Doing Right

Locked Out #5

by Patrick Jones

Every adult wants to give DeQuin advice. His father, who's serving a life sentence, thinks DeQuin needs to toughen up. His uncle wants DeQuin to work hard and keep his head down. Then there's his grandfather, lecturing DeQuin at every turn―when he's not rambling about his glory days in the 1960s civil rights movement.

DeQuin is doing fine without their help―until a fun night with friends gets out of control. Now he has to deal with the fallout. Should he fight, as his dad suggests? Should he run and hide, as his uncle would do? Or should he follow his grandfather's example of peaceful resistance? Whatever he chooses, he's still just one confrontation away from losing everything.

Genres: Young Adult

95 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Patrick Jones is the author of five realistic teen novels, most recently Stolen Car((Walker / Bloomsbury, 2008). His first young adult novel Things Change (Walker & Company, 2004) was named by the Young Adult Library Services Association as a best book for reluctant readers, and was runner-up in the Teen Buckeye Book Award selected by Ohio teens. His second novel Nailed was published by Walker / Bloomsbury in spring 2006 and was a runner-up for the Great Lake Book Award. His 2007 novel, Chasing Tail Lights, is nominated for the Minnesota Books Awards. His most recent (and last) professional publication is Connecting with Reluctant Readers (Neal-Schuman, 2006). In 2006, he won lifetime achievement awards from both the Catholic Library Association, and the American Library Association. Jones is a frequent speaker at library conferences, having visited all fifty states, as well as in Canada, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Jones grew up in Flint, Michigan, but now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Read more at his web page www.connectingya.com, including FAQs about Things Change and Nailed (perfect for book reports!). NOTE: After a bruising experience with another author, he's limited his reviews on Good Reads to only raves as not to disturb the "fellowship" of YA writers.

Reviews

[Kevin Palma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doing Right by Patrick Jones is a story about a boy with his mother gone and his father in jail trying not to follow in his dads footsteps. I think this is a very good book because it shows what life can be like with a parent in jail and pressure to succeed. I gave this book 4 stars because i feel that it is a very good book however i feel like it could be longer and have more to it.

[Sally · Rating 1 out of 5]

*shakes kindle muttering* chapters? Hello? Anybody home?

[bjneary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for an awesome read that teens and reluctant readers will not be able to put down. DeQuin is a teen who wants to do right. With a father in jail, living with an uncle who wants him to stay clear of his friends and a bothersome grandfather – what is DeQuin to do when trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes? As a night out with friends goes horribly wrong, DeQuin flees a mob and will pay dearly. Patrick Jones continues to write books that teens can’t put down. Jones’ books, Nailed and Things Change, were always being read in our library- we couldn’t keep them on the shelves! This latest urban fiction story will have teens thinking and talking. Highly recommended.

[Read InAGarden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doing Right is a title in the Locked Out series a new Urban Hi/Lo series. DeQuin has been raised by his uncle since his father was sent to prison for life. He's always made the right choices but sometimes it is tough. After running away from a fight he's jumped by two boys who were supposed to be his friends. After he recovers, DeQuin is sent to a new school (so he can be away from the perpetrators). At the new school he finds some people that he fits better with but he also finds other students who don't value education. It's very short novel and even reluctant readers will wish the ending was a little more fleshed out.

[Alicia]

good

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for work. Extremely well-written for a hi/lo book, but the ending was very abrupt.