Rikers High

by Paul Volponi

An unflinching story about justice, courage, and the life of one young man behind bars.It started out as an innocent day for Martin, but it quickly turned into his worst nightmare--arrested for something he didn't even mean to do. And five months later, he is still locked up in jail on infamous Rikers Island. Just when things couldn't get worse, Martin gets caught in a fight between two prisoners, and his face is slashed. He's scarred forever, but one good thing comes from the Martin is transferred to a part of Rikers where inmates must attend high school. When he meets his caring and understanding teacher, will Martin open up and learn from his situation? Or will he be consumed by prison and getting revenge on his attackers?"Volponi, who taught on Rikers Island for six years, writes with an authenticity that will make readers feel Martin's fear."--Publishers Weekly"Volponi . . . brings to life a believable range of teachers, COs, and inmates and portrays power, hierarchies, and race relations both outside and inside the jail walls with unflinching realism."--School Library Journal "With down-to-earth language based on his own experiences . . . Volponi captures the reader."--VOYA 

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen, Crime, Mystery, Contemporary

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Ronald Limberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm feeling triumphant right now! I finished a great hardcover book that was beautifully written and under 300 pages in 24 hours! I haven't achieved this in a very long time. I think that I may have been in my late teens then, but I was truly elated to have discovered this fantastic work of art about adolescents imprisoned in the highly dangerous penal institution near New York City at Rikers Island!

In this 246-page novel with 40 skillfully written chapters and a satisfying online-exclusive epilogue, author and journalist Paul Volponi vividly depicts the youth in a prison setting so realistically and in a three-dimensional way. If a person has never served a prison sentence, visited a relative or friend in jail or prison (there's a distinct difference), or had much knowledge about what prison culture is actually like, a reader could develop a lucid understanding by reading this entirely captivating book!

The young narrator and main protagonist is Martin Stokes, a young black 17-year-old boy, whose intelligence, courage, and maturity are refreshing, and he honestly illustrates what his experiences are being in the notorious Rikers Island prison candidly well. There are funny moments, believable characters, and a few are likable and there are loathsome ones too. The emotional realism and depth to the narrative is impressive and the dialogue resonates with superb authenticity among the adults and youth impeccably.

For me, I believe that the only aspect about this finely wrought story that was predictable was found within the uplifting epilogue. In contrast, I was utterly stunned by the unforeseen climactic arc within the last vestiges of this deeply absorbing tale toward the end. I cried. It was poignant and what transpired was accidental or likely meant to be. It's arguable or subjective but it's something that should spark conversation. As I read this wonderful story, I saw that Paul Volponi was accurate with the implicit statement that too many young men of color are imprisoned so disproportionately and the criminal justice system is woefully in a terrible state of disrepair.

Although I have graduated high school a long time ago, I felt like I was back in school, and I learned an excellent lesson from reading this entertaining and enjoyable book: with faith in ourselves, the willingness to succeed, and an education, we can overcome the past and cultivate a better future for ourselves that could inspire someone else to positively change at the same time, and of course, prison sucks!

[Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t you think it would suck if you had to go to jail for a crime you didn’t mean to commit? The book Rikers High, by Paul Volponi is a great book and it’s about a guy named Martin who goes to jail at 15 years old because of a setup. The way this happened is he was sitting on his porch when some undercover cops came and asked him where to buy drugs. Then the they arrested him five minutes later and then before you know it he’s been in jail for five months and counting waiting for his turn to see a judge, while there he experiences a lot of things and how it feels to be in jail. This genre of this book is realistic fiction which is one of my favorite genres and by looking on everybody else’s TBR list they like realistic the most too so this will be a great book for them . Even though realistic fiction books are great this one is the top of all realistic fiction books. The setting takes place mostly in jail but besides that it has multiple settings which they don’t spend a lot of time in so the main setting is on Rikers island. The people who would enjoy this book are people who like to read about peoples life’s and what they go through in their life. Also people who like to read about the life of a criminal. What I learned from this book is that to watch what you say if someone ask you something like where could I buy drugs. Plus if I ever had to go to jail for something you have to be tuff in there and stand your ground, because if you don’t inmates will mess with you until you show them whose boss.

[Joseph Georgeson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rikers High jumps right into what the life of a teen prisoner is like. Martin Stokes, after giving away information of a drug operation to an undercover cop, is quickly shown what life in prison is all about. On his way back form being turned down on yet another court case, Martin finds himself in the middle of a fight between two inmates and is slashed across the face, leaving a scar to remind him of his time on Rikers Island. Through out this novel the action only increases, not only with Martin but with some of the teachers, correction officers and even a few of his new friends will face hardships. I really enjoyed the action of this book but the story line was not that great and the setting was very repetitive.

[Brayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book because it seemed really interesting to read. The little preview of the book caught my attention and so i started to read it. This book is realistic fiction because it tells many things that would happen in real life. The setting of this book is in New York. Martin which is the main character is a very innocent boy in the story until one day coming back from court he gets attacked by another inmate and gets slash on the face. He'll have that mark on his face for the rest of his life, but in jail he learns to live through it and keep on moving with life. Martin ended up in jail for no reason, he was arrested sitting in from of his home. He had no idea of what he had done. He ends up getting time in jail for something he didn't do. He gets to make friends in jail and also gets along with people pretty good. One day coming from court he gets attacked and gets slash on his face. He starts going to school, but he thinks its just a waste of time. Alot of things happen during his time in jail but one of the most shocking and important in the book is Sanchez's death. Sanchez hung himself in the bathroom while everyone was sleeping. Martin got to see him hanging from the pipe in the bathroom. Sanchez was Martins cell mate and they were very good friends. Martin ends up getting out of jail but still receives a year on probation. The main conflict was Martin ending up in jail for no reason. By resolving the conflict Martin ends up getting out of jail, receives a diploma from the time he went to school and can start a new life outside of jail. I thought the book was very good, especially because it's very well detailed and sort of in a way shows how jail is like.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the main character is learning valuable life lessons and the overall theme of the book may be that young people can choose to learn from mistakes . . .theirs and others'--this book just didn't deliver for me. The characters remained shallow and underdeveloped, which may have been intentional since it is the story of life in jail, but it kept me from caring much about anyone. There are quite a few subtle subplots and character clues that may not be easily recognized or interpreted by some juvenile readers Filled with crude language, references to masturbation and lock up lingo I'm not sure if young people would be fascinated with this bleak and violent reality, be put off by it, or just feel rather manipulated and uninspired with the entire novel.

[Evan Bautch · Rating 5 out of 5]

this books about a young kid with a drug charge sitting in the new york prison waiting to get out but his scentence keeps getting held back by his lawyer who he hates. he gets slashed in the face when he was waiting for trial one day. then his friend sanchez is getting sent up state and he thinks of a plan to fake a hanging to get him sent to a mental hospital so he wouldnt have to go but things didnt turn out right and he actualy died. in the end "40" gets to go home.

[Connor Blandini]

Loved it

[Kieran Conlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall feelings were mixed but most of the time it was angry or sad. The main character Martin went through some very rough patches from being in court 4 times until finally reaching his freedom. The plot started in jail in a court case where Martin had been arrested for telling an undercover police officer where they were selling weed. The rising action would be Martin going through court cases for some bad reasons just getting unlucky. Martin had gotten off the bus after a frustrating day when he had been slashed across the face when getting in the middle of a random fight. Martin was moved to a jail cell room called the "sprungs", and had been with all boys aged around 18 similar to Martin. He encountered some annoying paths with a boy named Brick who had thought that he owned everyone in the cell room. He had tested Martin as soon as he walked in and Martin decided that at night when he went to the bathroom Brick's boy would see what Martin or "40" was about and he had gotten put to the ground even while Martin was injured. In Rikers High there had been herbs and thugs two different people Brick would be a thug and the herbs would suck up to him giving him what he asked for avoiding consequences. The whole group of boys did school and they had to receive a diploma. There was one day where a teacher had misplaced a chalkholder leading to a full strip search which in jail was very serious because you could do anything with it. It had been the week that Martin would do his court case that he was sure of departure and had seen this boy Sanchez who had been on suicide watch they had a thing where if you saved someone from suicide watch you would be paid $100 and unfortunately, Sanchez slipped through leading him to hang himself and Martin was in pure pain and disbelief because he liked Sanchez a lot and didn't know that he planned to do that because had been stressed all night and Martin knew he was up to something. He fell through and it was shocking when his partner Brick was going to follow the plan and after the plan had acted all confused and hadn't seemed sad at all by the passing of Sanchez. This really angered Martin leading to Martin punching Brick in the stomach. Shortly after, Martin reached court feeling like he would pass out until seeing the boy who slashed him in the waiting room, and he had been picking on someone new. Martin got so angry and let it all out going insane on the guy. He hadn't gotten in trouble and finally, Martin had been realeased.

[Amira E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rikers High by Paul Volponi

This book is great and!!! I would rate this book four stars, because I think it is a very interesting book and very fun to read. It always keeps you guessing and I like that in books. It is really a great book to read. But I wouldn't give it five stars because sometimes the book can drag a little bit, kinda like the same thing over and over again, but only sometimes. Most of the time is keeps you wondering what is gonna happen next.

The book was written by a guy named Paul Volponi and it is about a boy named Martin who is now behind bars at a young age. Martin is locked in jail for a crime he didn't mean to commit. The story talks about his journey throughout jail, like about how he gets in fights, and how his face is scarred for life.

I really recommend this book, especially if you like books that keep you waiting. What drew me towards this book was my friend, she told me to read it and i'm glad I did. I don't really like reading books because usually they are boring or don't get to the good part till the end, but there is always a good part in this book.

I like how the author had the character express his emotions a lot, so I really got to understand him, and why he acts the way he acts. There isn't much i didn't like about the book besides some of the situations he was in, some of the situations were frustrating to read.

The message I took away from this book was to always spend as much time with the people you love in your life because it can be taken away in a second, whether that be for a long time or a short amount of time.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I'm being honest about this book, I did not think it was a very good book at all. It constantly repeated itself in every chapter and I felt as if I was waiting for something exciting to happen in which nothing ever seemed to keep me interested in the book. It was very slow and extremely predictable. Although it did show an accurate representation of how the jail system works for minors, it didn't portray everything that goes on. It basically told a story about a boy who lived in the jail and continued to go to school and meet friends but nothing ever happened to him except for the one fight he accidentally got in the way of. I did enjoy, though, when Martin received a letter from his father, it was personal to him and was referred back to several times throughout the novel. I liked what his father had said about traps and holes in the jail system because it's true not only in the book it's true in real life. I do, however, wish that the book had just a little bit more excitement, but unfortunately, it's not a book I would ever recommend to a friend or family member.

[Nicodem · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very good page flipping book. I liked how the other Paul Volponi introduced martin from a prison point of view and explained his life later on in his book. The Author also made me feel like i was there and put Martin in teen situations related to me to make me understand the character more. The author also did good about martins scar on his face to make that a major problem martin had to go through. But i liked how Martin got through it though by thinking about his family the whole time in prison. I liked how the author showed us all the difficult situations Martin went through in prison but martin picked the right decision. I liked how the book ended and how Martin was able to go back home and see his family. Overall i liked the book a lot and kept me wanting to read more. If i were able to rate the book out of 5 i would rate it a 4.5. I liked the book and i think you will too!

[Harry Brake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rikers Island, and experiencing his view of teaching there into a novel, I was intrigued.

Rikers High captures one of many moments when an incarcerated youth realizes one of the instructors sees him as a student and not just a total screw up /inmate. Many events occur to bring you the reality of many at risk students, their downfallen path, and the sometimes impossible path back to recovery to a life they only thought deserved to a few elite. Thanks to this inside look, all readers can see what dilemmas exist in the education, criminal, and public sector and can offer some options to pitch in and help this for the better. Not only for those involved directly, but as members of society, which includes every individual.

Definitely suited for a teen and up audience, the language, behaviors, and environment will take you to Rikers Island in New York and let you return with a new perspective of what is a major need for promise in society today.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love all of Paul Volponi books, they really intrigue me and want me to keep writing. But the book Rikers High was not that good to me. It just didn’t have any exciting moments in the book that made me want to keep reading. It was just the same stuff over and over again in my mind and I didn’t like that. For some people they might like that but it wasn’t my cup of tea. I would say that it is a good book overall, but it is just not for me. Something that I did like about the book was how descriptive it was. He really makes you feel like you are there in the book when it's happening. It is also very relatable in the sense that you could put yourself in situations and then see what you would do. Overall I would give it a 5 out of 10.

[Monica Caldicott]

Martin Stokes was sitting on the front steps of his house in New York City when this crazy dude comes roaring up the street, yelling at him and demanding to know where he could buy some drugs. The guy looked XXX, so Martin told him about the corner where the dealers did their deals, just to get this crazy man away from him.

Seconds later, an NYPD car pulls up and the officers arrest Martin as an accessory to a drug deal. He is sent to Rikers Island, a prison island in NYC. Since his court case has been delayed three times and his mom doesn't have the money for bail, Martin has been on Rikers for 3 weeks. He is now called "Forty," his inmate number that he has to respond to at all roll calls. 

Read Author's Note.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin has been at Rikers for five months and counting for directing an undercover cop to where he could score. Each time he goes up for his court date, it's delayed. After this last time, he gets cut up in the middle of a fight between two other guys. Because of his new injury, Martin's moved to another are of Rikers, where the inmates actually have class and a maybe a little more freedom. All Martin wants to do is survive. Until a teacher takes interest in him and convinces him there's more to life than the street and revenge.

A well-written and emotional story told from Martin's point of view. Not kindly towards the jail or anything, but not completely unfair either.

[Dominic Bader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overall, I thought this book was genuinely boring. Yes, Martin did learn a lot of valuable lessons and overcame a lot of struggles he faced at Rikers high but the story carried on for too long. I felt like it was the same thing everyday. It was more of a documentary type book rather than an intense story. I felt like they could have made the characters a little more interesting because that might've made the book better. Also some of the language in the book made the book less enjoyable to read because some of the things they say are just very slang and trashy. To conclude, I would not read this book again and I wouldn't recommend the book.

[Mrs Tupac · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read , a very honest , thought proving book.
The Sanchez saga hit me hard . This book felt so realistic I just couldn't put it down. The ending felt rushed to me though. Mark Strokes was a smart, silent , observant kid who really didn't even belong in jail. He was more mature than his peers. I would've liked to see how being out of jail worked for him. The prison system Is so messed up you have people that deserve it and a small amount that don't. I wouldn't mind reading a girls version of this timeless piece of work.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book, because it put in the perspective of the main character and I actually felt like I was in a jail fighting to get out. It helped me visualize the story a lot and that's what I really like about this book. Also that there wasn't really any lull's in this book, there was always something happening right after a main event. These two things are what stood out to me and that's why I loved reading this book.

[Adrien Wamboldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good educational story for kids in high school. Didn’t see where any specific CO or teacher inspired main character. Liked how main character raised the question: why do kids from the same neighborhood end up in there? It definitely seemed like an accurate account of incarceration to some degree. He was in between juvenile and adult prison, so it sounded legit to me. A great way for kids to learn without having to take a visit!

[Audreygold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as part of the Silicon Valley Reads challenge. I am mystified why it was chosen. The author's writing needs more development as there are hints of promise with both the plot and characters. The best part of the book was the descriptions of the teachers that come to the prison school and the failures of the system in New York.

[Ethan Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

i would give this book a solid 3 out of 5 stars it was somewhat interesting for the most part, but other then that it was a rather stale book that I really wouldn't recommend to fellow students. its about a kid who ends up in a juvenile detention center and his time in school which turns out to be really boring and the ending isnt even that great in the end.

[Alex Klimkewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a teenage boy's time on Riker's Island. He navigates the prison system, gets cut, avoids gangs and unscrupulous COs, and learns something from a teacher who actually cares. There is plenty of foul language and adult situations in this YA book, but my 3rd hour English 9 class really enjoyed it.

[Andrea Rashbaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rikers High has a very unusual setting. The story is told from the perspective of a prisoner of high school age living on Riker's Island in New York.

The writing is simple. The scenes are not terribly graphic. And the reader gets some perspective about the relationship between minorities and the prison system.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book is pretty good! It's interesting and has a lot of unexpected twists. It makes you wonder what's going to happen next. I liked how Martin was always his own person, making his own decisions and standing up for himself. The suicide impacted him and it changed the way he thought. I'm glad he eventually decided not to get revenge.

[Mael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy called Martin, who gets arrested for something he didn't do. In prison, his face gets slashed by another prisoner. Then, he transfers to a different part of Rickers (he is jailed on Rickers Island) where inmates are required to attend to high school.

[Ramesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book was okay and I love the part how they learn their lesson that small mistakes can lead to big consequences and it gives a reader a message. But I think it should have more interesting details. But overall it was good to read.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Paul Volponi visited some of my English classes this year, he was asked by a student what his favorite book was out of all the ones he'd written. His reply: Rikers High. I am so glad I took the time to read it. Eye opening, heart breaking, and real.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% would recommend this book. Such a page-turner! I love reading books about crime and stories of how people deal with it. I felt a different kind of connection through this book because it is something that could and has happened to the people that live in my community.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another one to recommend to my reluctant readers. The dehumanizing effects of prison writ large in the character of "Forty."

[Liam Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my first song of 2017, because it had so much intensity in this book, with a lot of violence, and the ending was the best part.