Oprah’s Angel Network

Maybe the teenager stole something or vandalized property. Whatever it was, time and again, he misbehaved until things got so bad that a judge ordered him placed into a treatment facility. Without intervention, those in the system knew, the boy was headed for a life behind bars.

To prevent this outcome, some juvenile programs are turning to books to help with the rehabilitation process. In Lincolnshire, Ill., a group of teenage boys ages 14–17 gathers every month at the Vernon Area Public Library as part of a program called FACE-IT (Family and Community Engaged in Treatment). There, the boys discuss books relevant to their lives to develop empathy skills and better understand the difficult choices they face ahead.

“The books are the best thing we do,” said FACE-IT program teacher Jack Cantor, who feels adopting this program two years ago has benefited the teens more than any other part of his curriculum. “Without the books the kids would be even more in jeopardy.”

Author Gordon Korman stopped by the Vernon Area Public Library in November of 2008 to discuss his book "The Juvie Three" with teenagers who are using books as a rehabilitative tool.

© 2008 Oprah’s Angel Network

The teens, whose home lives are often dysfunctional, stay at the program’s treatment facility for 6–9 months where they lead a structured, task-oriented life. Every morning, Mr. Cantor reads a part of the book to them that they will discuss at the end of the month.

At a recent meeting in November of 2008, the group of 12 boys discussed Gordon Korman’s fictional tale “The Juvie Three”. One participant said that he related to a character because he’s a “tough guy who’s really nice on the inside.” The boys had the special treat of talking to the book’s author, who fielded questions about the plot and his writing process.

Two librarians, Gina Sheade and Pam Minarik, guide the monthly discussions over snacks and soda and ask questions to get the teens thinking about how the book’s themes relate to their own lives. The library setting is a welcome departure from the teens’ daily routine and over the course of their participation in the discussion group they develop a rapport with the librarians.

“Teenagers generally do not have a lot in common with middle-aged librarians,” said Gina. “But the boys are always enthusiastic and respectful.”

The librarians started the program in 2006 as part of the American Library Association’s Great Stories CLUB (Connecting Libraries, Underserved teens and Books), a grant program funded by the Angel Network that provides libraries with books and resources to help reach at-risk teenagers. For more information about the program continue to the story Great Expectations for At-Risk Teens.