That time [writing]... allowed them to explore themselves without fear of being judged or having to judge themselves.
Mark Salzman speaks captivatingly about his experiences as a writing teacher at a maximum-security prison for juvenile offenders. Detailed in his
True Notebooks (2003), Salzman's work with these hardened youths proved revelatory: his students consistently write about finding reasons to believe in themselves despite the circumstances. As Salzman demonstrates, there is still hope for those in "juvi hall," where even the most violent teenagers reveal an inner beauty through their writing.