TRUE NOTEBOOKS

The true story of the author's experiences leading writing workshops for incarcerated juvenile offenders seems highly embellished. The young murderers and gang-bangers are surprisingly eloquent and sympathetic, though their deeds are appalling. The fascinating, albeit not altogether credible, adventure is given a sound of naïveté by Paul Boehmer. For the first third or so of the book, he seems callow and detached. However, the characters and situations eventually ignite him into a spirited reading. Y.R.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 04]