A Review of Dead or In Prison: My Journey in Foster Care (Book Review Sample)

A Review of Dead or In Prison: My Journey in Foster Care
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A Review of Dead or In Prison: My Journey in Foster Care
Dead or In Prison: My Journey in Foster Care is an autobiographical book written by George Duvall and Derek Humfleet. It tells the story of George Duvall’s journey through foster care while overcoming a life of misdemeanors, poverty and racism. While Duvall’s story began with those vices, it ends with hope, belonging and love. He co-authored the book with his friend Derek Humfleet, a prominent lawyer in Lexington, Duvall’s hometown.
While he was a kid, George Duvall was told by his own family that he would either be in prison or dead by even before he reached 13 years old. He was already a thief by the time he turned six, often refusing to attend classes at school and being involved in gangs. He then spent 15 years in facilities for delinquent boys and in foster care. Most of the times, when children go through experiences like these; they continue struggling long after they become adults. This is particularly the case for African-American male children. However, this did not happen to George Duvall. Nowadays, he is a university graduate, a nationally known motivation speaker, trainer, comedian and director of programs for young people in foster care. He is also a family man: a devoted husband and father. In the book Dead or In Prison: My Journey in Foster Care, Duvall narrates his story and the lessons he has learnt in life.
Duvall’s mother was on welfare with five children to look after. His father was never present in his life. He began doing felonies in the backstreets of Lexington, Kentucky at a very early age. By the time he turned eight, he had been to juvenile detention centers for quite some time. This prompted a judge to declare he was way out of control, sending him to an all-boys institution for delinquents. Duvall spent one and a half years at the institution, only to be sent to another facility 90 miles from his home after getting into trouble again. That was the turning point in his life and the incidence that spurred him to change for better.
The boys’ facility began a foster care program a few months after Duvall joined. After his behavior change, he was soon on the foster care list due to his good behavior. As luck would have it, he was picked by a certain family to become their foster child. Duvall lived with this family for six years despite him being black and the family members white. As much as being a foster child was difficult, the racism he came across in rural Kentucky was much worse and unbearable.
When Duvall joined high school, he made a good name for himself as a football player. However, he k...