Lockdown explores several themes that fall under the umbrella of prejudice, especially racism and the stigma attached to juvenile criminals. Mr. Hooft, who is intensely racist, is worst in show by a landslide, but more subtle forms of racism are detectable in characters throughout the novel. Lockdown explodes these prejudices by showing us all the false assumptions they are based on. Since we're seeing the world through Reese's eyes, we know for sure that he's not a stupid, hardened criminal; he's a thoughtful kid who got into trouble. Reese is even able to change the mind of mean old Mr. Hooft, with whom he develops a real, if unlikely, friendship.
Questions About Prejudice
- Describe a time in the novel when Reese worried about how another character's prejudice would affect him. Is he correct in his assumptions? What does this tell you about Reese's life?
- Is it fair to judge people based on bad things they did in the past? Explain your answer using evidence from the text.
- How does Reese feel about Mr. Hooft's prejudice against African Americans? Explain your answer.
Chew on This
Reese helps Mr. Hooft see past his prejudice against African Americans.
Lockdown demonstrates that you should never judge a book by its cover.