Why didn't I read this book earlier? 
 I see why kids just fall in love with Walter Dean Myers. His prose just falls off the page and walks perfectly on that thin line between realistic and beautiful. His characters have revelations and thoughts that are relatable for kids without being simplified (which makes it a drag for adult readers). That is, you're not going to get some Green-esque protagonists walking around like living dictionaries, but you do get some of the wonderful quotes and ideas portrayed. 
 The screenplay style of writing intermixed with the journals is perfect for this story; it demonstrates how Steve is trying to separate himself from his life in prison while he simultaneously has to deal with the horrible realities of it. The plot leaves some loose ends; not everything is clean or feel-good. However, that's exactly how it should be when it comes to this kind of story. 
 I have heard of some teachers using this as a replacement for or supplement to "To Kill a Mockingbird," and I fully support that decision. I don't know if that would work at my school right now, but I am going to push this on more kids because it is certainly a better depiction of what it means to be black in American today and what the prison system is like. The only problem I see with it is that it doesn't have quite the "coming of age" theme that truly shapes TKAM. But we will see.