The Juvie Three by Gordan Korman

The Juvie Three by Gordan Korman is about Gecko, Arjay, and Terrance, three juvenile delinquents who get a second chance at freedom. These three ended up in correctional facilities for everything from being the get-away driver to manslaughter. Who knows why Doug Healy is working so hard to get them out! Doug runs a half-way-house in downtown New York for kids just like Gecko, Arjay, and Terrance. The three boys know if they mess up their schooling, community service, and therapy, they're back in the slammer. That doesn't prevent them from trying to explore a little bit. When Terrance tries to sneak out the balcony fire escape, there is a scuffle and Doug Healy falls three stories. He hits his head, is taken to the hospital, and falls into a coma. The boys don't know what do to - if they tell the police, they'll all be sent back to jail - if they don't they run the risk of getting caught. They think Doug will be released from the hospital soon and try to go on with their new-found free lives, following all of the rules as best they can. Unfortunately, when Doug wakes up from his coma, he has amnesia! Now the boys are really in trouble! Can they maintain their positive lifestyle changes with the pressures of gangs, violence, music, and girls? What happens when their social service agent stops by for one of her surprise visits? Will the nasty, nosy neighbor, Mrs. Leibowitz notice anything? Can the boys survive together, despite not getting along with one another?

I really liked this book. My favorite character was Arjay - the kid who just happened to wind up in a really terrible situation through no fault of his own, trying to make the best of it and hoping things turn out OK. I think any person reading this book will relate to one of the four main characters in some way.