The Juvie Three »

Gordon Korman is one of the most beloved contemporary authors of today with more than 40 middle-grade novels to his credit. He published his first book at the wee age of fourteen, which turned into the Bruno and Boots series- still in print! Also a tireless self-promoter, Gordon travels across the country and even travels abroad to promote his books. Originally from Toronto, Gordon and his wife, a teacher, now live on Long Island with their little boy.

Gecko Fosse drove the getaway car.

Terence Florian ran with the worst gang in Chicago.

Arjay Moran killed someone.

All three boys are serving time in juvenile detention centers until they get a second chance at life in the form of Douglas Healy. A former juvenile delinquent himself, Healy is running an experimental halfway house in New York City where he wants to make a difference in the lives of kids like Gecko, Terence, and Arjay.

Things are going well, until one night Healy is accidentally knocked unconscious while trying to break up a scuffle among the boys. Terrified of the consequences, they drop him off at a hospital and run away. But when Healy awakes, he has no memory of them or the halfway house. Afraid of being sent back to Juvie, the guys hatch a crazy scheme to continue on as if the group leader never left. They will go to school, do their community service, attend therapy, and act like model citizens until Healy's memory returns and he can resume his place with them.

But life keeps getting in the way...like Gecko finding romance. Or Arjay getting famous. Or Terence reverting to his old ways. And the woman from social services is determined to catch them at something. If the boys are discovered, their second chance will be their last.

KLIATT

Gecko drove, and crashed, a getaway car for his thieving brother; Terence picked up his B & E skills running with a gang in Chicago; hulking Arjay killed a man with a single punch. All three teenagers are serving time in juvenile detention until they're selected by a man named Douglas Healy, a former juvie himself, to take part in an experimental halfway house in New York City. Terence chafes at the many rules and tries to sneak out one night, though the other boys try to stop him. When Healy comes out to the balcony to intervene, he falls to the pavement and wakes up in the hospital with amnesia. Desperate not to return to juvie, the boys conspire to pretend Healy is still overseeing them and strive mightily to follow all the rules, despite complications like Arjay's blossoming rock guitarist career and Terence's tendency to return to his criminal ways. Meanwhile, Gecko checks up on Healy in the hospital, posing as a volunteer, and falls hard for lovely Roxanne, a real hospital volunteer. When Healy's memory fails to return and he's transferred to Bronx County Psychiatric Hospital, the boys realize the jig is up, and they set out to break Healy out, with the help of Roxanne. It would make a good sitcom, wouldn't it? Korman, author of Born to Rock, Son of the Mob and other YA novels, has a sure hand with comedy, and he makes the most of his appealing if flawed characters and great setup. The danger of discovery, the tough-talking delinquents who aren't quite as hard as they first appear, the hateful authority figures who nevertheless come to their aid—there's lots to relish here. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick