Saturday, February 23, 2019

Just Mercy: (adapted for young adults) A True Story of the Fight for Justice


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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