44 pages • 1 hour read
Last Chance in Texas: The Redemption of Criminal Youth
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Last Chance in Texas (2005) is the fourth book by John Hubner, a former journalist and investigative reporter whose writing focuses on true crime subject matter. His other books include Monkey on a Stick (1988), coauthored with Lindsay Gruson, Bottom Feeders (1993), and Somebody Else’s Children (1996), coauthored with Jill Wolfson. Hubner and Gruson were nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime book of 1989 for Monkey on a Stick.
Last Chance in Texas follows the author’s nine months spent observing juvenile offenders, or students, enrolled in the Capital Offenders Group program (COG) at the Giddings State School in Texas. He observes the COG sessions from behind a one-way mirror in the group therapy room, watching as the students tell the stories of their early lives; all of them have experienced childhood neglect and abuse. Hubner also interviews the school’s staff to gain an understanding of the program’s extraordinary efficacy in rehabilitating violent criminals. While Hubner generally adopts the style of an investigative reporter in presenting his facts, he also relies on direct quotes from the therapists and the students themselves. As the author follows the progress of two students named Unlock all 44 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
