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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
This is a great biography and well written. It is very spiritual but since that's what helped her it's well placed within the book. It also isn't preachy, it isn't too annoying.
I remember when #FreeCyntoia was being shared by major celebrities, but I didn’t know much about her story outside of the memes until I listened to a true crime podcast episode about her, and another young woman who is still incarcerated for a similar situation.
When Cyntoia was 16 years old, she shot and killed a man in self defense. At the time, she didn’t realize she was a victim of sex trafficking by a man she thought she loved and that he loved her. In reality, he was her pimp and groomed her to live a lifetime that put her in the position to be a victim and to have to murder someone in self defense.
In 2019, at the age of 31 and after spending over 15 years in prison, Cyntoia was released and her sentence was commuted. While she was incarcerated, she truly changed as a human, was rehabilitated, educated herself and found ways to help other women who were also in her position as a young woman. She found true love with a man who respected her, and through that love, she found faith.
Cyntoia’s story and her case and crime are very complicated, but through her words, we realize it maybe doesn’t have to be, and reform truly needs to happen…not only with the American Prison system, but also with sex work, grooming, and trying children as adults.
I found her experience enlightening and it was so powerful to hear her tell me this story through the audio. There is quite a bit about her faith journey and how she gained so much strength from her faith, but ultimately Cyntoia’s story is about how we all can change and that no one should be considered a lost cause. She encourages everyone to become more active and to take steps in reforming systems around us that cause further harm in the name of justice.
I highly recommend this book and plan to look into local advocacy work as well as criminal justice reform in my local area and to see how I can champion reform and rehabilitation in my own community.
When Cyntoia was 16 years old, she shot and killed a man in self defense. At the time, she didn’t realize she was a victim of sex trafficking by a man she thought she loved and that he loved her. In reality, he was her pimp and groomed her to live a lifetime that put her in the position to be a victim and to have to murder someone in self defense.
In 2019, at the age of 31 and after spending over 15 years in prison, Cyntoia was released and her sentence was commuted. While she was incarcerated, she truly changed as a human, was rehabilitated, educated herself and found ways to help other women who were also in her position as a young woman. She found true love with a man who respected her, and through that love, she found faith.
Cyntoia’s story and her case and crime are very complicated, but through her words, we realize it maybe doesn’t have to be, and reform truly needs to happen…not only with the American Prison system, but also with sex work, grooming, and trying children as adults.
I found her experience enlightening and it was so powerful to hear her tell me this story through the audio. There is quite a bit about her faith journey and how she gained so much strength from her faith, but ultimately Cyntoia’s story is about how we all can change and that no one should be considered a lost cause. She encourages everyone to become more active and to take steps in reforming systems around us that cause further harm in the name of justice.
I highly recommend this book and plan to look into local advocacy work as well as criminal justice reform in my local area and to see how I can champion reform and rehabilitation in my own community.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
This book took me on a wild ride of emotions, but it was well written and inspiring. Well worth the read in my opinion.
Would recommend
This memoir was a recent release this fall, and I immediately borrowed it from the library. As a teenager, Cyntoia was sold as a prostitute until she killed a man who bought her. She was tried and convicted as an adult, sentenced to a life sentence behind bars. After serving 15 years, Cyntoia received clemency from the governor of Tennessee, and she was released from prison in August. I became aware of Cyntoia’s story through the viral #FreeCyntoia hashtag, and her story is so powerful. To anyone who believes that slavery is a thing of the past, I would point them to this book as a counterargument. It’s about what it was like to be sold on the street, how she survived the prison system, and her hopes and dreams for the future. She says, “... I had the heart of a crusader. When something isn’t right, you shouldn’t have to sit there and take it, I thought. If somebody stands up, maybe we can make a real difference.”
This memoir was a recent release this fall, and I immediately borrowed it from the library. As a teenager, Cyntoia was sold as a prostitute until she killed a man who bought her. She was tried and convicted as an adult, sentenced to a life sentence behind bars. After serving 15 years, Cyntoia received clemency from the governor of Tennessee, and she was released from prison in August. I became aware of Cyntoia’s story through the viral #FreeCyntoia hashtag, and her story is so powerful. To anyone who believes that slavery is a thing of the past, I would point them to this book as a counterargument. It’s about what it was like to be sold on the street, how she survived the prison system, and her hopes and dreams for the future. She says, “... I had the heart of a crusader. When something isn’t right, you shouldn’t have to sit there and take it, I thought. If somebody stands up, maybe we can make a real difference.”
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
My heart broke for Cyntoia's story and the many many adults and systems that failed her throughout her childhood. But it broke again for her eventual brainwashing by evangelical Christianity. Early in life, people treated her that she had no worth, and in the second half of the book, that idea was repeated, but adding that her only worth as a person was found through "a relationship with God." All people have inherent worth. Putting Bible verses on the walls of your house is not necessary to be worth protecting and helping. I am so happy that she is free, but so sad that she honestly sounds like she's in a cult. I hope that one day there will be another book explaining her deconstruction - that she is beautiful and intelligent and worthy because she is a human, not because of any religion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping
Minor: Cancer, Death, Blood
Warning: if you are working on unlearning evangelical Christianity, the second half of this book may be very upsetting.
Many people know about the story of Cyntoia Brown. I have been reading about her case since the days of Tumblr. I’ve never been to look too deep into true crime because I’m too damn paranoid for that and honestly I was scared to read this book. Not because the nature of her case but I didn’t want to be someone to judge someone’s life story after she has already been judge by so many people throughout her trail and 15 year sentence.
However I did end up liking the book. I felt that she was honest and informed the reader about her life before her crime, he delinquent behavior, her time as a runaway and how she worked hard to overcome anger and impulsive behavior while serving time in prison. I loved how she didn’t shy away from the fact that at times she fell back into her old ways on her road to redemption, I feel that it is important for people to know that redemption from anything isn’t just a straight path.
Below is a quote that stood out to me ❤️
“Until this point Ive been captive so so many unfuflling roles out cast Cyntoia , delinquent cyntoia convict cyntoia heathen Cyntoia now I am exactly who and what the lord called me to be fre me cyntoia.
This book is written by an amazing young lady that has inspired so many people. Our justice system is severely flawed and this book paints that picture.