By Jane Guttman, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, February 15, 2021
“Always Running” is a book that I recommend to everyone. It is one of the best books written by Luis J. Rodriguez and for many years was on the banned book lists throughout the country.
When I arrived at the juvenile court school library, it was off the banned list and one of the most sought-after reads. I brought it to book club on many occasions. It was originally banned and taken out of public and school libraries since it talked about gang life in great detail. When I brought “Always Running” to book club, I made sure to have multiple copies so students could take those books to their cells.
Book club on one of the male max units was a happening. As an after-school program, it gave kids a chance to get out of their cells and learn some very big and cool things. For me it was a chance to promote reading, one of the most important factors in helping someone have a purposeful adult life. And this is one of the areas that many kids need to catch up on. (To become a strong reader, keep reading.)
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