First published 2022
Carlotta Mercedes walks out of prison after more than two decades behind bars. She entered as someone else, pulled into a robbery in Fort Greene before the neighborhood changed. Inside, she became herself, taking the name Carlotta and living as a woman despite prison authorities who refused to recognize her identity. Guards and inmates abused her. Solitary confinement became routine. Now the parole board has finally freed her, and she returns to a transformed New York City over one Fourth of July weekend. Carlotta must reconnect with the son she left behind years ago. Her family struggles to accept who she has become. Every interaction carries risk. One small violation of parole terms could send her back to lockup. She navigates Brooklyn's streets, fighting to build a life outside while the system continues punishing her long after her sentence ended.
Genres: fiction, drama, literary-fiction, crime, contemporary, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Setting: Brooklyn, Fort Greene, New York City
Period: Fourth of July Weekend
300 pages · Paperback · Europa Editions
Content warnings: abuse, violence