45 pages • 1 hour read
True Notebooks: A Writer's Year at Juvenile Hall
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Chapters 16-18Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 16 Summary: “Happy Birthday”
Chapter 16 begins on another low note. On the day of his birthday, Mark has finished the draft of his novel, but to a negative reception from his editor. His students and the staff offer their support, but he is nevertheless disappointed. Since Jimmy returns from isolation, he has been medicated; Mark is unsure what to do. Jimmy's sentencing is soon; he is not optimistic about his fate. However, he is defiant, describing his life inside in an adversarial tone:
‘I get sentenced next Wednesday, and they'll bring me straight from court to the Box.’ He practically spat. ‘If I was gonna kill myself, I would've done it a long time ago. Sending you to the Box is just one more way of breaking you down’ (181).
Mark is torn: he sees that Jimmy is in pain and wants to console him, but knows that his role has boundaries and responsibilities, which make this kind of special focus problematic. He chooses to focus on the class as a whole, without singling Jimmy out. During the same session, Benny and Patrick read their work, both showing increased confidence and trust among the members of the writing class. At the end of the session, Jimmy says goodbye to Mark. When Mark asks Jimmy if he will be in class on Saturday, Jimmy's tone is only cautiously optimistic: “I hope so. But the way things work around here, you never know. Just in case—thanks for everything”(186).
Chapter 17 Summary: “Family Life”
At the beginning of Chapter 17, Mark is called into the office of Mr. Sills. In his office, in Mr. Sills's records, Mark notices the large proportion of inmates in the facility for "187"—the notation for murder. Mark is slightly disturbed, but Mr. Sills remarks that charges of murder have become common. While in the office, Mr. Sills commends Mark for his work, and suggests another student to join his class. Dale Jones, the student, is visibly socially awkward; he becomes uncomfortable and balks. Mr. Sills is harsh with Dale, which he explains to Mark is necessary, to express sincere concern, something the students don't have. This view is echoed later at a small cookout by Mr. Jenkins, in reference to Kevin Jackson. Mr. Jenkins explains that the inmates are not after support and affection, as Mark and Duane—the teachers—might think; instead they want respect, and wish to be held accountable for their words and actions, like men: "You might think it was cruel of me just now, yelling at him like that, but it's exactly what he needs. It's what he never had growing up. To know that someone cares enough to get pissed off" (191). Mark has understood this implicitly but has not outwardly acknowledged it. He realizes that his role is much more difficult, and significant, than he originally conceived it to be.
Chapter 18 Summary: “Two-Face”
In Chapter 18, these lessons are tested. Sentences for Jimmy Wu and others come down, and students are sent from the Juvenile Hall to county jail. It seems there is nothing Mark can do about this but continue the class. Benny writes an evocative story that details the conflict between himself and his conscience, which describes some of the frustration and pessimism collectively felt:
Mind: So what if you fail all your classes? So what if you don't make it to USC? Life is short! Now think: What if you die soon and you miss out? Then it'll be too late to regret you didn't enjoy your life, Benny. Go now or you're gonna regret it (202).
Jimmy, facing a fifteen-year sentence, writes painfully about his sentence, and its effect on his life; "Why couldn't you give me a chance?" (207) is the question he wanted to ask the judge, but could not. When it comes time for Jimmy to leave, Mark and Sister Janet offer their support, but beyond their words, it’s clear little else can be done. Jimmy gives Mark a Hallmark card, thanking him for the opportunity of the writing program. The card reads: "You really made me feel special" (209).
Chapters 16-18 Analysis
While Mark's own professional and artistic frustrations cause him to grow closer to his class, further challenges and setbacks appear. These highlight both the precariousness of the boys' position and the limited help Mark and his students’ good intentions and hard work can offer. Several events emphasize these issues. The first is Jimmy Wu's fifteen-year sentence. Mark and the others are devastated, but know all the while that Jimmy's sentence is not out of the ordinary. However much as they want him to be given a "second chance," or would like to stress the lasting damage prison might do to his life, there's little they can do. The knowledge of this casts a pall over the class. Jimmy writes a heartfelt note, expressing both his sorrow and frustration. His emotions are sincere, but even he cannot undo what he has done. Mark is conflicted, as he feels like he has the obligation to provide extra attention, but knows that his main responsibility is to the remaining students in the class. At the same time, Nathaniel Hall is removed suddenly, and sent to county jail—this is a blow to Mark, but again he doesn't have a way for the class to deal with these issues, except thematically. All these things notwithstanding, writing remains a critical outlet in these boys lives; even when they are unable to change their fortunes or reverse their past actions, being able to express themselves honestly is some power that they have left.
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