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95 reviews for:
Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System
Cyntoia Brown-Long
4.25 AVERAGE
95 reviews for:
Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System
Cyntoia Brown-Long
4.25 AVERAGE
Faith in the middle of hopelessness
Cyntoias story was heartbreaking in that even with a loving mom, girls can still develop low self esteem that leaves them vulnerable to people who prey on the weak. It’s also a reminder that words can hurt and lead to self fulfilling prophecies, especially on young impressionable minds. Our prison system in America needs a swift over haul in so many aspects. But I am so glad to see how faith like a mustard seed can be planted, flourish and grow. Her story is one of rehabilitation, courage, transformation, triumph, love and faith. A must read.
Cyntoias story was heartbreaking in that even with a loving mom, girls can still develop low self esteem that leaves them vulnerable to people who prey on the weak. It’s also a reminder that words can hurt and lead to self fulfilling prophecies, especially on young impressionable minds. Our prison system in America needs a swift over haul in so many aspects. But I am so glad to see how faith like a mustard seed can be planted, flourish and grow. Her story is one of rehabilitation, courage, transformation, triumph, love and faith. A must read.
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual violence, Trafficking
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
This memoir starts out so strong and you really see and feel all the people that failed cyntoia. You learn so much about her. Once the big event happens, you see how she got life in prison and you see the absurdity and injustice of it. But once you see her turn her life around, the focus becomes her new religion. Her freedom is told through this new husband. I hope she eventually gets the freedom she deserves. It would appear her story is not complete. But it was slightly sad and depressing to see her go through all of this to become a religious enthusiast and her new marriage is always a cause for concern. But I’m glad she wrote the book and glad she’s out there supporting others and using her story to reach out and help others like her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Brown-Long penned a compelling and cohesive memoir detailing her spiral from overachieving adolescent to high school dropout before being sex trafficked in her teens and locked up for murder on a life sentence. Adult readers may not find all of her decisions logical, but it's critical to read her early experiences through the volatile lens of youth. Most poignant in the early experiences is Brown-Long's demonstration of how easy it is to spiral when school administrators, peers, etc. have given up on you. Other key themes include restorative justice, faith in prison, and finding purpose at rock bottom. Much of it still feels sanitized and polished for wider consumption.
I would give the book itself 3 stars for dragging quite a bit at the end and becoming very repetitive (and also for the overwhelming amount of evangelizing), but Cyntoia’s life story is worth reading. This was co-written with a journalist, so it can be difficult to identify Cyntoia’s actual personality from the somewhat cliche descriptions of her life events; nonetheless, her experiences outlined in the book highlight the brutal reality of human trafficking in America and the ways the criminal justice system fall short.
If you want to read more nonfiction or memoirs, this is another book I would highly suggest you start out with. It’s not too dense or intense and yet the simplicity of the writing speaks for itself. Cyntoia takes back the power and voice of her story and I am HERE for it!
It is books like these that constantly remind me why I love memoirs so much. There is a certain kind of power you can feel in someone’s words when they tell their story and Free Cyntoia was no exception.
Most of you probably already know or have heard about Cyntoia Brown, the girl who at 16 years old killed a man in self-defense after being pimped out by who she thought was her boyfriend. Her story has received copious amounts of media coverage but no one can tell the full story but Cyntoia.
This book was a powerful read not just because of what she went through, but also because of the light it sheds on the injustices within the American prison system. So many people fall through the cracks and end up in similar positions.
If you have ever been curious to learn more about Cyntoia and her story or are just learning about her now, you will not be disappointed by this read.
Most of you probably already know or have heard about Cyntoia Brown, the girl who at 16 years old killed a man in self-defense after being pimped out by who she thought was her boyfriend. Her story has received copious amounts of media coverage but no one can tell the full story but Cyntoia.
This book was a powerful read not just because of what she went through, but also because of the light it sheds on the injustices within the American prison system. So many people fall through the cracks and end up in similar positions.
If you have ever been curious to learn more about Cyntoia and her story or are just learning about her now, you will not be disappointed by this read.
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
I have followed her story for years and admired her strength. The book is not your usual overcoming defeat journey, it details her high and lows in the prison system as well as finding hope to live her life the best she can.
really inspiring book.
the first third of the book was so hard to get through because the author’s life is filled with heart breaking events. i cannot believe she went through all of that.
and still she managed to stay on the path she forged.
the first third of the book was so hard to get through because the author’s life is filled with heart breaking events. i cannot believe she went through all of that.
and still she managed to stay on the path she forged.