READER’S FORUM

January 21, 2023 at 07:16 pm Reply

jahnicio fairley vasquez

Dear Mr.Korman,

I have recently read Juvie Three for my sophomore English class in high school, and I wanna say it's a great book that kept me wondering what will happen next the whole time, but I want to know what inspired you to write a book like this. The three boys are in such a tragic situation yet they made it work against all odds.

We also recently watched a video about the juvenile justice system which makes me wonder if your book is fiction or not. In the 90s young kids that commit crimes could have been classified as super predators and thrown in a cell for the rest of their life, especially people that have grown up in certain places . The two that we watched were Vice HBO's "Raised in System" and "Stick up Kid". Also, why did you decide to be interested in the topic of juvenile justice and the theme of that book when most of your books aren't like that, and why is New York? Is it because juveniles are treated more harshly in the city?

Thank You,

Jahnicio
January 21, 2023 at 08:20 pm Reply

Gordon Korman

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Hi, Jahnicio,

Thanks for posting. I'm pleased to hear that THE JUVIE THREE gave you so much to think about.

"Juvie" is strictly fictional, in that everything I know about juvenile crime, etc., is out of books and movies. I never even saw the kind of videos you're referring to. And it wasn't so much juvenile justice I was interested in, but rather the actions of a person who is willing to risk his own well-being and safety to try to save a few of these troubled kids. The theme really was of 3 kids who need supervision very badly suddenly forced to supervise themselves and each other. Why New York? Probably because I lived there, so I knew the different neighborhoods and facilities. And partly because New York produces the kind of "bleeding heart" that will risk his own peace and liberty to take on 3 kids who may (or may not) turn out OK, and may (or may not) have his throat open at the drop of a hat!

I hope that answers your questions. Thanks again for your interest. -----Gordon Korman-----
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Hi, Jahnicio,

Thanks for posting. I'm pleased to hear that THE JUVIE THREE gave you so much to think about.

"Juvie" is strictly fictional, in that everything I know about juvenile crime, etc., is out of books and movies. I never even saw the kind of videos you're referring to. And it wasn't so much juvenile justice I was interested in, but rather the actions of a person who is willing to risk his own well-being and safety to try to save a few of these troubled kids. The theme really was of 3 kids who need supervision very badly suddenly forced to supervise themselves and each other. Why New York? Probably because I lived there, so I knew the different neighborhoods and facilities. And partly because New York produces the kind of "bleeding heart" that will risk his own peace and liberty to take on 3 kids who may (or may not) turn out OK, and may (or may not) have his throat open at the drop of a hat!

I hope that answers your questions. Thanks again for your interest. -----Gordon Korman-----