Books that address Incarceration and Social Justice
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Books that address Incarceration
and Social Justice
1
Index:
Books for children and their caregivers 3
Books that are not specifically about incarceration but address relevant themes 8
Books that provide guidance for teachers, care providers, counselors 9
Books for Young Adults 10
Books for Adults 15
Yellow star indicates that book is recommended
by the Resilience Beyond Incarceration Program
All books can be purchased via hyperlink.
Introduction:
Parents, teachers and care providers use books as a tool to support children in their development. Books
provide an escape to another world, the chance for a child to use their imagination, and sometimes even a
chance to heal. When children have the opportunity to read books about individuals, cultures and
circumstances different from their own, their world view grows. Just as important is when they read books
and can see similarities between the character’s experience and their own.
Parental incarceration, being an incredibly stigmatizing experience, can leave a child feeling very much alone
in the world. Sometimes children feel too ashamed to share their story, sometimes they are asked by an adult
in their life to keep their circumstances secret and sometimes they are left in the dark with no clue where
mom or dad has gone. Even though a child may not be talking about their experience out loud, they are likely
thinking about it often.
Consider using books about incarceration as a powerful tool to provide support for a child. These books may
help answer unspoken questions, they may validate the child's experience, and they may provide an opening
for a care provider to facilitate a deeper conversation. Books about incarceration can also help educate
children who may not have direct experience with parental incarceration, but who may then be able to
empathize better with their peers. Use these books as a way to normalize difficult subject matter just as you
would use children's books about other life circumstances such as a family with two moms or dads, divorced
parents or losing a loved one.
2
Books for Children and their Caregivers
Far Apart, Close in Heart
What Will Happen To Me?
By Becky Birtha (2017)
By Howard Zehr and Lorraine
Stutzman Amstutz (2011) Illustrated by Maja Kastelic
All ages. Ages 4-8.
In their own words, children With a multi-ethnic group of
COMING SOON young children as the central
describe the experience of having
Even When We Are Apart an incarcerated parent. These characters, this book explores the
portraits and stories offer other many ways a child might see their
By Tricia Long, Lida Lutton, and children insights into their own life changing due to their parent’s
Jennie Lutton (2021) situation and the reassurance that incarceration. Each child in the
they are not alone. Includes story presents their unique
information for caregivers on circumstances and how they are
supporting children throughout a able to stay close to their parent
parent’s incarceration. even when they may be far apart.
My Daddy’s In Jail
Knock Knock
By Anthony Curcio (2015)
By Daniel Beaty (2013)
The Night Dad Went To Jail Ages 5-10
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
By Melissa Higgins (2012) A story of two bears whose dad is
Ages 5-8.
Illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan in prison, narrated by a friendly
The author’s father was his cockroach who breaks a law and
Ages 3-8. principal caregiver until the boy goes to prison himself for a little
What to expect when someone was three and his father became while, and comes to the
incarcerated. A powerful and conclusion that “These animals
you love goes to jail. A very useful
inspiring book showing the love are good, for goodness sakes!
book that depicts and explains the
events, including the arrest. Dogs, that an absent parent can leave Sometimes good animals just
cats, and mice are the characters. behind, and the strength that make bad mistakes!” At the end,
In this story, the father has a 6 children find in themselves as there is a photo of the author
they grow up and follow their with his two daughters, and
year sentence.
dreams. readers learn this is a true story.
3
.
Hazelnut Days
Missing Daddy Visiting Day
By Emmanuel Bourdier (2017)
By Mariame Kaba (2018) By Jacqueline Woodson (2002)
Illustrated by Zau
Illustrated by Bria Royal Illustrated by James E. Ransome
Ages 6+
Ages 4-8 Age 5-8
A little boy goes to visit his father
in prison. His father smells like This book addresses the The experience of a young girl
peppermint this time, which is heartache of having a parent and her grandmother who take
different than the nice hazelnut incarcerated. The main character the bus to visit her father in
cologne he sometimes wears. is a little girl whose father will be prison. With tenderly rendered
During the visit, the little boy in prison for years. The highlight prose and illustrations, the book
struggles with his father’s anger, of her week is visiting the father offers comfort to children,
his mother’s sadness and his own she loves dearly. Discussion guide especially as they deal with the
big emotions. included. sadness that follows a visit.
Deena Misses Her Mom
By Jonae Haynesworth, Jesse
Holmes, Layonnie Jones and
Mango Moon
Nine Candles Kahliya Ruffin (2017)
By Diane De Anda (2019)
By Maria Testa (1996) Illustrated by Leslie Jindalay Pyo
Illustrated by Sue Corneliso
Illustrated by Amanda Schaffer Ages 5-10
Ages 3-5
Ages 7-10 Written and illustrated by a group
of teenagers, this story follows A young girl experiences her life
Every Sunday a child travels with Deena, a young girl who changing dramatically as her
his dad to visit his mom in prison. desperately misses her mom but family becomes separated and
This Sunday is special because it is does not know why she is gone. her father faces deportation. She
his 7th birthday; he celebrates in Although her father can see the comes to realize throughout the
prison with his mom and looks emotional turmoil within Deena, story that she and her father can
forward to his 9th birthday when he struggles to tell her the truth love one another no matter how
she will be home. about her mom. far apart they are.
4
What Do I Say About That? Mama’s Nightingale
Waiting For Daddy By Edwidge Danticat (2015)
By Julia Cook (2015)
By Jennie Lou Harriman and Kylie Illustrated by Leslie Staub
Ages 4-9
Anne Flye (2011)
A young boy explores many Ages 5-8
Ages 3-8
intense emotions he is Saya misses her mom who is at an
experiencing as a result of his This book uses beautiful immigration detention center. Her
father’s incarceration. At times he photographs to tell the story of a mom sends her voice recorded
is angry, sad, lonely and afraid of little girl who’s father is bedtime stories to keep them
following in his father’s footsteps. incarcerated. She uses art, music, close. Saya decides to write her
At the end of the book there are play, animals and time in nature own story about her mother in
tips for helping a child with an to cope with her difficult the hopes of getting her released
incarcerated parent. situation. from prison.
Amber Was Brave, Essie Was When Dad Was Away
Smart
Mama Loves Me from Away By Liz Weir and Karin Littlewood
By Vera B. Williams (2001) (2012)
By Pat Brisson (2004)
Ages 8-12 Ages 5-8
Illustrated by Laurie Caple
A heartwarming story told in A story for young children, shows
Ages 5-8 poems and pictures about two how one family comes through
Heartbreaking yet loving example sisters and how they take care of the difficult time of separation
of a mother and a child separated each other when dad goes to when dad is sent to prison.
by a prison, and how they stay prison and mom is working all the Depicts visiting in prison, even at
connected with stories. time. Together they can do Christmas time.
anything.
5
Sing, Sing, Midnight!
By R. B. Pollock and Emily Ridge
Our Moms Gallagher (2016) Doogie’s Dad
By Q. Futrell (2018) Ages 6-8 By Richard Dyches (2011)
Ages 4-9 A little girl visits her dad in prison Ages 4-7
and asks him a question many
This book is authored by an children have about their The story of a young boy and his
individual who experienced incarcerated parent - “Who takes sister whose father is sent to
parental incarceration care of you in here?” Her father prison. Explores their feelings of
themselves. If follows four young shares with her a story of an loss, fear and frustration at not
kids who have one thing in adventurous cat named midnight being told what’s going on until
common: their moms are who comes to live in the prison their mom finally takes them to
incarcerated. They each reflect on and who takes care of her dad and see their dad.
their varied personal experiences. the other men there.
Jasmine’s Story
K.J.’s Story By Katelen Fortunati (2015)
Kofi’s Mom
By Katelen Fortunati (2016) Illustrated by Theresa Bergman
By Richard Dyches (2011)
Illustrated by Theresa Bergman Jasmine lives with her
Ages 3-6 grandmother while her mom is
K.J. loved being just like his dad incarcerated. Jasmine is angry a
The story of a young boy whose
until his father goes to prison for lot and has been getting in trouble
mom is sent to prison. Explores
hurting people. With the support at school. Her grandmother
feelings of loss and confusion. He
of his father, his mother and his decides to find Jasmine a
begins to talk to friends at school
older brother, K.J. learns about counselor who helps her manager
about his mom and finds out he’s
the power of choice, how to her big feelings. Her counselor
not the only one.
control his anger and what his also suggests she write letters to
personal strengths are. her mom. Caregiver’s guide
Caregiver’s guide included. included.
6
Bailey’s Story
By Katelen Fortunati (2016)
Illustrated by Theresa Bergman
Bailey and her younger brother
Brody are living with foster
parents while their mom is
incarcerated. Baily struggles to
deal with her mixed up emotions.
She is angry at her mom but also
misses her. She wants to live with
her mom again but also doesn’t
want to leave the safety of her
foster home. Activities and
caregiver’s guide included.
7
Books that are not specifically about incarceration but address relevant themes
A Terrible Thing Happened
The Invisible String
By Margaret Holmes (2000)
By Patrice Karst (2000)
Illustrated by Cary Pillo
Illustrated by Geoff Stevenson How to Heal a Broken Wing
Ages 4-8
Ages 4-8 By Bob Graham (2008)
This gently told and tenderly
A simple story that reminds Ages 3-7 illustrated story is for children
children and adults that people who have witnessed any kind of
A small boy finds an injured bird
who love each other are always violent or traumatic episode. An
and stops to help. An urban fable,
connected by a very special string. afterword for parents or
told mostly in pictures, about a
Specifically written to calm a caregivers offers extensive
broken wing, caring and patience,
child’s fear of being separated suggestions for helping
hope and healing.
from a parent. traumatized children.
The Kissing Hand
Healing Days
By Audrey Penn (1993)
By Susan Farber Straus (2013)
Illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and
Illustrated by Maria Bogade
Nancy M. Leak
Ages 6-11
Ages 3-8
A useful guide for children who
Little raccoon is starting his first
have experienced trauma. To be
day of school. He is nervous so his
read with a parent or therapist,
mama gives him a kiss in the palm
helps children understand they
of his hand to reassure him of her
are not to blame, and that they
can get help, and look forward to love throughout the day.
a happy future.
8
Books that provide guidance for teachers, care providers, counselors
My Daddy is In Jail
By Janet Bender (2008) Empowering Children of
Incarcerated Parents Two of every 100
Helping children, K through 5, to
cope with the incarceration of a By Stacey Burgess, Tonia By Richard Dyches, Ph.D. (2011)
loved one. It includes a read- Caselman and Jennifer Carsey A workbook with exercises
aloud story, discussion guide and (2014) designed to be conversation
optional small group counseling
For children in grades 2-6, a starters to facilitate kids talking
activities. about their concerns and feelings.
workbook for counselors, social
workers, psychologists and
teachers. Can be used with
students individually or in small
groups.
All Alone in the World
By Nell Bernstein (2005)
In-depth discussion of the effects
of parental incarceration.
Awardwinning journalist takes an
intimate look at parents and
children at all stages of the
criminal justice process as they
are affected by US incarceration
policy.
9
Books for Young Adults (Annotated descriptions from Google Books)
Everyone Makes Mistakes Wish You Were Here
Jakeman
By Madison Strempek By Youth Communication
By Deborah Ellis (2007)
Take a heartwarming journey with Edited by Autumn Spanne with
Ages 8-12
10-year old author, Madison Nora McCarthy
Jake and his sister Shoshona have Strempek, as she candidly depicts Ages 16+
been under foster care since their her life experience of living with
single mother was arrested for her father in jail. She skillfully Includes thirteen stories written
possession and trafficking three helps the reader maneuver by youth ages 16 through 19 and
years before. Both have found through difficult times by eleven stories written by
their own ways to cope: Shoshona providing opportunities to reflect incarcerated parents with
has become a bossy mother with blank pages of doodle space, different offenses and time spent
figure; Jake, who is a budding letter writing ideas, and helping in prison. This book include stories
comic book artist, has created an the readers find their inner about armed robbery, drug
alter ego named Jakeman. champion. offenses and sex offenses.
All Rise for the Honorable Perry T.
The Inmate’s Daughter Cook
Harbor Me
By Jon Walker (2006) By Leslie Connor (2016)
By Jacqueline Woodson (2018)
Ages 8-12 Ages 8-12
Ages 10-14
Chronicles the daily life of Eleven-year-old Perry was born
thirteen-year-old Jenna and raised by his mom at the Blue There, in the room they soon dub
River Co-ed Correctional Facility in the ARTT Room (short for "A
MacDonald in her struggles to fit
tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom Room to Talk"), they discover it's
in with “The Snoops,” her school's
is a resident on Cell Block C, and safe to talk about what's
racially mixed “in” group. This
so far Warden Daugherty has
proves difficult when they ask bothering them--everything from
made it possible for them to be
probing questions about Jenna's Esteban's father's deportation and
together. That is, until a new
background. Jenna's desire to be district attorney discovers the Haley's father's incarceration to
accepted clashes with her truth—and Perry is removed from Amari's fears of racial profiling
mother's rule to keep the the facility and forced into a foster and Ashton's adjustment to his
incarceration a secret. home. changing family fortunes.
10Queenie Peavy
Wild and Crooked
By Robert J. Burch (1966)
By Leah Thomas (2019) One for the Murphys
Ages 10-14
Ages 14-18 By Lynda Mullaly Hunt (2012)
Defiant independent and
In Samsboro, Kentucky, Kalyn Ages 10-14
intelligent, 13 year-old Queenie
Spence's name is inseparable Twelve-year-old Carley Connors idolized her father who was in jail
from the brutal murder her father can take a lot. Growing up in Las and was neglected by her mother
committed when he was a Vegas with her fun-loving mother, who had to work all the time.
teenager. Forced to return to she's learned to be tough. But she Growing up in Georgia during the
town, Kalyn must attend school never expected a betrayal that Great Depression on the 1930's,
under a pseudonym . . . or face would land her in a foster care. Queenie eventually understands
the lingering anger of Samsboro's When she's placed with the her father's real character, herself
citizens, who refuse to forget the Murphys, a lively family with and her relationships to those
crime. three boys, she's blindsided. around her.
Bronxwood
By Coe Booth (2011)
Tyrell
Ages 14-17
The Same Stuff as Stars By Coe Booth (2006)
Tyrell's father is just out of jail,
By Katherine Paterson (2002) and Tyrell doesn't know how to Ages 14-17
deal with that. It's bad enough
Ages 10-14 Tyrell is a young African-American
that his brother Troy is in foster
teen who can't get a break. He's
Angel's dad is in jail and her care and that his mother is no
living (for now) with his spaced-
mum's abandoned her and her help whatsoever. Now there's
out mother and little brother in a
little brother at their great- another thing up in his face, just
homeless shelter. His father's in
grandmother's crumbling when he's trying to settle down.
jail. Tyrell feels he needs to score
farmhouse. Grandma can't even Tyrell's father has plans of his
some money to make things
look after herself, let alone two own, and doesn't seem to care
better. Will he end up following in
children, so Angel finds that it's whether or not Tyrell wants to go
his father's footsteps?
left up to her. along with them.
11The 57 Bus An Uninterrupted View of the Sky
By Dashka Slater (2017) B Melanie Crowder (2017)
Ages 12+ Ages 12+ The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary
If it weren’t for the 57 bus, Sasha It's 1999 in Bolivia and Francisco's By Nonieqa Ramos (2018)
and Richard never would have life consists of school, soccer, and
met. Both were high school Ages 12+
trying to find space for himself in
students from Oakland, California, his family's cramped yet Macy's school officially classifies
one of the most diverse cities in boisterous home. But when his her as "disturbed," but Macy isn't
the country, but they inhabited father is arrested on false charges interested in how others define
different worlds. But one and sent to prison by a corrupt her. She's got more pressing
afternoon on the bus ride home system that targets the problems: her mom can't move
from school, a single reckless act uneducated, the poor, and the off the couch, her dad's in prison,
left Sasha severely burned, and indigenous majority, Francisco her brother's been kidnapped by
Richard charged with two hate and his sister are left with no Child Protective Services, and now
crimes and facing life choice: They must move into her best friend isn't speaking to
imprisonment. prison with their father. her.
Ruby on the Outside
By Nora Raleigh Baskin (2015)
I Am a Taxi Ages 11+
Forgiving Moses By Deborah Ellis (2006) Eleven-year-old Ruby Danes is
By Gloria L. Velásquez (2018) Ages 10-14 about to start middle school, and
only her aunt knows her deepest,
Ages 12-15 A simple error of judgement hurls darkest, most secret secret: her
At his fourth school in four years, Diego into a nightmare. He's been mother is in prison. Then Margalit
Moses Vargas explodes when it is living in prison with his mother Tipps moves into Ruby’s condo
revealed that his father is in and sister, looking after them and complex, and the two
prison, but in a support group for earning money whenever he can. immediately hit it off. Ruby thinks
teens with absentee fathers, he Then one of his friends tells Diego she’s found her first true-blue
begins finding better ways to that he knows a job that will make friend—but can she tell Margalit
cope. them both rich. the truth about her mom?
12Just Mercy
By Bryan Stevenson (2018)
Ages 12+
Stevenson's story is one of My Story Starts Here Prison Industrial Complex for
working to protect basic human By Deborah Ellis (2019) Beginners
rights for the most vulnerable
Ages 12+ By James Braxton Peterson (2016)
people in American society--the
poor, the wrongly convicted, and Prison Industrial Complex For
The kids in this book represent a
those whose lives have been range of socioeconomic Beginners is a graphic narrative
marked by discrimination and backgrounds, genders, sexual project that attempts to distill the
marginalization. Through this orientations and ethnicities. Every fundamental components of what
adaptation, young people of story is different, but there are scholars, activists, and artists have
today will find themselves called common threads — loss of identified as the Mass
to action and compassion in the parenting, dislocation, poverty, Incarceration movement in the
pursuit of justice. truancy, addiction, discrimination. United States.
Race to Incarcerate
A Question of Freedom By Sabrina Jones and Marc Mauer
(2013)
By Dwayne Betts (2009)
Ages 12+ The Real Cost of Prisons Comix
At the age of sixteen, R. Dwayne
Betts-a good student from a Jones's dramatic artwork adds By Lois Ahrens (Editor), Craig
lower- middle-class family- passion and compassion to the Gilmore (Preface by) (2008)
carjacked a man with a friend. He complex story of the penal
One out of every hundred adults
had never held a gun before, but system’s shift from rehabilitation
in the U.S. is in prison. This book
within a matter of minutes he had to punishment and the ensuing
provides a crash course in what
committed six felonies. In Virginia, four decades of prison expansion,
drives mass incarceration, the
carjacking is a "certifiable" its interplay with the devastating
human and community costs, and
offense, meaning that Betts would "War on Drugs," and its corrosive
how to stop the numbers from
be treated as an adult under state effect on generations of
going even higher.
law. Americans.
13The Untold Story of the Real Me Where the Dead Sit Talking
By Free Mind Writers (2015) By Brandon Hobson (2018)
The Untold Story of the Real Me is With his single mother in jail, You Can’t Lock Up the Moon
a collection of poems written by Sequoyah, a fifteen-year-old
young people who were charged Cherokee boy, is placed in foster By Sharyl Green (2015)
and incarcerated as adults at the care with the Troutt family. Sharyl Green tells the story of
age of 16 or 17. All poets are Literally and figuratively scarred Jamaria's resourcefulness, as the
members of the Free Minds Book by his mother’s years of substance girl tries different ways to connect
Club and Writing Workshop; many abuse, Sequoyah keeps mostly to with her mother, eventually
are currently incarcerated in the himself, living with his emotions involving other kids with relatives
DC Jail or federal prison. Their pressed deep below the surface. in jail, her supportive brothers
work explores themes of At least until he meets seventeen- and father, and the kindness of
parenthood, love, pain, identity, year-old Rosemary, a troubled strangers.
race, and freedom in voices both artist who also lives with the
raw and powerful. family.
The Year the Swallows Came Early
By Kathryn Fitzmaurice (2009)
The Graham Cracker Plot
Ages 11+
By Shelley Tougas (2014)
Eleanor "Groovy" Robinson loves Harry Sue
cooking and plans to go to Ages 8-12
culinary school. But even Groovy's By Sue Stauffacher (2005)
No one believes her, but Daisy
thoughtfully—planned menus Bauer knows her dad has been Ages 8-12
won't fix the things that start to wrongfully imprisoned and that
go wrong the year she turns it's up to her to break him out of Harry Sue Clotkin is tough. Her
eleven—suddenly, her father is in jail (aka Club Fed). She has a plan mom's in the slammer and she
jail, her best friend's long-absent that she's calling the Graham wants to get there too, as fast as
mother reappears, and the Cracker Plot because it was all possible, so they can be together.
swallows that make their annual Graham's idea. She just needs a But it's not so easy to become a
migration to her hometown arrive miniature horse, a getaway truck, juvenile delinquent when you've
surprisingly early. and a penny from 1919—the idea got a tender heart.
coin.
14Books for Adults (Annotated descriptions from Google Books)
Caged
By New Jersey Prison Theater
Cooperative (2020).
Blood in the Water
This poignant play, written by
By Heather Ann Thompson (2016).
current and formerly incarcerated
Are Prisons Obsolete?
On September 9, 1971, nearly authors uses, gripping truths and
By Angela Y. Davis (2003). 1,300 prisoners took over the soulful dialogue to reveal the
Attica Correctional Facility in human cost of America's for-profit
In Are Prisons Obsolete?,
upstate New York to protest years justice system. The story follows
Professor Davis seeks to illustrate
of mistreatment. Holding guards Omar, pulled back into the prison
that the time for the prison is
and civilian employees hostage, system after trying to lift his
approaching an end. She argues
the prisoners negotiated with family out of poverty, who
forthrightly for "decarceration",
officials for improved conditions struggles to maintain a sense of
and argues for the transformation
during the four long days and humanity while fighting to keep
of the society as a whole.
nights that followed. his loved ones close.
Captive Nation
City of Inmates
By Dan Berger (2014).
Disability Incarcerated
By Kelly Lytle Hernández (2017).
The prison shaped the rise and
By Liat Ben-Moshe, Allison C.
spread of black activism, from civil Los Angeles incarcerates more
Carey, Chris Chapman (2014).
rights demonstrators willfully people than any other city in the
risking arrests to the many current United States, which imprisons Disability Incarcerated gathers
and former prisoners that built or more people than any other thirteen contributions from an
joined organizations such as the nation on Earth. Marshaling more impressive array of fields. Taken
Black Panther Party. Grounded in than two centuries of evidence, together, these essays assert that
extensive research, Berger historian Kelly Lytle Hernandez a complex understanding of
engagingly demonstrates that unmasks how histories of native disability is crucial to an
such organizing made prison walls elimination, immigrant exclusion, understanding of incarceration,
porous and influenced and black disappearance drove and that we must expand what
generations of activists that the rise of incarceration in Los has come to be called
followed. Angeles. 'incarceration.'
15Freedom is a Constant Struggle
Felon: Poems
By Angela Y. Davis (2015). Golden Gulag
By Reginald Dwayne Betts (2019).
Reflecting on the importance of By Ruth Wilson Gilmore (2007).
Felon tells the story of the effects black feminism, intersectionality,
of incarceration in fierce, dazzling and prison abolitionism, Davis Since 1980, the number of people
poems—canvassing a wide range discusses the legacies of previous in U.S. prisons has increased more
of emotions and experiences liberation struggles, from the than 450%. Golden Gulag provides
through homelessness, Black Freedom Movement to the the first detailed explanation for
underemployment, love, drug South African anti-Apartheid that buildup by looking at how
abuse, domestic violence, movement. She highlights political and economic forces,
fatherhood, and grace—and, in connections and analyzes today’s ranging from global to local,
doing so, creates a travelogue for struggles against state terror, conjoined to produce the prison
an imagined life. from Ferguson to Palestine. boom.
Inside This Place, Not of It
Jailhouse Lawyers
By Ayelet Waldman (2017).
By Mumia Abu-Jamal, Angela Y.
People in U.S. prisons are Davis (Introduction) (2009). Just Mercy
routinely subjected to physical,
In Jailhouse Lawyers, award- By Bryan Stevenson (2014).
sexual, and mental abuse. While
this has been documented in male winning journalist and death-row
Just Mercy is at once an
prisons, women in prison often inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal unforgettable account of an
suffer in relative anonymity. presents the stories and idealistic, gifted young lawyer's
Women Inside addresses this reflections of fellow prisoners- coming of age, a moving window
critical social justice issue, turned-advocates who have into the lives of those he has
empowering incarcerated and learned to use the court system to
defended, and an inspiring
formerly incarcerated women to represent other prisoners—many argument for compassion in the
share the stories that have uneducated or illiterate—and in
pursuit of true justice.
previously been silenced. some cases, to win their freedom.
16The Long Term: Resisting Life
Justice in Everyday Life: The Way Sentences Working Toward
It Really Works Freedom
The New Jim Crow
By Howard Zinn (1974). By Alice Kim, Erica Meiners, Jill
By Michelle Alexander (2010).
The book explores the reality of Petty (2018).
justice, which has always stood in By targeting black men through
This striking collection of essays
contrast to the rhetoric about the War on Drugs and decimating
gives voice to people both inside
equal rights under the law. With communities of color, the U.S.
and outside prison struggling for
sections on the police, the courts, criminal justice system functions
liberation, dismantles claims that
prisons, housing, work, health, as a contemporary system of
the "tough on crime" agenda and
schools, and popular struggle, racial control—relegating millions
Long Term Offender sentencing
Justice in Everyday Life features to a permanent second-class
keep us safe, and reveals the
classic essays by a diverse group status—even as it formally
white supremacism and
of authors, including Jonathan adheres to the principle of
patriarchy upon which the prison
Kozol. colorblindness.
system rests.
No Mercy Here
A Place to Stand
By Sarah Haley (2016).
By Jimmy Santiago Baca (2001).
Drawing upon black feminist
Jimmy Santiago Baca’s Prison by Any Other Name
criticism and a diverse array of
“astonishing narrative” of his life
archival materials, Sarah Haley B y Maya Schenwar and Victoria
before, during, and immediately
uncovers imprisoned women's Law (2020).
after the years he spent in the
brutalization in local, county, and
maximum-security prison A crucial indictment of widely
state convict labor systems, while
garnered tremendous critical embraced “alternatives to
also illuminating the prisoners'
acclaim. An important chronicle incarceration” that exposes how
acts of resistance and sabotage,
that “affirms the triumph of the many of these new approaches
challenging ideologies of racial
human spirit,” it went on to win actually widen the net of
capitalism and patriarchy and
the prestigious 2001 International punishment and surveillance.
offering alternative conceptions of
Prize (Arizona Daily Star).
social and political life.
17Race to Incarcerate Resistance Behind Bars Shahid Reads His Own Palm
By Marc Mauer (1999). By Victoria Law, Lara Whitehorn By Reginald Dwayne Betts (2010).
In this revised edition of his (Introduction) (2009).
Gripping and terrifying, eloquent
seminal book on race, class, and In 1974, women imprisoned at and heartwrenching, this debut
the criminal justice system, Marc New York's maximum-security collection delves into hellish
Mauer, executive director of one prison at Bedford Hills staged territory: prison life. Soulful
of the United States’ leading what is known as the August poems somberly capture time-
criminal justice reform Rebellion. Protesting the brutal bending experiences and the
organizations, offers the most up- beating of a fellow prisoner, the survivalist mentality needed to
to-date look available at three women fought off guards, holding live a contradiction, confronting
decades of prison expansion in seven of them hostage, and took both daily torment and one's
America. over sections of the prison. illogical fear of freedom.
Soledad Brother
Six by Ten
By George Jackson (1970).
By Taylor Pendergrass and Mateo
A collection of Jackson's letters The Struggle Within
Hoke (2018).
from prison, Soledad Brother is an
By Dan Berger (2014).
Six By Ten explores the mental, outspoken condemnation of the
physical, and spiritual impacts of racism of white America and a An accessible yet wide-ranging
America’s widespread embrace of powerful appraisal of the prison historical primer, The Struggle
solitary confinement, as told system that failed to break his Within discusses how mass
through the first-person spirit but eventually took his life. imprisonment has been a state-
narratives of individuals subjected Jackson's letters make palpable sponsered tool of repression
to solitary confinement, family the intense feelings of anger and deployed against diverse, left-
members on the outside, and rebellion that filled black men in wing social movements over the
corrections officers. America's prisons in the 1960s. last 50 years.
18A Time to Die
Words No Bars Can Hold
By Tom Wicker (1975).
By Deborah Appleman (2019).
IN 1971, the inmates of Attica
Deborah Appleman chronicles her
revolted, took hostages, and
work teaching college- level
forced the authorities into four
classes at a high- security prison
days of desperate negotiation.
for men, most of whom are
The rebels demanded -- and were
serving life sentences. Through
granted -- the presence of a group
narrative, poetry, memoir, and
of observers to act as unofficial
fiction, the students in
mediators. Tom Wicker, then the
Appleman’s classes attempt to
Associate Editor of the New York
write themselves back into a
Times, was one of those
society that has erased their lived
summoned. This is his account.
histories.
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