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The Free
In the beginning, Isaac West stole to give his younger sister Janelle little things: a new sweater, a scarf, just so she looked less like a charity case whose mother spent money on booze and more like the prep school girls he’d see on his way to school.
But when Isaac’s petty theft lands him in juvie, he’s cut off from helping Janelle. Friendless in a dangerous world of gangs and violent offenders, he must watch his every step. His sentence requires him to meet regularly for group therapy, where the inmates reenact their crimes, attempting to understand what happened from the perspective of their victims.
The therapy is intense. And as Isaac works through scenes with the group, he begins to recall a memory he’d long ago repressed. A memory that changed everything. And as he begins to piece together the truth about the circumstances that shaped his life—the circumstances that brought Isaac to Haverland in the first place—he must face who he was, who he is . . . and who he wants to be.
But when Isaac’s petty theft lands him in juvie, he’s cut off from helping Janelle. Friendless in a dangerous world of gangs and violent offenders, he must watch his every step. His sentence requires him to meet regularly for group therapy, where the inmates reenact their crimes, attempting to understand what happened from the perspective of their victims.
The therapy is intense. And as Isaac works through scenes with the group, he begins to recall a memory he’d long ago repressed. A memory that changed everything. And as he begins to piece together the truth about the circumstances that shaped his life—the circumstances that brought Isaac to Haverland in the first place—he must face who he was, who he is . . . and who he wants to be.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2017
5 people are currently reading
826 people want to read
About the author
Lauren McLaughlin
29 books92 followersLAUREN MCLAUGHLIN is the author of five novels, Send Pics, Cycler, (Re)Cycler, Scored, and The Free. She has also written the children’s pictures books Wonderful You and Mitzi Tulane Preschool Detective, both of which feature adoptive families. She is an adoptive mother herself. Prior to her career in fiction, she spent ten years in the film business. She produced commercials and music videos for such artists as Nas, The B52’s, the Spin Doctors, and Monie Love, then went on to write several screenplays, including Prisoner of Love starring Naomi Campbell, Specimen starring Mark Paul Gosselaar, and Hypercube (the sequel to the cult favorite Cube). She also produced American Psycho, Buffalo 66, and several other feature films. She is a member of the improv comedy troupe Amorphous Horse, which performs in a variety of venues in and around London, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 18, 2017
Full review : https://thesnowbookhollow.wordpress.c...
I will compare this book to rock climbing. You are climbing the mountain to get to the top. You realise you are getting higher and higher and that the danger is growing more intense by the meter. I felt like I was the backpack and the book was the rock climber. I didn’t want to look down because I didn’t want to see what was going on below. The higher we climbed the clearer the view became. Till we reached the top and I had this eureka moment of wow we made it.
June 28, 2018
Isaac learned to steal at a young age. His mother is a drunk who doesn't look after her children and he doesn't know his father. To take care of his younger sister Janelle he had to put food on the table and he made sure she always had nice clothes, but he isn't able to do that now. When he got into a fight at school he was transfered and became part of a car theft team. After a job that went completely wrong Isaac was asked to take the rap for someone else. He thinks this will be the way to make more money for Janelle. He's supposed to spend a month in juvie and after that he'll be able to send his sister to a good private school. Will this plan actually work?
The Haverland Juvenile Detention Facility is a place that scares Isaac. He wants to remain unnoticed, but being part of difficult therapy sessions that force him to act out his crime are making it hard to stay off people's radars. To have a crowd to sit with he joins the computer lab, where he also manages to stand out. Giving up his invisibility is tough, but it's necessary for Isaac to look after his sister. He has to fully open up to protect himself and the person he loves most in the world, will Isaac be able to do this?
The Free is a fantastic impressive story. I was completely blown away by this amazing book. Isaac is a sweet guy who wants to be there for his sister. He's made some grave mistakes and has trouble living with the consequences. Janelle is a smart girl and Isaac wants her to have opportunities. He does everything he can to make life as easy as possible for his sister, but he's messed up. While he's in juvie he can't protect Janelle from their mother and he isn't able to make any money so he can keep her fed and clothed. Janelle is only thirteen years old and Isaac constantly worries about her. I absolutely loved this brotherly love. Isaac's personalty has so many fabulous layers, I loved every single one of them and couldn't turn the pages of The Free quickly enough to find out how it would end.
Lauren McLaughlin has written a brilliant story filled with surprising twists and turns. Nothing in Isaac's life is straightforward. He has to be smart and needs to come up with strategies to survive. He's never safe, hasn't had the luxury of a solid home and has too many responsibilities for a kid his age. He's plotting and planning to keep his sister out of trouble. Lauren McLaughlin describes his worries about Janelle in a gorgeous heartfelt way that made me tear up many times. The Free is an absolute must-read, it's a terrific story about the screwed up life of a very brave teenager. I highly recommend this compelling, poignant book.
The Haverland Juvenile Detention Facility is a place that scares Isaac. He wants to remain unnoticed, but being part of difficult therapy sessions that force him to act out his crime are making it hard to stay off people's radars. To have a crowd to sit with he joins the computer lab, where he also manages to stand out. Giving up his invisibility is tough, but it's necessary for Isaac to look after his sister. He has to fully open up to protect himself and the person he loves most in the world, will Isaac be able to do this?
The Free is a fantastic impressive story. I was completely blown away by this amazing book. Isaac is a sweet guy who wants to be there for his sister. He's made some grave mistakes and has trouble living with the consequences. Janelle is a smart girl and Isaac wants her to have opportunities. He does everything he can to make life as easy as possible for his sister, but he's messed up. While he's in juvie he can't protect Janelle from their mother and he isn't able to make any money so he can keep her fed and clothed. Janelle is only thirteen years old and Isaac constantly worries about her. I absolutely loved this brotherly love. Isaac's personalty has so many fabulous layers, I loved every single one of them and couldn't turn the pages of The Free quickly enough to find out how it would end.
Lauren McLaughlin has written a brilliant story filled with surprising twists and turns. Nothing in Isaac's life is straightforward. He has to be smart and needs to come up with strategies to survive. He's never safe, hasn't had the luxury of a solid home and has too many responsibilities for a kid his age. He's plotting and planning to keep his sister out of trouble. Lauren McLaughlin describes his worries about Janelle in a gorgeous heartfelt way that made me tear up many times. The Free is an absolute must-read, it's a terrific story about the screwed up life of a very brave teenager. I highly recommend this compelling, poignant book.
February 3, 2017
Thanks to Soho Teens and Netgalley for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
'The Free' is a young adult novel written by Lauren McLaughlin about a juvenile delinquent and his experiences during his time at a detention centre.
Isaac West is a sixteen-year-old boy who is imprisoned in Haverland juvenile prison. His 30-days sentence for stealing a car and injuring its owner in the process requires group therapy in which its members have to relive the crimes they have committed. At first, Isaac is only focused on getting out of 'juvie' as soon as possible, only thinking about his sisters and the many misdeeds of his alcoholic mother. He does not feel responsible for his crime for a simple reason: he did not hurt anyone. He took the blame and the prison sentence for another boy, who like him, is part of a car-stealing gang led by his teacher. However, in the course of his time at Haverland, he discovers a lot about crime rivalry, relationships and taking responsibility for one's actions. His fellow inmates are not only brutal murderers and thieves, but all kids who have been neglected or let down by adults who failed them on an epic scale. They have dreams and aspirations; they have talents and fears, and they have to live with terrible burdens. Things start to change when memories from the past start to resurface that he'd had locked away for a long time. This incident sets a development into motion that might put not only his life in danger but also that of his beloved sister. Suddenly he is forced to take responsibility for his criminal and personal past.
This novel is an okay read for readers from 14 years and up, however, I would not require it a must. I think particularly teenage boys might find it easy to identify with the main character's experiences and thoughts. The first-person narration offers an additional opportunity to empathise with the character's experience. Also the language, as far as I can assess it, is very authentic and makes the characters very likable and relatable. It gives members of society a voice that often goes unheard as these children are often painted as misfits and good-for-nothings. Therefore, the novel tries to be very inclusive in trying to empowering the weak.
Unfortunately, the plot is very slow and not fully fleshed out as opposed to its characters. Only towards the last quarter, the book manages to find its right pace. But also in this part the author rather jumps from scene to scene without adding proper transitions and thereby creating a lot of gaps in the story. The lack of a real plot for the majority of the book makes the reading process slow and dull. In my opinion, this is the biggest problem of "problem books." The author is so concerned about the character's issues that they forget about the importance of a coherent plot to let the reader experience these problems for themselves. Moreover, sometimes the way the action unfolds is unrealistic. It seems that the author wanted to wrap up everything very nicely for the main character, but she actually pressed the character into a prefabricated happy-end mould. Although character development is important, it still has to be realistic. Going from complete ignorance to understanding and wisdom in the course of a few weeks is simply not believable. Eventually, the author failed in providing a realistic experience of crime and injustice on account of forcing a rehabilitation on to the character the author herself would like to see in a perfect world. Personally, in a novel about juvenile delinquents, I would expect more grit, more suffering and a realism that leaves an unforgettable impression on the reader. If you really want to raise people's awareness about juvenile delinquency, its causes and effects, you should not soften its brutal reality. I think by doing so, the author did her whole endeavor and her proclaimed proteges an injustice.
I would recommend the book to anyone interested in this topic and I might consider ordering it for our school library. I think this book would have had great potential if the author had not spared her characters some suffering and a dose of realism. Instead, the result is a book that many teenagers will enjoy, but hardly anyone will love.
'The Free' is a young adult novel written by Lauren McLaughlin about a juvenile delinquent and his experiences during his time at a detention centre.
Isaac West is a sixteen-year-old boy who is imprisoned in Haverland juvenile prison. His 30-days sentence for stealing a car and injuring its owner in the process requires group therapy in which its members have to relive the crimes they have committed. At first, Isaac is only focused on getting out of 'juvie' as soon as possible, only thinking about his sisters and the many misdeeds of his alcoholic mother. He does not feel responsible for his crime for a simple reason: he did not hurt anyone. He took the blame and the prison sentence for another boy, who like him, is part of a car-stealing gang led by his teacher. However, in the course of his time at Haverland, he discovers a lot about crime rivalry, relationships and taking responsibility for one's actions. His fellow inmates are not only brutal murderers and thieves, but all kids who have been neglected or let down by adults who failed them on an epic scale. They have dreams and aspirations; they have talents and fears, and they have to live with terrible burdens. Things start to change when memories from the past start to resurface that he'd had locked away for a long time. This incident sets a development into motion that might put not only his life in danger but also that of his beloved sister. Suddenly he is forced to take responsibility for his criminal and personal past.
This novel is an okay read for readers from 14 years and up, however, I would not require it a must. I think particularly teenage boys might find it easy to identify with the main character's experiences and thoughts. The first-person narration offers an additional opportunity to empathise with the character's experience. Also the language, as far as I can assess it, is very authentic and makes the characters very likable and relatable. It gives members of society a voice that often goes unheard as these children are often painted as misfits and good-for-nothings. Therefore, the novel tries to be very inclusive in trying to empowering the weak.
Unfortunately, the plot is very slow and not fully fleshed out as opposed to its characters. Only towards the last quarter, the book manages to find its right pace. But also in this part the author rather jumps from scene to scene without adding proper transitions and thereby creating a lot of gaps in the story. The lack of a real plot for the majority of the book makes the reading process slow and dull. In my opinion, this is the biggest problem of "problem books." The author is so concerned about the character's issues that they forget about the importance of a coherent plot to let the reader experience these problems for themselves. Moreover, sometimes the way the action unfolds is unrealistic. It seems that the author wanted to wrap up everything very nicely for the main character, but she actually pressed the character into a prefabricated happy-end mould. Although character development is important, it still has to be realistic. Going from complete ignorance to understanding and wisdom in the course of a few weeks is simply not believable. Eventually, the author failed in providing a realistic experience of crime and injustice on account of forcing a rehabilitation on to the character the author herself would like to see in a perfect world. Personally, in a novel about juvenile delinquents, I would expect more grit, more suffering and a realism that leaves an unforgettable impression on the reader. If you really want to raise people's awareness about juvenile delinquency, its causes and effects, you should not soften its brutal reality. I think by doing so, the author did her whole endeavor and her proclaimed proteges an injustice.
I would recommend the book to anyone interested in this topic and I might consider ordering it for our school library. I think this book would have had great potential if the author had not spared her characters some suffering and a dose of realism. Instead, the result is a book that many teenagers will enjoy, but hardly anyone will love.
December 24, 2016
Thanks to Edelweiss-AboveTheTreeline for the free ARC Kindle-ebook The Free by Lauren McLaughlin.
Haverland could be a dystopian society where juveniles are sentenced to punishment for their criminal behavior. It could be, or it is possibly a detention center where teens and young adults have a shred of hope for rehabilitation.
Isaac West is led by his attorney to take a six-month sentence. Six months could be a lifetime or death sentence for his younger sister Janelle. With him behind bars, he isn't sure she will get enough to eat or have what she needs for school.
Isaac agrees to participate in therapy. Believing it will guarantee his timely release he joins the small group of unlikely co-participants. Unlike the cops, his lawyer or the judge - these kids will not take any form of b.s. They do not let Isaac skate on the lies that got him a mere six months.
Haverland is no picnic, but there are worse facilities. Young Mr. West learns too late, he may not get out of jail for a long time. The truth is painful, but in some cases, it can save a life. Woe to the bystanders.
I will recommend this book for Y/A, Teens, and mature Juvenile readers. It will probably not mean much to kids who are privileged, but it could give them empathy if they are so inclined.
The Free had me glued from the first page, and continues to squirrel around in my brain. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and review it.
Haverland could be a dystopian society where juveniles are sentenced to punishment for their criminal behavior. It could be, or it is possibly a detention center where teens and young adults have a shred of hope for rehabilitation.
Isaac West is led by his attorney to take a six-month sentence. Six months could be a lifetime or death sentence for his younger sister Janelle. With him behind bars, he isn't sure she will get enough to eat or have what she needs for school.
Isaac agrees to participate in therapy. Believing it will guarantee his timely release he joins the small group of unlikely co-participants. Unlike the cops, his lawyer or the judge - these kids will not take any form of b.s. They do not let Isaac skate on the lies that got him a mere six months.
Haverland is no picnic, but there are worse facilities. Young Mr. West learns too late, he may not get out of jail for a long time. The truth is painful, but in some cases, it can save a life. Woe to the bystanders.
I will recommend this book for Y/A, Teens, and mature Juvenile readers. It will probably not mean much to kids who are privileged, but it could give them empathy if they are so inclined.
The Free had me glued from the first page, and continues to squirrel around in my brain. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book and review it.
November 22, 2016
Things are not always what they seem to be, something Isaac knows all too well. From the outside it looks like he is a petty thief. Yet he knows he is stealing to provide food and clothing for his sister because his mother is too much of a drunk to care. These side jobs of Isaac cause him to get caught up in a ring of thieves and land him in a juvenile justice facility. He's only supposed to be there for 30 days so he feels it's O.K. to take the rap for something he didn't do. But over the course of his sentence he gets more in touch with his humanity and opens up to himself about things from his past - things he'd hidden from himself. An interesting look inside the life of a incarcerated teen.
March 9, 2017
An absolute must-read! One to be taken into the classroom.
June 2, 2017
Isaac West's life is tough. His mom is an alcoholic and a prostitute. His dad left long ago. He is doing what he can to protect his younger sister and give her a decent life. That means having to support her because his mom isn't capable. He sees an opportunity to make some serious money getting in with a carjacking crew, but when a job goes bad, Isaac ends up taking the wrap and serving 30 days at Haverland Juvenile Detention Facility. His goal is to stay out of trouble there, do his time, then get out and go back to helping his sister. While serving his sentence, though, he is assigned to group therapy where his group mates challenge Isaac to explore the circumstances of his life and how he got to where he is. It is a life-changing experience for him.
Gritty, real, and sometimes shocking, The Free presents a picture not only of juvenile justice, but of the individuals within the system, giving the reader complete pictures of boys and girls in the system, how they got there, and their hopes and dreams.
Very strong language throughout, and mature themes.
Grades 10+
Gritty, real, and sometimes shocking, The Free presents a picture not only of juvenile justice, but of the individuals within the system, giving the reader complete pictures of boys and girls in the system, how they got there, and their hopes and dreams.
Very strong language throughout, and mature themes.
Grades 10+
November 18, 2019
My group read the free by lauren mclaughlin. It wasn't the worst book ive read but it wasn't the best. The plot is about a young teen, isaac west, a car thief. He gets caught and has to spend 30 days in juvie, and then he will be back out to provide for his little sister. The book creates a whole world inside of the juvenile correction center and what goes on inside it. Isaac has to join a therapy group just like all of the others, and he’s not having it at first. This book gives a decently accurate depiction of racial lines inside of the jail system. As a mixed boy not in a gang, isaac doesn't really fit in with anyone else. The whole book he tries to keep his head low and not bother anyone, but if you have ever been in the system you know it's hard to do.
My opinion like I stated before was that the book was decent. I feel it was a little dragged out at certain parts. One of my favorite scenes was the gang fight when it was lunch time. It's a scary time for kids like isaac because people will take your food and you won't be able to do anything about it. I would recommend this book to others if they can relate to the book in anyway because it will be more interesting to them. Lastly what I gained from this book was another book checked off the list!
My opinion like I stated before was that the book was decent. I feel it was a little dragged out at certain parts. One of my favorite scenes was the gang fight when it was lunch time. It's a scary time for kids like isaac because people will take your food and you won't be able to do anything about it. I would recommend this book to others if they can relate to the book in anyway because it will be more interesting to them. Lastly what I gained from this book was another book checked off the list!
October 21, 2018
There were a lot things I liked about this book. Isaac's story is not so simple. He takes care of his sister in any way he can. He works side jobs to make money and some things are not exactly legal, but when your a desperate kid like him, it's truly heartbreaking. But this book is really about Isaac's time spending his 30 days in juvie. Its in juvie that Isaac reflects on a lot of things in his life, things he blocked out, and the reader ultimately learning why he is very nonchalant about being locked up. There were a lot of things done well. I liked the sessions he had to attend and learning things about the other kids in juvie and went happened to land them there. This helped to set Isaac apart from everyone else.
March 12, 2018
Issac West's sole focus is his sister. Protecting her, caring for her, and simply, loving her are the driving forces behind Issac's downward spiral into a life of crime. When he is busted and sent to Haverland, a youth detention facility, he goes, thinking he can serve his 30 days and get back out to Janelle. However, as Issac should have learned by now, things don't always work out the way you plan.
"The Free" is gritty, realistic, and somewhat dark, but well-written novel with diverse and strong characters. A good novel to include in a YA library.
3.5/5 stars
"The Free" is gritty, realistic, and somewhat dark, but well-written novel with diverse and strong characters. A good novel to include in a YA library.
3.5/5 stars
August 2, 2017
Okay, maybe I only like this book so much because I havent read that books yet. But that doesn't matter because I still really liked it. Maybe it was because i really related to Isaac West's story on some levels. And Janelle's. I loved the line Isaac said;
"When it comes to Karen West, Isaac West is done."
He was talking about his mother. And I feel the same way about my mom.
"When it comes to Karen West, Isaac West is done."
He was talking about his mother. And I feel the same way about my mom.
March 24, 2018
Very well written novel about Isaac and his rehabilitation in a juvenile detention center. His main goal is getting out of there and protecting his sister. How far will you go to protect a loved one?
September 14, 2020
"The Free" was an emotional rollercoaster and had me shook from beginning to end. Honestly, it was super funny and real.
Usually, I need a book to include a little romance for me to enjoy it, but this had virtually none and I'd still recommend and read it a thousand times over!!
Enjoy <3
Usually, I need a book to include a little romance for me to enjoy it, but this had virtually none and I'd still recommend and read it a thousand times over!!
Enjoy <3
October 28, 2022
As a high school teacher, this novel reminded me of the harsh reality some of our students face. I am thankful for the humanity each character was given and the attention to the benefits of group therapy. Definitely one I’ll recommend to other professionals who work with students of all ages!
March 9, 2017
This book is very well written with excellent character development and a very believable plot line. You cannot help but rout for Isaac and his mission to keep his sister safe.
June 14, 2017
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH AND ALL BE WRITING THE REVIEW IT DESERVES ONCE I'VE GATHERED MY THOUGHTS
June 30, 2017
I really liked this. I think the right kid would like it, but it's probably too contemplative for some kids. But good twists and turns and memorable characters.
June 25, 2018
A compelling read about something I have no knowledge about nor do I ever want to have firsthand experience with. It was hard for me to relate to the characters because I've had such a different life, but I also could understand why they were the way that they were. The language was a little strong (but it's probably true to how it would be), and the ending wrapped a little too quickly and too neatly to seem realistic.
August 22, 2018
I was impressed by this look inside a juvenile detention center. I hope they really do have programs that assist them.
March 23, 2017
A couple of my senior boys read my ARC and really enjoyed it, so it made sense for me to read it as well. I enjoyed the audio and definitely see the appeal.
March 17, 2017
There needs to be a film adaptation to this.
Read
March 6, 2017Graded By: Lacey
Cover Story: Fence-Bird
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Boyz-N-The Hood
Bonus Factor: Justice
Relationship Status: Gettin’ Out Early
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Fence-Bird
BFF Charm: Big Sister
Swoonworthy Scale: 1
Talky Talk: Boyz-N-The Hood
Bonus Factor: Justice
Relationship Status: Gettin’ Out Early
Read the full book report here.
March 6, 2017
Not a light read, for sure. But not bad, either. Full review at Forever Young Adult.
Want to read
March 1, 2017I received a copy of this book from Soho Teen via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2019
When you’re a thief, you’re also a liar. It comes with the territory.
The Free by Lauren McLaughlin is about Isaac West, a high school teenager with a rough childhood, who landed himself in juvie for a month because he was caught stealing. We follow Isaac through his sentence and his experiences at juvie: the good, the bad and the wishes to just get out of there.
I thought I’d turn to the “Things I Liked” and “Things I Didn’t Like” list.
Things I Liked:
How diverse it was! There were people of so many races and ethnicities, I was very pleasantly surprised. There was even a Pakistani kid, which I appreciated a lot because, while there are appearances of people of colour here and there in novels, POC of similar background as myself are even rarer. The different cultures and races represented were definitely a plus.
There was a light exploration of racism in the system. It was not even close to a large portion of the book but Isaac mentioned different races getting different treatment from the guards and the adults at juvie and I thought that was quite important and interesting.
I also liked the concept of “group” a lot. Each group consisted of a couple of kids and a therapist; each member would act out their crime with the help of other members in the group. The group prods at the person and their crime until only the raw remains are left and they have to confront what they have done and come to terms with their crime. This leaves room for some interesting experiences and stories.
I really loved Isaac’s love for his sister and everything he was willing to do for her. Isaac was an alright character throughout the novel but I loved this certain aspect of him.
I’m quite glad that there was no romance in here. There were references to sex and romantic partners but it was not a big deal throughout the novel.
Barbie Santiago has a reputation for ‘fighting like a girl,’ which is not an insult, by the way. Guys fight for show. Girls fight to kill.
Things I Disliked:
There is a large cast of characters but I feel like not many of them were well-developed. Even Isaac didn’t feel all that substantial to me, so the side characters felt quite flat.
The ending wrapped up a little too conveniently for me. It seemed to be building up to something and I was on the edge of my seat but I was let down.
All in all, it was such a fast read, it can probably be read in one sitting in a couple of hours! Although I’m not certain as to how accurate this book is or if it does justice to kids in Isaac’s situation, the author’s father had been to juvie in his teenage years. A pretty good read.
To hell and back. Because we know the way.
The Free by Lauren McLaughlin is about Isaac West, a high school teenager with a rough childhood, who landed himself in juvie for a month because he was caught stealing. We follow Isaac through his sentence and his experiences at juvie: the good, the bad and the wishes to just get out of there.
I thought I’d turn to the “Things I Liked” and “Things I Didn’t Like” list.
Things I Liked:
How diverse it was! There were people of so many races and ethnicities, I was very pleasantly surprised. There was even a Pakistani kid, which I appreciated a lot because, while there are appearances of people of colour here and there in novels, POC of similar background as myself are even rarer. The different cultures and races represented were definitely a plus.
There was a light exploration of racism in the system. It was not even close to a large portion of the book but Isaac mentioned different races getting different treatment from the guards and the adults at juvie and I thought that was quite important and interesting.
I also liked the concept of “group” a lot. Each group consisted of a couple of kids and a therapist; each member would act out their crime with the help of other members in the group. The group prods at the person and their crime until only the raw remains are left and they have to confront what they have done and come to terms with their crime. This leaves room for some interesting experiences and stories.
I really loved Isaac’s love for his sister and everything he was willing to do for her. Isaac was an alright character throughout the novel but I loved this certain aspect of him.
I’m quite glad that there was no romance in here. There were references to sex and romantic partners but it was not a big deal throughout the novel.
Barbie Santiago has a reputation for ‘fighting like a girl,’ which is not an insult, by the way. Guys fight for show. Girls fight to kill.
Things I Disliked:
There is a large cast of characters but I feel like not many of them were well-developed. Even Isaac didn’t feel all that substantial to me, so the side characters felt quite flat.
The ending wrapped up a little too conveniently for me. It seemed to be building up to something and I was on the edge of my seat but I was let down.
All in all, it was such a fast read, it can probably be read in one sitting in a couple of hours! Although I’m not certain as to how accurate this book is or if it does justice to kids in Isaac’s situation, the author’s father had been to juvie in his teenage years. A pretty good read.
To hell and back. Because we know the way.
February 9, 2017
I received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
Where do I begin with this book? So it took me a while to connect with the main character. The book is told through first person by Isaac and his time in a juvenile detention center. Isaac has a sister that he loves deeply and a mom who is a prostitute and an alcoholic so he is the only one around to take care of her. The problem is that his method of taking care of her lands him in juvie. The scenes in group therapy were intense. Isaac meets some interesting characters there and has to figure out who his friends are and who he can trust. In the beginning, he is just about doing his time and getting out of there as soon as possible. The other characters are interesting, especially the ones in his group therapy class. Eventually, Isaac realizes that he has to work the program and this is where things get a bit interesting. The memories he has of his childhood with his mom and his sister are truly heartbreaking. The group helps him to come to terms with a few repressed memories and I loved those scenes.
I guess the issue I had with this one is that there was also this subplot of Isaac's crime and this theft ring that his teacher was running and I thought it got a little too "made for TV," if you know what I mean. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed and the character development was a little forced. I thought the focus on this theft ring took attention away from Isaac's crimes and it's almost like the author was looking for some villain to place all the blame on for stuff that Isaac did. I would have much rather read a story about Isaac exploring the reasons behind his actions and even talking about the poverty that led to some of his poor decision making. And the end with his sister and his mother was just a little too neat and wrapped up.
Parts of this book were interesting, but I just didn't think the book went deeply enough.
Where do I begin with this book? So it took me a while to connect with the main character. The book is told through first person by Isaac and his time in a juvenile detention center. Isaac has a sister that he loves deeply and a mom who is a prostitute and an alcoholic so he is the only one around to take care of her. The problem is that his method of taking care of her lands him in juvie. The scenes in group therapy were intense. Isaac meets some interesting characters there and has to figure out who his friends are and who he can trust. In the beginning, he is just about doing his time and getting out of there as soon as possible. The other characters are interesting, especially the ones in his group therapy class. Eventually, Isaac realizes that he has to work the program and this is where things get a bit interesting. The memories he has of his childhood with his mom and his sister are truly heartbreaking. The group helps him to come to terms with a few repressed memories and I loved those scenes.
I guess the issue I had with this one is that there was also this subplot of Isaac's crime and this theft ring that his teacher was running and I thought it got a little too "made for TV," if you know what I mean. I also thought the ending was a bit rushed and the character development was a little forced. I thought the focus on this theft ring took attention away from Isaac's crimes and it's almost like the author was looking for some villain to place all the blame on for stuff that Isaac did. I would have much rather read a story about Isaac exploring the reasons behind his actions and even talking about the poverty that led to some of his poor decision making. And the end with his sister and his mother was just a little too neat and wrapped up.
Parts of this book were interesting, but I just didn't think the book went deeply enough.
March 2, 2025
An excellent story of a teenager’s struggles in juvenile detention. Through the story it dives into many tough topics such as: absent parents, organized crime, drug/alcohol abuse, mental health, group therapy, flaws in the criminal justice system. 288 pages on Kindle accompanied with Audible.
February 6, 2017
*I received an advanced copy of this through Net Galley and the publisher in return for my honest and fair review. *
This was a good story - definitely an attention keeper. The author manages to surprise you - again and again and again. I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil it but I will say the mentor mentee relationship surprised me! As did the dissociative episode.
The characters are presented in such a way that you like the rough around the edges kids. You are able to see the camaraderie and kindness in them. And reminded that they're still kids.
A great read. Perfect for high schoolers or even college students so they can get the magnitude. Well done.
This was a good story - definitely an attention keeper. The author manages to surprise you - again and again and again. I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil it but I will say the mentor mentee relationship surprised me! As did the dissociative episode.
The characters are presented in such a way that you like the rough around the edges kids. You are able to see the camaraderie and kindness in them. And reminded that they're still kids.
A great read. Perfect for high schoolers or even college students so they can get the magnitude. Well done.
April 5, 2017
First off, I should say I read this book in two hours this morning because I could not put it down.
This book was, for the most part, very raw and real and it made me cry. I do think the author's desire for some kind of happy ending for her main character maybe took something away because most of the time these kids do not get stories that end well. But then, this is YA, not adult fiction. And maybe all it really does take is one person willing to take the risk to try and be someone else's miracle.
I applaud Lauren McLaughlin for highlighting these important voices. Incarcerated youth are so much more than the choices that brought them there. Maybe that's why society largely discredits or doesn't want to pay attention to their stories.
This book was, for the most part, very raw and real and it made me cry. I do think the author's desire for some kind of happy ending for her main character maybe took something away because most of the time these kids do not get stories that end well. But then, this is YA, not adult fiction. And maybe all it really does take is one person willing to take the risk to try and be someone else's miracle.
I applaud Lauren McLaughlin for highlighting these important voices. Incarcerated youth are so much more than the choices that brought them there. Maybe that's why society largely discredits or doesn't want to pay attention to their stories.
June 22, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you.
Don't let this book's categorization as YA/teen mislead you. It's a hit you in the feels, make you want to gut the juvenile justice system, root for the underdog kind of book. Great read!
Don't let this book's categorization as YA/teen mislead you. It's a hit you in the feels, make you want to gut the juvenile justice system, root for the underdog kind of book. Great read!
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