by Jamie Raskin
First published 2023
Aquilino Gonell arrived in America from the Dominican Republic as a boy who knew no English. He joined the army to fund his education, served in Iraq, and returned with PTSD. Through determination and hard work, he earned a position with the United States Capitol Police and advanced to sergeant. On January 6, 2021, Gonell stood against the mob that stormed the Capitol to disrupt the transfer of power. The severe injuries he suffered that day ended his law enforcement career. When politicians minimized or rejected the reality of what happened, Gonell decided to tell his story. His memoir traces the path from immigrant child to decorated officer, exploring what it costs to defend democratic principles. Gonell shows how one person's commitment to truth and justice can stand against those who would undermine both.
Genres: biography, american, military-fiction, memoir, political-thriller, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: true-story, underdog
Setting: Dominican Republic, Iraq, United States
Period: 21st-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Counterpoint
Content warnings: violence