4.5 stars - rounded up because of the quality of the writing. Jones does a fantastic job of developing all of the characters, especially Roy and Celestial, and making me empathize with their situations, even if I was frustrated with the way they reacted. The one thing I wish was different was a little more time spent on the trial / appeals - I get that the intended focus was on the people and relationships but, for a novel that was originally supposed to be about the prison industrial complex, it's light on that end. Still highly recommend as a thought-provoking contemporary read.