at life in the form of Douglas Healy. A former juvenile delinquent himself, Healy is running an experimental halfway house in New York City where he wants to make a difference in the lives of kids like Gecko, Terence, and Arjay.




Things are going well, until one night Healy is accidentally knocked unconscious while trying to break up a scuffle among the boys. Terrified of the consequences, they drop him off at a hospital and run away. But when Healy awakes, he has no memory of them or the halfway house. Afraid of being sent back to Juvie, the guys hatch a crazy scheme to continue on as if the group leader never left. They will go to school, do their community service, attend therapy, and act like model citizens until Healy's memory returns and he can resume his place with them.




But life keeps getting in the way...like when Gecko finds romance. Or Arjay gets famous. Or Terence starts reverting to his old ways. If the boys are discovered, their second chance will be their last.

Was it Worth My Time?

This is a book I want to teach!!!!

I was drawn to this book because of the cover, and I knew that I needed to have this book in my library at school.  I was hoping that it wouldn't have some "tough" topics that would make it off-limits for a book I could use in class.   There was not one thing that I wouldn't feel comfortable reading aloud or discussing with my students, and I am pretty sure they would beg me to continue reading (what teacher doesn't like that?!) 

 I enjoy the humor that children at ages 12 and 13 throw out at random moments ( I guess I wouldn't be a junior high school teacher if I didn't).  If you know what i'm talking about and like it (some people don't, and that's why they aren't junior high school teachers) you should pick up this book. 

The book contains humor (obviously), irony, and shows characters who have to use their traits for good instead of evil.  It shows triumph over negative situations and has enough suspense to get the reader through the "slower" parts of the book.