A review by zinelib
README.txt by Chelsea Manning

challenging emotional fast-paced

5.0

One thing I didn't realize about Chelsea Manning is how young she was--when she joined the army and when she did what she did. She was born and mostly raised in Oklahoma (with a soupçon of Wales and I think Maryland). The main thing she had going for her as the closeted queer/trans child of an alcoholic and a blowhard was her affinity with computers. That's also what worked for her in army intelligence. Anyway, you probably know the highlights of Manning's story. It's an enjoyable/sad read that makes you hate how Don't Ask Don't Tell isolates people--like many trans people, Manning made two suicide attempts, one while in the army and one in prison. 

I listened to the audiobook, which I recommend, but I'll also warn that hearing a voice that sounds like voices I associate with male-presenting people made it harder for me to get and keep the right pronouns in my head.