Resistance and Hope in the Face of Oppression

Brittany establishes the theme of resistance and hope in the face of oppression by repeatedly emphasizing her clients’ strength even and especially when presented with adversity.

Structurally, the book reinforces this theme by first introducing each clients’ background and their many strengths, then discussing the ways they were harmed by the legal system, and finally detailing how they respond to this trauma. For example, Brittany discusses Sharanda’s ingenuity in founding multiple businesses, then shows how she was imprisoned for life through unfair tactics, and then devotes a chapter to exploring the ways in which Sharanda resists the prison’s dehumanization by maintaining her old passions, such as cooking, and by preserving her relationship with her daughter. Similarly, Brittany introduces Donel’s hardworking nature and his difficult childhood, then explains his legal case and sentence, then shows how he is practicing...