Prison Voices

Twelve inmates of Canada's penal institutions tell their stories here in memoirs, essays, poems, and fiction. Some of the pieces are uplifting and hopeful; others are heartbreaking, steeped in remorse. All reveal an inner strength in the face of unimaginable adversity. While the writing speaks to the pain of prison, it also gives evidence of humane rehabilitation programs. For example, three of the contributors are women incarcerated in the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, a minimum security prison on a First Nation reserve where inmates learn about their heritage and participate in traditional spiritual practices. Each chapter of the book contains selections of one person's writing, an introduction to the writer, an in-depth interview, and color and b&w photographic portraits. The writers are a cross-section of society in many ways, including age, race, gender, and ethnicity, and the severity of their crimes varies as well. The book was created to encourage reading and writing in prisons, but it will also appeal to general readers and all who work with or want to work with incarcerated individuals. Information on the editors is not given. The book is distributed in the US by Independent Publishers Group. Oversize: 9.5x10". Annotation c2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)