by Bryan Stevenson
Delacorte Press, 2018.
277 pages. Young Adult Non-Fiction
Bryan Stevenson is a
lawyer who established the Equal Justice Initiative (EIJ), an organization
working on behalf of the marginalized, the poor, and those discriminated against
due to race or ability who have been wrongly convicted, or unfairly or harshly punished
by the justice system. In this book, he uses cases he’s worked on, including
capital punishment cases, to shine light on the injustices and inequalities that
exist and points out the flaws, corruption, and biases within the system that
have led to cruel convictions, imprisonment of the innocent, and deterioration
of mental health in inmates.
Although I was
largely infuriated throughout, this is a compelling and eye opening read that I
didn’t want to put down. This version of the book has been adapted for young
readers, and while criminal justice and mass incarceration may seem a strange
topic for a book aimed at teens, the message presented and the feelings evoked
by the accounts Stevenson shares are applicable to those of most any age in our
society. Stories such as these can make a person feel powerless, but knowing
that there are “Bryan Stevensons” in the world fighting for justice that is more equal, fair, and right, shines a hopeful light on the heavy topic.
RC
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