by Jean Little
First published 2005
The narrator starts down a dangerous path as a young adult, getting involved with illegal drugs. What begins as experimentation escalates into smuggling operations that eventually catch up with him. Authorities arrest him and he faces the harsh reality of prison life. Behind bars, he clings to his dream of becoming a writer, using this aspiration as an anchor during his darkest moments. After serving his sentence, he emerges determined to rebuild his life. He enrolls in college and works toward the writing career he never abandoned, even in his lowest points. The story follows his journey from self-destruction through incarceration to redemption, showing how creative ambition can survive even the most challenging circumstances.
Genres: addiction, crime, autobiography, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: redemption, self-destruction
235 pages · Paperback · Thorndike Press
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use