Amazing! I struggle with non-fiction sometimes but the narrative structure here made it really engaging, entertaining, often devastating. I love that Ryan maintains a prison abolitionist perspective with a critique of reformist efforts throughout. 10/10 recommend
challenging informative medium-paced

A lot of books that I've read in this category tend to be a bit academic, so I was very delighted to discover that this volume was very focused on personal stories, which I find much more engaging. I really appreciated learning the stories of the women in the House of D through its many decades of operation. The humanization of these people is such an essential part of learning the history of oppression that queer folks, women and people of color have suffered not just in this narrow setting of a single prison, but generally.
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whatdebsreads's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 21%

I had really hoped this would have been a much more interesting subject, but this was just not for me. I had hoped to find out more about the prison, but this was just felt like short bio's of the people who served time there. 
informative medium-paced
challenging dark informative slow-paced

This was a fantastic glimpse into the history of those we often never hear from. It highlighted the ways in which queer women and gender-nonconforming people were (and still are) targeted, but it also showed how they find strength amongst each other in their communities. For those interested in queer history, and the layers that build into how people are treated by the prison system, this book is a great step into one area's history.
challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
dark informative medium-paced

What a great book! Super informative, informative, and intersectional. 
challenging informative reflective medium-paced

geminimoon2's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 19%

Couldn’t get into it