The Juvie Three

Change is a major thread in this novel, and in it we see how essential it is to understand who you are and to take responsibility for your actions. Over the course of the novel, all three boys experience a shift in the way they perceive themselves—sometimes good, sometimes bad—by taking an honest look at who they are and the choices that they have made.

Gecko goes to juvie because of what his brother made him do, and he spends much of the early chapters feeling out of control of his life. He feels that since being primed as a getaway driver from a young age, his path has been irreparably predetermined. He even feels a sense of solidarity with Drew, another boy in their counseling group, who got in trouble for downloading music for his older brother: “In the entire hour of nonstop talking, it’s the one comment that rings even the slightest bell with Gecko. He doesn’t know much about falling satellites, but a kid who’s in trouble for what his brother forced him to do—he can relate to that” (46). However, he becomes more aware of how much he was hiding behind his relationship to Rueben so that he didn’t have to face his own choices when Casey points out his flawed thinking: “‘Your brother,’ snorts Casey. ‘More like your crutch. Must be nice to have a built-in scapegoat so you can cry “no fair” when you get what you deserve’” (65). This moment signals that Gecko will take more responsibility moving forward.

We see similar growth in Gecko when he keeps up with his homework to keep the rest of his halfway house friends from the prying eyes of the social worker: “Funny he should be turning into a student now, of all times” (107). He sees that improvement is possible when he has the right motivation.

Arjay also grows through his love of music and performing. He’s initially hesitant, both because of his situation and because of the way people have treated him, and he realizes that those people have shaped his self-image more than he thought: “At Remsenville, they treated him like a dangerous animal, but it isn’t until now that he realizes how much he himself started to believe he was one” (52). By the end of the novel, his confidence has improved, and he is ready to embrace the life that he deserves.

Terence begins his story with some pretty clear ideas of what he wants and who he wants to be, and most of the plot is set into motion because of these ideas. He sees DeAndre as the sort of person he aspires to: safe, secure, and respected. When DeAndre pushes him too far, however, Terence realizes that they’re more different than he thought and that he’s never going to be that kind of person — nor does he want to be. It’s this pivotal moment of self-awareness that puts him on his more positive path toward a better life. By the time the novel reaches its close, each boy has a better idea of the motivations and actions that led them to the halfway house, who they want to become as they continue to grow up, and the power they have over their own lives to get there.