Lockdown

by Walter Dean Myers

Reese has been at Progress juvenile detention center for over two years now, but it seems the only progress that's been happening there is kids moving from juvy jail to real jail. That is Reese's greatest fear, so he is doing his best to make sure he gets out on time, if not early. But it seems there is always something, or someone, trying to pull him back into the system.  When he gets a spot in the work release program working at a senior citizens' home, Reese feels like...
he's been given a second chance to prove he's not a criminal. Not only will Reese have to prove to them he's not a criminal at heart, he's also got to convince himself. 

This was a super quick read for me because I was so sucked into Reese's story and his struggle to break free from his past and the people and activities that landed him in jail in the first place.  It left me thinking about how our past decisions do not have to define us and that we can change our future for the better. As seen with Reese, though, it takes hard work and determination to make those changes last. And you have to believe in yourself. Another great read from Walter Dean Myers. 
--Ms. Bell