Tuesday, September 8, 2020

9.8.2020 - A Knock at Midnight

A Knock at Midnight by Brittany K. Barnett

Many thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing, and Brittany K Barnett for the opportunity to read and review this powerful book - very important especially in the current BLM climate.  5 stars!

Brittany had a tough childhood - even though she was surrounded by strong family members and felt completely loved and supported, her mom was a drug addict who eventually had to spend time in prison.  The experience of going to visit her mom in jail changed Brittany's life.  Always a smart student, she was driven to do better for herself, going to college and graduating with an accounting degree and top job opportunities.  But her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer (formed after watching The Cosby Show) became her next goal.  In her studies, she came across the story of Sharanda, a single mom serving a sentence of life without parole for a first time drug offense.  She met with Sharanda and became obsessed with finding justice for her.  Even when she graduated from law school and became a corporate lawyer with a prestigious firm, she worked tirelessly on Sharanda's case.  And she quickly discovered that Sharanda was far from the only one - the War on Drugs filled the prisons with mostly black people facing life without parole for minor drug offenses.

Powerfully written and completely eye-opening, this book is a tribute to Brittany's perseverance and dedication as well as the faith and strength of her clients in prison, trying to do what they can behind bars to improve others.  A must read!

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