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sadietay's review against another edition
5.0
Bi-partisan.
Humanizing.
Empowering.
Moving.
Honorable.
Some of the best books I’ve read about mass incarceration and racial justice are focused (rightfully) on the shocking effects of Black trauma. But this book was different. It was JUST as powerful, but at no point felt like a consumption of Black people’s trauma (which I cannot even say for the incredible book “Just Mercy” and life-changing documentary “13th”).
Brittany honored every life in such beautiful, humanizing lives. The subject is heavy of course, and leads to moments of outrage; but it also lifts the voices and lives of formerly incarcerated people.
I did not just hear the story of a Black woman named Sharanda Jones, and how she was ever-so wrongfully given a prison sentence where she would miss years of her daughters life and would not have the chance to bury her mother after her passing….but I heard HER…her whole self - who she is and how she maintained hope through it all. I heard how she mentored other incarcerated women, advocated for hope, the kind of soul food chef she was and was able to more fully become after her exoneration.
I think Brittany was able to honor these incarcerated/later exonerated people’s lives so well because she TRULY sees herself as no better than them. She takes us through her own broken AND hope-filled childhood, her heart break and hope with her mother’s addiction and incarceration, the moments she dated a drug dealer, and her experience with being a domestic violence survivor. Every person she helped she saw herself fully in; her life has always been in close proximation with this call to action. She has truly saved so many incarcerated people from the War on Drugs.
There is so much work to do to exonerate and restore the lives taken by the War on Drugs. I wholeheartedly agree with Brittany when she said “perhaps the most pressing civil rights issue of our day is mass incarceration.”
Humanizing.
Empowering.
Moving.
Honorable.
Some of the best books I’ve read about mass incarceration and racial justice are focused (rightfully) on the shocking effects of Black trauma. But this book was different. It was JUST as powerful, but at no point felt like a consumption of Black people’s trauma (which I cannot even say for the incredible book “Just Mercy” and life-changing documentary “13th”).
Brittany honored every life in such beautiful, humanizing lives. The subject is heavy of course, and leads to moments of outrage; but it also lifts the voices and lives of formerly incarcerated people.
I did not just hear the story of a Black woman named Sharanda Jones, and how she was ever-so wrongfully given a prison sentence where she would miss years of her daughters life and would not have the chance to bury her mother after her passing….but I heard HER…her whole self - who she is and how she maintained hope through it all. I heard how she mentored other incarcerated women, advocated for hope, the kind of soul food chef she was and was able to more fully become after her exoneration.
I think Brittany was able to honor these incarcerated/later exonerated people’s lives so well because she TRULY sees herself as no better than them. She takes us through her own broken AND hope-filled childhood, her heart break and hope with her mother’s addiction and incarceration, the moments she dated a drug dealer, and her experience with being a domestic violence survivor. Every person she helped she saw herself fully in; her life has always been in close proximation with this call to action. She has truly saved so many incarcerated people from the War on Drugs.
There is so much work to do to exonerate and restore the lives taken by the War on Drugs. I wholeheartedly agree with Brittany when she said “perhaps the most pressing civil rights issue of our day is mass incarceration.”
shannontay's review against another edition
5.0
Not since being introduced to the work of my hero Bryan Stevenson have I had this type of emotional reaction to a book. Attorney Brittany Barnett is another hero. I was so emotional hearing the stories of those whose potential we simply ignore - and remove - through an unjust criminal justice system. It was painful for me to stare at the reality that we are throwing lives away with no consideration about whether or not it’s truly just. If you are interested - or even just willing - to open your heart to stories that might cause a shift in thinking about who should serve mandatory life sentences, please read this
genthebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
A Knock at Midnight ended up being a timely and insightful book that is part memoir and part a deep dive into the flaws of our judicial system in America, particularly for people of color.
Currently, racism in our country often hides under the surface through systemic injustices that are not always easy to see at first glance. A place these systemic injustices are incredibly prevalent is in our American justice system. Author Brittany Barnett sought to make changes after seeing the harsh prison sentencing her own mother faced for possession of drugs as a black woman. This inhumane incarceration had devastating emotional effects on Barnett and her family.
Ultimately, Barnett took these life-changing childhood experiences and worked towards helping other families as she pursued her goal of attaining her own law degree to advocate for change. She shares her personal stories of what drug addiction looked like in her own family, and also how our country responded during Reagan's "war on drugs" in the 1980s which disproportionately affected people of color with much harsher sentencing for minor felonies.
Barnett became a crusader for change and A Knock at Midnight shares the fights she took on with her own clients in the quest to find justice, showing just how powerful even one voice can be. Barnett is a survivor and her own resiliency not only helped shape her own life but so many others along the way.
Through her own pro-bono work and her non-profits The Buried Alive Project and G.E.M, Girls Embracing Mothers, Barnett has made an impact on so many. This book is compelling, eye-opening, and shows the power of just one person, in the fight for social justice and long-lasting change.
Thank you to Crown Publishing for a gifted copy in change for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read this and other book reviews at gentehbookworm.com
Currently, racism in our country often hides under the surface through systemic injustices that are not always easy to see at first glance. A place these systemic injustices are incredibly prevalent is in our American justice system. Author Brittany Barnett sought to make changes after seeing the harsh prison sentencing her own mother faced for possession of drugs as a black woman. This inhumane incarceration had devastating emotional effects on Barnett and her family.
Ultimately, Barnett took these life-changing childhood experiences and worked towards helping other families as she pursued her goal of attaining her own law degree to advocate for change. She shares her personal stories of what drug addiction looked like in her own family, and also how our country responded during Reagan's "war on drugs" in the 1980s which disproportionately affected people of color with much harsher sentencing for minor felonies.
Barnett became a crusader for change and A Knock at Midnight shares the fights she took on with her own clients in the quest to find justice, showing just how powerful even one voice can be. Barnett is a survivor and her own resiliency not only helped shape her own life but so many others along the way.
Through her own pro-bono work and her non-profits The Buried Alive Project and G.E.M, Girls Embracing Mothers, Barnett has made an impact on so many. This book is compelling, eye-opening, and shows the power of just one person, in the fight for social justice and long-lasting change.
Thank you to Crown Publishing for a gifted copy in change for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read this and other book reviews at gentehbookworm.com
breonnak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This is a book that everyone should read. The story is compelling and inspiring and heart shattering all at the same time. I truly think everyone should have a deeper understanding of what's going on in our justice system.
allison_sirovy's review against another edition
5.0
Despair and hope; tragedy and blessings; confinement and freedom. This book has it all. Highly recommend. Adult book but 7th grade and up could read it.
mrsloudlibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
wessela's review against another edition
5.0
Struck to tears many times listening to the real life stories of the people Brittany struggled to free. Great read.
idomenee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25