Juvenile Delinquent by Edward W. Ludwig

"Juvenile Delinquent" by Edward W. Ludwig is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. The narrative unfolds in a dystopian future, specifically in the year 2056, where the act of reading is heavily restricted and viewed as a subversive activity. The book explores the themes of conformity, rebellion, and the value of knowledge in a society that discourages independent thought and literacy. The story centers around an eight-year-old boy named Ronnie, who discovers a love for reading through his friendship with a boy named Kenny Davis. Ronnie's father, a government employee, becomes furious when he learns of his son's secret reading lessons, as literacy is seen as a path to potential disobedience against the state's oppressive norms. The father's struggle with his wife's hidden past as a reader and their subsequent conflict leads to severe consequences for Ronnie. Ultimately, the family is torn apart by the father's harsh beliefs about reading, showcasing the dangers of a society that prioritizes secrecy and obedience over curiosity and intellectual freedom. The story serves as a poignant critique of authoritarianism and the suppression of knowledge. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Ludwig, Edward W., 1920-1990
Illustrator Emshwiller, Ed, 1925-1990
Title Juvenile Delinquent
Note Reading ease score: 87.3 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Credits Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Science fiction
Subject Short stories
Subject Boys -- Fiction
Subject Literacy -- Fiction
Subject Families -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 59368
Release Date
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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