My Story Starts Here: Voices of Young Offenders

In this eye-opening compilation, based on original interviews, Ellis (the Breadwinner series) allows Canadian young people who have experience with the criminal justice system to tell their own stories. In addition to a young person’s story, each chapter includes relevant research—rates of suicide and drug overdose for homeless youth, the high percentage of high school dropouts who do jail time. Sidebars include probing questions (“If your parents are not good role models, what can you do to find other mentors?”), and “Taking Steps” sections suggest positive, practical actions. While the young peoples’ family structures, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender, and sexual orientation vary greatly, common themes recur: domestic violence; foster care and group homes; early exposure to alcohol, drugs, and criminal behavior; and frequent moves and repeated school transfers. Stories also relay the powerful effect that kindness from teachers, foster parents, cops, and counselors can have on an individual’s ability to sustain hope, and they also make clear the benefits of alternatives such as diversion programs, which offer an opportunity to avoid a criminal record, and the restorative justice process, rooted in indigenous cultures. Ellis deftly combines heartbreaking recollections, stories of recovery, and concrete suggestions for cultivating resilience, while making a powerful argument for breaking cycles of trauma by investing in preventive measures. Ages 12–up. [em](Oct.) [/em]