The Juvie Three

At first, Terence and DeAndre seem like two very similar kids who want the same things. How do these two characters contrast? How does getting to know DeAndre help Terence learn about himself?

Roxanne comes from a very privileged background and questions how her economic status affects her view of the world. How big a part do you think money and status play in who a person is? If the halfway house boys had come from wealthier families, would they have still made the same choices?

Arjay and Gecko both have talents: music and driving. Compare and contrast these talents and how they affect each character’s life.

Gecko sees Diego getting bullied a lot at school. What was it about Diego that makes him a target? What steps could he have taken to protect himself?

Mrs. Liebowitz and Ms. Vaughn are two of the novel’s central antagonists. How are they similar, and how are they different?

Arjay refuses to plead guilty to murder because lying goes against his values; however, telling the truth got him sent to a worse place than if he had lied. Did he make the right decision? What choice would you have made, and why?

A major theme in this novel is the difference between the family you’re born into and the family you create. Is one any more “real” than the other?

Terence claims to have very few options in life, but he actually has a wide range of underutilized skills. Brainstorm some possible legal career paths he could take, and why they would be a good match for him.