I’m a court appointed advocate and I just started working with a 15 year old boy in a detention center. He absolutely loves reading. Our second visit I took 3 books for him, but he had already read 2/3 of the ones I brought. He said he likes ‘urban stories’ and books about the cartel, mafia, gangs. Not necessarily stories glamorizing that life, but more so honest portrayals of it. One of his favorite books is The Black Hand about the life of Rene ‘Boxer’ Enriquez. He’s read Monster: The Autobiography of an LA Gang Member. He’s reading The Cartel and Trust No Man series.
I took him Monster by Walter Dean Myers, Long Way Down (also because he loves rap and writing lyrics so I thought that might scratch that part of his brain), and No Country for Old Men. Monster and Long Way Down I thought might be a bit low for him since this kid is very intelligent. No Country for Old Men was my ‘dark horse’ pick. It’s one of my personal favorites and I thought the fast-pace and moral questions might pull him in since he’s very thoughtful and reflective and likes to question things. He had already read Monster and Long Way Down and said he enjoyed both of them.
I’m looking for ideas for the next round of books, since I’m sure he’ll burn through No Country for Old Men quickly. I told him I’m going to bring a variety because I want to get a better sense of what he likes and I don’t want to just bring him stereotypical books of what people assume someone that is incarcerated would want to read. I think giving him both ‘mirrors’ that reflect his experience and ‘windows’ into other experiences is important. I’m not trying to use this as an opportunity to lecture him, but I also think that if there are life lessons within the books, that’s not a bad thing.
Maybe some stories that are similar to what he likes, some that are totally different but engaging enough to hook him, other stories like The Black Hand about change and redemption, and maybe some that aren’t self-help but make him question how he conducts himself and how he moves through life, how to not let past trauma dictate his life. Something that’ll make him sit and think long after it’s done. He also randomly mentioned Twilight and said he thought about reading them since they were available at the facility and sounded interesting. So he’s not against something completely out of left field either. lol
by totally_tennis
7 Comments
I think The Lord of the Rings would be perfect. An elegiac mood, conveyed in lovely writing; addresses powerful themes like peace and duty. It’s sure to appeal to a youth who is looking to have his horizons expanded.
Maybe the Hunger Games series? They are well written and have universal themes that may speak to him, even though, on the surface, they are very different than what he normally reads.
I have not read The Marathon Don’t Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle, but is very well reviewed and seems like something he might like.
I’m sorry I don’t have a suggestion but I do want you to say keep doing nice things for people as you are this young fellow. The world needs more nice people so thank you !
I recommend ***Ghost*** by Jason Reynolds, and the rest of the ***Track*** series.
***The Hate U Give*** by Angie Thomas is also great.
I want to recommend Tiffany D. Jackson for really great, compelling YA fiction with a bit of an urban slant. Also seconding The Hunger Games and if he wants to read Twilight, he should! If he liked No Country for Old Men, The Devil All the Time is really really good although potentially a little too adult – hard to tell without knowing the reader.
Is it possible he could maybe get into mysteries/thrillers? Maybe something like Jack Reacher? I remember reading those in highschool too.
There is the classic Godfather book if that’s what he’s really into. And I’m sure there’s tons of biographies about mafia figures like Al Capone. I can try to do some research on what’s out there if you want. I was also a kid who loved (and adult who still does) the history of the mafia heyday.
Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez centers around identity, survival, and redemption. Classics are always good, The Outsiders, Lord of the Flies, etc. Twilight? Honestly, let him try it. The fact that he mentioned it means he’s curious, and that curiosity matters more than the genre.