Table of Content
1. Editor’s words
2. Intriguing laws
3. Books written by prisoners
4. Book written by a prison staff
5. Book sharing by teachers
6. Book sharing by Library Prefects
7. Editorial Board
8. Acknowledgements
Editor’s Words
ByLunaFong4D
Uponseeingblackandwhitestripesonclothes,animageofanefarious jailmatemightpopupinyourmind.Nevertheless,haveyouever ponderedaboutthestoriesofthosejailedwithintheconfinesofiron bars?Ifyoudesiretoeasetheachingcuriositygrowinginyourheart, considergoingonajourneyofexpandingyourhorizonsandexploring theunknownbyflippingthroughthepagesofthisissue!
Frombookswrittenbyprisonerstosomeintriguinglawsaroundthe globe,Iwasleftflabbergasted,dumbfoundedandastonished—someof themweresooutoftheordinary.I'msureyou'llfindthemas thought-provokingandenlighteningasIdid.Makesuretokeepyour armsandlegssafelysecureinsidethecartandenjoytheride!
Intriguing Laws
In order to ensure the prosperity and stability of a place, laws play an integral role in a society. Not only are they designed to maintain order, but they also ensure the smooth operation of a community. Nonetheless, some can really leave us scratching our heads. In this article, let us embarkonajourneytoexploresomeofthemostbizarreanduniquelaws thatexistaroundtheglobe!
1. Singapore
When it comes to unique laws in Singapore, the ban on chewing gums often comes to our mind. Nevertheless, let’s delve into something more obscure today. Do you know that it’s illegal to connect to someone else’s Wi-Fi without their consent? If you are tempted to save roaming charges by randomly piggybacking on someone’swirelessnetwork,beware!Violatingthislawcouldresult in a hefty fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to three years. So next time when you travel to Singapore, remember that you should not only take chewing gums out of your luggage, but alsorentaPocketWi-Fi!
2. Florida, the USA
Sauntering along the coastline at a picturesque beach in Florida, the crave forhummingafewchillmelodiesmayfloodyourhead.Butholdon,cover yourself up before you burst into songs. Because, right, singing in a swimsuit is against the law in Florida! It’s not that you will hear sirens blaring closer and closer once you violate this rule, but the authorities can really fine you for singing in bathing suits. To avoid unnecessary spendings on such trivial matters, it's best to be mindful of this law and perhapssaveyourbeachpartiesforotherdestinations!
3. Eraclea, Italy
Astoundingly, something as innocent as building sandcastles on the beach could put you into troubles with the law in Eraclea. With fines ranging from 25 to 250 euros, you may want to leave the bucket and spade at home. Of course, the police would not chase after the naive five-year-olds forbuildingsandcastles.However,astheirparents,youbetterprepareyour wallets for fines if there are cops around. Naturally, the question that pops up is “But, why?”. Some speculate that the ordinance was put in place because the sandcastles were deemed to “obstruct the passage”, presumably on the beach. It’s unfortunate that Eraclean kids might have to missoutonsuchaninvaluablechildhoodmemory!
While the aforementioned may seem trivial or puzzling, it is these intriguing quirks from different countries that shape their own societies. It is Singapore’s prohibition on stealing others’ WiFi that ensures citizens’ Internet speed; it is Florida’s ban on swimming in swimsuits that reduce noise pollution; it is Eraclea forbidding sandcastles that lets people amble on the beach mindlessly. Exploring the peculiar regulations of various placesisalwaysfascinating!
Books written by prisoners
NelsonMandelawasatoweringfigureinhistory,who dedicatedhislifetofightingagainstracialoppression andinequality,therebywinningaNobelPeacePrize intheprocessforhisefforts.Doyouknowthathe waswrongfullyimprisonedfor27yearsduetohis politicalbeliefs?Hisbook Conversations with Myself is a compilation of writings Mandela composed over the years, many of which were written while he was serving his sentence. In fact, over the course of history, many prisoners wrote world-famous books talking about their experiences in prison, exploring various inspiring themesandsheddinglightonglobalissues.
1. Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison by
ShakaSenghor
ThisisagrippingmemoirwrittenbyShakaSenghor, anauthor,speaker,andadvocateforcriminaljustice reform.Inthisbook,thereadersaretakeninsidethe harshrealityofprisonlife,sheddinglightonthe dehumanisingaspectsofthesystemandchallenges facedbyinmates.Furthermore,itcandidlyexploresthe psychological toll of imprisonment, the impact of violence and trauma, and the struggle to maintain hope in a seemingly hopeless environment. Throughout the memoir, Senghor focuses on the power of writing as a transformative tool. He discovers solace in expressing his thoughts, emotions, and regrets through the written word. This process of self-reflection allows him to confront his past, understand the root causes of his actions, and ultimately envision a different future, which inspires thereaderstodothesame.
2. The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death
Row byAnthonyRayHintonAnthony Ray Hinton’s memoir chronicles his wrongful conviction and subsequent release from death row after spending almost 30 years incarcerated. Throughout the book, Hinton vividly describes his experiences on death row, including the relationships he forms with fellowinmatesandthechallengeshefacesinnavigatingthelegalsystem. He also highlights the humanity and resilience of those he encounters, sharingthestoriesofothermenunjustlyimprisonedandtheirstrugglesto maintainhopeinthefaceofoverwhelmingadversity. The Sun Does Shine alsoexploresthemesofforgivenessandthetransformativepoweroflove.
Hinton’s unwavering belief in his own innocence, coupled with the tireless efforts of his legal team and advocates, eventually leads to new evidence that proves his innocence. In 2015, he was exonerated and releasedfromprison,andhededicatedhislifetoadvocatingforreformin the criminal justice system. It is a story of resilience, forgiveness, and the pursuitofjustice,offeringapowerfulmessageofhopeandthestrengthof thehumanspirit.
Book Title: The Prison Doctor
Author: Dr Amanda BrownThe Prison Doctor is a captivating memoir penned by DrAmanda Brown, shedding light on her experiences as a general practitioner(GP) working in some of the UK’s most notorious prisons.Through her poignant storytelling, Dr Brown offers readers an unfiltered glimpse into the sophisticated and often overlooked world of prison healthcare, highlighting the struggles, dilemmas, and profound human stories that unfold within these institutions.
DrAmanda Brown was initially a GP in the NHS healthcare system.Yet, the ruthless reality is that it is unfeasible that the physician can achieve a balance between quality services and number of patients she needs to see within a meagre time interval in order to be financially secured, the doctor was eventually coerced to withdraw from her beloved job under the unrelenting pressure imposed by her colleagues and head.
God never shuts one door without opening another, the quadragenarian received a job offer she had never fathomed of and chronicling on a brand new odyssey as a doctor working in multitudinous prisons across England. With candidness and empathy, she weaves together a tapestry of personal anecdotes, illustrating the struggles and unveiling heart-wrenching realities faced by both the inmates and the medical personnels.
The book delves into the diverse range of day-to-day medical cases overcome within the prison system, including mental health issues, addiction, violence-related injuries, and chronic diseases. Dr Brown reflects on the impact of socio-economic factors, neglect, and trauma on the health and well-being of the incarcerated, highlighting the complex interplay between social justice, public health, and the penal system.
Throughout the narrative, Dr Brown emphasizes equal rights before quality healthcare services, irrespective of the howsoever deleterious crimes the patients committed. She underlines the ethical responsibility of medical professionals to advocate for the health and welfare of prisoners, often challenging the limitations and bureaucracy of the prison system itself. To add on, she challenges societal preconceptions and stereotypes, advocating for compassion and understanding within the prison system. Her stories humanize the incarcerated individuals she encounters, offering a fresh perspective on their vulnerabilities, struggles, and aspirations.
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One of the central themes in The Prison Doctor is mental health and rehabilitation. Dr. Brown brings the alarming prevalence of mental health issues among prisoners and the limited resources available to address them onto the table, stressing it is high time the mental health services were enhanced. With the well-documented arguments that adequate care and rehabilitation can contribute to reducing recidivism rates and promoting successful reintegration into society, she triggers a wave of retrospection withinthesociety.
Another preponderant part of the book features the ethical dilemmas faced by medics workinginprisons.D.Brownherselfwrestleswiththedelicatebalancebetweenpatient confidentiality and the responsibility to protect others from harm. She confronts the challenges of providing adequate healthcare within the constraints of an institutionalized setting, upholding her strong conviction of insurance of the rights and well-being of prisoners while navigating the complexities of the prison system's bureaucracy.
The Prison Doctor prompts readers to reflect on the purpose and efficaciousness of incarceration as a means of punishment and rehabilitation. Dr Brown challenges the notion of prisons solely existing as punitive institutions, instead advocating for a comprehensive approach that addresses underlying issues such as education, addiction treatment,andcommunitysupport.Herstoriesprovideasoberingreminderofthecycle of reoffending and the pressing need for meaningful reform within the criminal justice system.
The Prison Doctor offers a thought-provoking and compassionate exploration of the intersection between healthcare and the criminal justice system. Dr Brown’s personal accounts provide a unique insight into both the brightness and atrocity of humanity inside the places secluded from the rest of the world, and her unwavering commitment to providing quality care serves as a wake-up call for reforming and humanizing the prison system. This book serves as a powerful catalyst for dialogue and action, rendering the readers to ponder their stereotypical perspectives and general social stigmatisation on incarcerated individuals. On top of that, compelling the public to question the status quo in pursuit of a more just and humane society. The book indeed is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice, healthcare, and the complexities ofworkingwithinchallengingenvironmentstomakeadifference.
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Book sharing by Ms Ada
Yu《一本書終結你的拖廷症》ー 大平信孝
Book sharing by Ms Kary Chan
《徬徨》ー魯迅
Book sharing by Library Prefects
書名: 《鈴芽之旅》
作者：新海誠
By 2B Kristy Lee《鈴芽之旅》是一本令人感動的小說，故事情節扣人心弦 ，引人入勝。書中記述了主角小鈴芽的成長歷程，小鈴芽 的母親去世後，她必須獨自面對孤獨和困難，從一個孤獨無助的女孩慢慢成 長為一個堅強勇敢的年輕女子。這本書以獨特的敘事方式和發人深省的主題 ，給我留下了深刻的印象。
故事講述了主角旅行，在尋找生活的意義和目的時面臨各種困難和挑戰。主 角經歷了許多苦難和痛苦，但從中領悟了許多重要的教訓。透過她的旅程，讀 者被帶入了一個充滿智慧和啟示的世界，引發思考自己的生活和價值觀。
書中的主題是關於人類內心的渴望和追求。主角在旅程中面對各種困難和挑 戰，但她堅持不懈地尋找生活的意義和目的。這個主題提醒我們，生活並非一 帆風順，生活中必須面對各種困難和挑戰。同時，它也提醒我們，只有通過探 索和追求，才能找到真正屬於自己的生活意義和目的。 這本書的敘事方式非常獨特，作者以豐富的比喻描繪主角的旅程。這樣能使 讀者能好好地理解主角的心境和思考過程。同時，這表方式也使故事更加生 動有趣，引起讀者追看下去的興趣和共鳴。
這本書是一個關於成長和探索的故事，給我留下了深刻的印象，讓我反思自 己的生活和價值觀。它提醒我們要勇敢面對各種困難和挑戰，發現自己的內 心世界，不斷追求自己的目標。
總而言之，《鈴芽之旅》是一本極適合的成長中的讀者的書籍。這本書描寫了 勇敢、信任和友誼的重要性，不僅娛樂，還讓他們從中學習到了一些重要的道 理。如果您正在尋找一個魔幻的冒險故事，我非常推薦這本書。
Book sharing by Library Prefects
書名:《羅生門：芥川龍之介短篇作品選》
作者：芥川龍之介
By 5D Moon Ng本書收錄了日本文豪芥川龍之介筆下的《羅生門》、《蜘蛛之絲》、《鼻子》等11篇短 篇故事。每篇故事的篇幅不長，卻能帶出人性的醜惡及善良，為讀者帶來深刻的反 思。下文會簡介《羅生門》的故事。
不如大家有沒有想像過當災難來臨時，我們能否捨身取義，繼續保持本心呢？《羅 生門》的故事發生在天災過後，一個剛被主人解僱的家僕不知該往何處去。要在亂 世生存，便要不擇手段，這令他十分困擾。不想餓死的他懷著忐忑的心情走到羅生 門樓上。在那裏，有幾具被亂七八糟地丟着的屍體，和一位蹲着的老婆婆。她正一 根一根地拽扯屍體的頭髮。家僕對那老婆婆的所作所為產生強烈的憎惡感，他捉 住那老婆婆，問她為何這樣做。老婆婆害怕地回答說那人生前是賣假肉，現受到這 樣的對待也無可厚非，而且她自己快要餓死了，她要用這些死人的頭髮做假髮賣 錢，這樣做只是為了生存。家僕聽完老婆婆的狡辯後，彷彿也為自己找到一個當強 盜的理由，於是就剝掉老婆婆的衣服，離開羅生門了。 故事中的人物都是為了生存而做壞事，但這樣也不是讓犯罪變成合理的借口。假 如每個人都為了生存而盜竊、詐騙，我們的社會還有秩序可言嗎？我認為這本書 很適合喜歡哲學和探討人性的同學閱讀；書中內容日漢對照，對想學習日文的同學 很有幫助。
Book sharing by Library Prefects
書名:《蒼之炎》
作者：羽生結弦
By 4B Bernice Lau羽生結弦 — 相信大家也對他的名字不陌生。他是日本一位花式溜冰運動員。身為一位 傳奇選手，天賦固然重要，但對成功不可或缺的卻是自身的努力。每一位成功人士的背 後，或多或少也藏著有血有淚的故事。那麼，這位令人起敬的花滑選手背後又會藏着什 麼樣的祕密呢？
在《蒼之炎》中，這些問題都會得到解答。這本書是羽生結弦的第一本自敍傳，敍述了這 位花滑王者背後的故事。他自4歲起便與花式滑冰結緣，從此對花滑着迷，直到17歲首 次挑戰世界錦標賽，一步一步突破自我的經歷。當然，這些經歷也不會是一帆風順的。
311東日本大震災對羽生產生了不可磨滅的影響，不論是對家鄉、還是訓練，亦是對他 的精神造成了嚴重打擊。但他卻沒有因此而放棄花滑，反而拼命練習在賽事上滑出好 成績，這樣永不言敗的精神確實值得我們學習。
「失敗的比賽反而會讓我燃起百分之百的動力，愈是覺得不甘心，往後訓練愈能專注。」 這是羽生選手曾說過的話。其實，他並不是甚麼天選之子，而是和我們一樣的凡人。一 次的失敗不會使你跌倒不起，而羽生先生正是透過他每次比賽過後的自我反思，把失 敗轉化為成功的動力，才能一次次突破極限，創出新成績，贏得世人的欣賞。而我們往 往做不到這一點，就是因為我們害怕失敗。這本書刻劃了羽生結弦心中對花滑的感悟， 同時亦令引導我們的反思。這樣鼓舞人心的一本書絕對不能錯過！
Book sharing by Library Prefects
書名:《大偵探福爾摩斯：逃獄大追捕》
作者：厲河
By 4D(16) Phoebe Luk《大偵探福爾摩斯：逃獄大追捕》是關於一名著名 的騙徒，馬奇 ， 在一個風雪之夜越獄了。還有一年 就可以出獄的馬奇，為何要急於越獄？行動背後的 原因究竟是甚麼？福爾摩斯與李大猩等人聯手合作， 誓要找到馬奇。然而，福爾摩斯和華生在一個意想不到的地方發現了馬奇 ，也找到了他越獄的原因。
本書的內容緊張刺激，結果更是峰迴路轉，讓人意想不到。書中提及的越 獄方法更是令人眼前一亮，究竟馬奇是如何單憑幾團拳頭大小的布碎，一 塊薄餅，一些日常用到的調味料來越獄？若你感到好奇 ，一定要借閱本書 看看！
電影中的囚犯十惡不赦，犯下不少嚴重的罪行，沒有人性。現實中，我們也 常常會認為這些醜類惡物一定是因為貪財如命或生性兇殘才犯罪。但你有 否想過，或許他們之所以會這樣做，可能是被生活所迫或是其他原因？書 中的馬奇雖是一名騙子，但我們不難在書中的細節發現，他是一名非常疼 愛子女的父親，而越獄的原因也是與他的女兒有關。
書中向我們講述了並非所有囚犯都是十惡不赦的，或許現實中也有像馬奇 一樣的囚犯，若我們能多加留意別人是否需要幫忙且出手相助，可能會使 他們避免走上不歸之路，做出不法的行為。
Editorial board
Student editors:
4D Luna Fong 4B Bernice Lau 4C Cherry Siu
4D Phoebe Luk 4D Scarlet Shair 4B Erin Chan
4B Angel Woo 4B Amorette Chung
Teacher Advisor: Ms Candice Ng
Acknowledgements
MsCaraCheng(Principal)
MsKennyChan
MsAdaYu
MsKaryChan