A review by ktrain3900
Coming Home by Brittney Griner

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

While this book centers around Griner's saga in the Russian prison system--from the silly mistake that put her there, to her time in prison and a labor camp, to her release--it's also very much a story of seeking a sense of belonging. As a queer black woman of exceeding athletic ability and height (6'9"; even my tallest cousin, male and a Marine, is only about 6'5" or 6'6") Griner has always stood out. Without the extroverted personality to match, she repeatedly struggles with racist and sexist stereotypes and assumptions. Griner delves into these experiences in flashbacks shared throughout the main narrative of illegal detainment in Russia. This is a memoir that is both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring, and that is likely to ignite a spark to join the fight to return American hostages home.