A review by megansnextread
Our Class: Trauma and Transformation in an American Prison by Chris Hedges

informative inspiring sad slow-paced

4.5

Chris Hedges, an acclaimed journalist, went into a New Jersey prison to teach drama and English Literature through a Rutgers University program. He did not know he would walk out with a play written by his students. This book details one class in which the prisoners write a play in reflection of their lived experiences, and it eventually ends up on the stage in New Jersey. 

 

As with any social justice book this one was incredibly eye-opening. I have read from several prisoner perspectives and heard their stories but not all are the same. Not all have the same outcome. And in this book we got to see prisoners feel important, heard, understood, and taught. It was a side of prison most don't get to see. 

 

Reading this book felt like I was attending the class. Hedges had many excerpts and asked questions through out the book provoking thoughts for his students but also for the reader. My only complaint was that it was too many excerpts, especially in the beginning, it was hard to connect with this classes story when we kept getting into the plays subject matter. 

 

However what I truly loved about this book was hearing from the students and how they used real life experiences to create scenes in their play. It was beautiful, heart wrenching, and very vulnerable. 

 

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.