Johanna+Survival

=//**Hole In My Life**// by Jack Gantos= __Hole In My Life__ tells Jack Gantos's own personal story about his experience in prison, from how he got there, to how he got out. At age 19, Gantos was a genuinely good kid who aspired to one day afford to go to college. His family moved around a lot, and he was never in one place very long. During his junior year in high school, Gantos dropped out and worked to help support his family. He decided to go back to school for senior year, and lived with another family, while his own lived outside of America. He soon turned to alcohol and marijuana. After being kicked out of the family's house due to reckless behavior, Gantos was approached with an offer. He was asked to help sail a boat from Florida to New York City. The boat was loaded with marijuana. The prize? $10,000. Unable to resist the temptation of the much-needed money, Jack agreed. He sailed for weeks with Hamilton, the ship's captain. They eventually reached New York, but were caught. The second half of the book explains Gantos's experiences in prison-- the horrible conditions, the constant fear of attack or rape. He explains every thought he had, from his regret, to his self-hate, to his desperation for freedom.

"Here we were, all of us living in constant, pissy misery, and instead of trying to feel more human, more free and unchained in their hearts by simply respecting one another and getting along, many of the men found cruel and menacing ways to make each day a walk through a tunnel of fear for others." -Jack Gantos, on the violence and constant fear while living in prison

Survival Lesson learned: This book was extremely touching. I connected with Gantos as he described his feelings-- his desperation for the money, so that he could fulfill his dreams of writing. I learned that even good people make mistakes. Bad things happen to everyone. But we must overcome. You can't lose hope, or give up. Gantos did everything in his power to be released. Once, a year or so into his prison sentence, he met with a judge to possibly be released early. The judge unfairly denied and sent him back for several years. Frustrated, sad, and hopeless, Gantos soon learned that you can't give up. He wanted to, and needed to survive. He knew he wasn't a bad person. Even in the face of injustice, horrible conditions, and constant fear, Gantos survived, and kept his cool, which ultimately helped him to be released. I learned that you can reach freedom through constant persistence and holding onto your desire to survive.

reviewed dlj 11/15 50 points LOVE THE QUOTE!!!