No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Title:  No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row

Author:  Susan Kuklin

ISBN:  978-0-805-07950-0

Recommended Grade Level of Reader:  10th and Up

Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company

Media Type:  Book

Copyright:  2008

Genre:  Non-Fiction

Reader's Annotation:  Despite being adolescents when sentenced to prison, these young offenders prove that hard crime is punished with hard time.  

 

Plot Summary:  No Choirboy examines the lives of four young men who were imprisoned for crimes committed before the age of eighteen.  Of the two sentenced to death row, each was convicted of murder.  The four young men, who were fourteen to seventeen years of age when arrested, come from different backgrounds and their diversity shows that not all prisoners come from poor or disadvantaged upbringings.  While Kuklin provides narration, much of the book is dedicated to commentary given directly by the various inmates as well as two families whose lives were affected by teen violence.

Evaluation:  (B)  The author does an effective job at highlighting her position on the death penalty.  Readers will glean that this non-fiction account is anti-death penalty and anti-imprisonment for juvenile offenders.  Kuklin presents a one-sided view, however.  While the inmates’ commentary is emotional and effective in showcasing their plight, No Choirboy could have been more relevant by offering both sides to the controversial issue. 

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• Gangs and Violence

Tom Clancy's Endwar

Title: Tom Clancy's Endwar

Developer/Publisher: Ubisoft, Inc.

Video Game System: Play Station 3

Number of Players: 1

ISBN: 0-08888-34406-3

Rating: T

Suitable for Ages: Teenagers (Alcohol References, Tobacco References, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence)

Media Type: Blu-Ray Disc

Copyright:  2008

Genre:  Strategy

Reader's Annotation:  Which country will come out on top after World War III?  

Plot Summary:  Based on a hypothetical World War III, a player must choose a country and battle in order to become the next super power.  Much like the board game War, Endwar requires strategy in order to claim world domination.  Three countries, United States, Russia, and Europe compete for this title.  Not surprisingly, the objective is to win the war and eliminate the two other countries.       

Evaluation:  (B)  Endwar is unique since it is voice enabled.  While a player can control his or her troops with the traditional controller, the game allows for voice commands.  The voice command is crucial since it helps a player to quickly order troops into action as opposed to searching through a list of control commands and selecting the right function.  The voice command elevates this strategy game into an exciting, adrenaline filled adventure.     

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