Juvenile Delinquent: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Juvenile Delinquent: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Juvenile Delinquent is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Ludwig, Edward W. (1920–1990).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"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.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Juvenile Delinquent
- Author credits: Ludwig, Edward W. (1920–1990)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Boys -- Fiction
- Families -- Fiction
- Literacy -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


