Reese lands in Progress when he steals some prescription pads from a doctor’s office. Now, he’s surrounded by other kids who have messed up their lives and broken the law-some of them have even killed people. The only “progress” going on at Progress seems to be moving from juvie to real jail. When Reese gets thrown in lockdown for fighting to defend a younger boy, it could mean the end of his work program helping Mr. Hooft, a man in a Senior Citizens’ home, and of his chance at an early release. He doesn’t mean to keep messing up, but right and wrong are complicated at Progress-and in life. Mr. Hooft hates Reese at first and treats him like a criminal, but over time Reese discovers Mr. Hooft has his own demons; he’s still reliving his traumatic experience in a children’s internment camp in World War II Japan. As they realize just how much they have in common, Mr. Hooft’s harrowing past could help give Reese a way to re-envision the future.
About the Author:
Walter Dean Myers has garnered much respect for his books for young people.
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, five Coretta Scott King Awards, two
Newbery Honors, and nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, he is
considered one of the preeminent writers for children.