True Notebooks: A Writer's Year at Juvenile Hall

In True Notebooks, Mark Salzman presents a unique and interesting tale of his time teaching a writing class in a juvenile detention facility. The stories that come out of Salzman’s experiences with these boys are not just surprising, but also heart-warming, hilarious, and tragic. I read this book as a part of a college English course and, while it is not something that I would typically read of my own volition, I am glad that I had this opportunity to. While True Notebooks does not exactly fall within the regular realms of my reading material, it is nonetheless a well written and compelling book that held my attention the whole way through. One of the most compelling aspects of this book is Salzman’s portrayals of the people he met throughout his experience, especially the boys he taught. However, Salzman’s characterization is not always consistent throughout. While some of the boys come alive as interesting and unique characters, many of them blended together for me and I was only able to identify a few of them by name by the end of the book. This certainly was not helped by the constant changing of the boys in his class and Salzman’s tendency to avoid physical descriptions of the boys. While I understand why Salzman decided to do these things, I do not believe it benefitted my reading experience. I had a similar problem with some of the correctional officers that Salzman met throughout the book, only being able to name two of the officers by the end of the book. Despite these problems, it is clear that Salzman really cares about these characters, and he does a great job of instilling humanity and depth of character into these boys, some of who have done truly terrible things. The most effecting and unique aspect of True Notebooks is Salzman’s use of the boys’ actual essays from the class he taught. Throughout the book when the boys read their essays aloud in the class, Salzman includes the actual writing of the boys that he saved from his time teaching the class. These essays provide the most factual grounding to the story and are both the centralizing aspect and easily the most interesting part of the book. The writing that the boys do is unexpected, emotional, and intriguing. Seeing and reading these actual pieces of writing from incarcerated boys offers an insight into what it is like for these kids, and is unlike anything I have seen elsewhere. These essays are the most unique part of the book and are definitely the number one reason someone should read it. Overall, while some aspects of True Notebooks are not always consistent, ultimately it is very much worth the read, especially if you have any interest in the American prison system, and those who are the most affected by it. While I probably would have never even heard about this book if it were not for my English class, I am glad I got the opportunity read it, and I think you would be too.

Mark Salzman does a great job telling his story about teaching a writing class full of teenage prisoners. Before I started the book, I wasn’t really expecting to like it as much as I did, considering I didn’t have much empathy for those who have gotten themselves locked up behind bars. This book has caused me to change my mind. As you read, you start to really enjoy all the characters, and really get to know them.You receive a lot of information on their character just simply through their personal writing (which Salzman has added, unedited, into the book). This book gave me a different perspective on teens who do become locked up behind bars, they aren’t entirely bad people, they just make mistakes, and aren’t given a lot of opportunities to succeed to start off. One thing that I really enjoyed in this book is the fact that Salzman added all of the inmates writing pieces that seemed to be unedited. There was a lot of slang in the writing pieces, and in the conversations, which made the whole thing feel real, and almost like you were there. If there was one thing I could change about this book, it would be the fact that there is no glossary in the back of the book. There were quite a few times I didn’t understand some of the slang that was used, and a glossary would’ve been helpful. I also would’ve enjoyed seeing pictures of the teens in the back of the book, along with Mark’s picture. I think it is inspiring to know that even though these teens have disobeyed laws and have to sit in a detention center, they still get to work towards graduating high school and allows them opportunities to succeed and be able to change their lives around after getting out. Overall, Mark Salzman did an excellent job writing this book and you could tell through his writing that he truly enjoyed it too!

I had zero expectations reading this book and it took me by storm. Partially for research on juvenile offenders and partially for philanthropic reasons, author Mark Salzman taught a writing class at a juvenile detention center in LA where most of the teenaged boys were awaiting trial for murder. What follows is in equal terms alarming, hilarious, and sad.What's alarming: the reader gets to know these boys well and even sympathize with them, but the bottom line is that they are killers. In a few cases details about their crimes are provided. Are they deserving of our sympathies? Yes and no. Salzman seems aware of the pitfalls himself, providing perspective occasionally by offering asides about society's point of view (as well as the victims' points of view).What's hilarious: the badinage between the boys. The profanity-laced ribbing they deliver at each other, typical of teenaged boys everywhere, is realistic and merciless. Every weakness is attacked; every mistake is magnified; and yet, they give each other his due when it comes to letting the defenses down to write about feelings.What's sad: the fate of these boys. Almost all are convicted with the maximum sentences with little if any serious defense on the part of their appointed legal representatives. As you hear the stories of their misspent, abused, and neglected youths, you see that the picture is bigger and more complicated than you'd expect.Keep your eye on Mr. Sills, a corrections officer who is hard as nails on the outside, but caring on the inside. He's one of those "sleeper" minor characters that can really make a book, and he offers the boys the tough, structured guidance that many of them lacked at home. I'm going to miss this book now that I'm done, but at least I have a bunch of other Mark Salzman titles to check out now. If you care about humanity, reading, writing, teaching, crime, rehabilitation, and overcrowded prisons, this is your book. And if you don't, this may well be your book anyway. Check it out.

From a teen's perspective, this book is funny and fascinating.

著者は、悩んだ末に青少年の凶悪犯収容所で作文クラスを担当することになります。そこで彼が遭遇したものは、意外にも純粋な青少年たちの心でした。内容的にはそれほどドロドロしたものはなく、きれいにまとめてある感じがします。でも、本には書けない苦労も案外あったのかも知れません。作文から、日本で収容されている青少年とも共通項があるように思います。普段と違う世界を垣間見ることができます。英語は読みやすいです。また、彼らの作文を通していろんな文体に触れることもできます。