The Juvie Three Book Review

Though Gordon Korman himself does not have a need for further praise (he gets enough to supply twenty emerging authors with a suitable income), one of his less popular books, The Juvie Three, certainly does. The plot is smart, taking common stereotypes of both criminals and law enforcement and spinning them on their head. In fact, the book spins just about every part of it on its head, keeping readers on their toes. This spinning points out the flaws in society revolving around the stereotypes of people who served jail time, creating interesting ideas on the theme. Korman has a wonderful way of humanizing the struggles of these three teenagers--and the people they represent in real life--that society has pointedly ignored. It opens the eyes of what makes a good person good and a bad person bad, and if motivation has anything to play in this. Speaking of motivations, the plot segments Gecko, Terrence, and Arjay (hence the juvie three) with minor storylines of their own but brings them together throughout, letting the reader connect with each on an individual level while keeping the story whole. The characters themselves are foiled together (a fancy term for opposites): Terrence, just trying to fit in among the ‘bad kids’, Arjay, who wants nothing more than to leave the past behind him, and Gecko, who’s not quite sure what he wants. Each is relatable in their own way but also contain strong amounts of characterization. All three walk different paths of life but ultimately bond a close friendship. A strong piece of work, but one worth reading.

“ ...by Mrs. Liebowitz, a frail elderly woman wrestling with two gigantic grocery bags. // Arjay jumps forward and takes one of the bags, reaching for the other. // The shriek that comes from Mrs. Liebowitz is like the mating call of a hawk. ‘Get away from me!’ // Arjay jumps back as if he’s been burned. // [Mrs. Liebowitz speaking] ‘...borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor without worrying if he’s got a criminal record!”’

Recommended for anyone who hasn’t been on the wrong side of a stereotype; this will put you in their shoes.

-Grace Nask