Let me make an admission: I’ve never read a Walter Dean Myers book. So, I took a stab and read outside my comfort level on this one.

Reese is living in Promises — a juvenile detention facility — for committing the crime of stealing prescription pads from doctors and aided in the acquisition of drug deals. Since he’s been a good inmate, he’s given the opportunity to take a part-time job at Evergreen, which is a home for the elderly. The job is a privilege and gives him both freedom from his place in jail, and it is meant to teach him responsibility, obedience, and respect for himself and others. It is here he meets Mr. Hooft, an elderly gentleman who has a tremendous impact on Reese’s beliefs about who he is and who he can become.

Of course, it’s not that simple. About half way through the story, there is a big bomb dropped upon Reese, who has been getting himself in trouble trying to defend some of his buddies. When this arises, it is Reese who must decide what is important to him and how he can get himself out of Promises into a fulfilling life for himself and Icy — the sister he adores.

Lockdown was exceptionally well written, and the character development kept me wanting more. Although this won’t rank as one of my favorite reads, primarily because it focused on a topic I’m unfamiliar with and don’t typically seek out, this is a book that has definite appeal to many audiences.

One of the real challenges I had was with the secondary characters: I could not distinguish among the various juvenile inmates nor the adults in Reese’s life. I found that Reese himself was very well developed, and his sister Icy had a unique and memorable voice. Likewise, Mr. Hooft kept me coming back as a reader, as I felt the story he told Reese about his time in and immediately after the Vietnam War drew great parallels to Reese’s own challenges with keeping on the right side of the law.

Myers writes to impart a lesson, but I felt throughout the entirety of Lockdown that I was not bring preached at. I’m not the real audience for this title, but even the target group will not feel they’re being told how to be or act. Instead, the lessons are weaved well enough into action and actual story telling that they feel part of the plot rather than the entire plot itself.

If you’re looking for a book for a boy who lives on the fringes, has found himself in trouble before, or seems generally lost, this is an excellent choice. Likewise, this is a book that will appeal to both boys and girls and would make a perfect discussion title. Myers has certainly carved himself a niche in the young adult world, and he will have staying power.

Lockdown will be published February 2.