Teenager Martin Stokes is locked up for a petty crime he didn't even mean to commit. Through a series of miscommunications, his stay in jail has lasted much longer than was intended. After another upsetting court date, Martin is sent back to jail and is caught in the middle of an inmate fight. His face is slashed, marking him as either a brawler or a weakling, neither of which will help his cause. Martin is moved out of the main "house" into a smaller unit. Because his stay has been extended for a couple of weeks, he must attend a GED class while incarcerated. The teachers are a unique mixture and Martin must learn to fit-in with the other students, all while thinking of vengeance for his new scars. Readers are left to wonder if Martin will stay strong and make it to his release date or if he will give in to the jail games and get his revenge, prolonging his sentence.
This book was interesting and even angered me at times. It reminded me a little of
Boot Camp by Todd Strasser and could also be paired with
No Choirboy, a new HS Sequoyah nominee. Recommended for teen boys.
