A review by paradisebibliophile
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

challenging dark emotional informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I loved AND hated this book. It was so good but hard to read because of its mirror to reality. It’s a take on the American penal system. While you root for the characters you can’t ever unsee or forget how terrible their circumstances are - which is the point. I thought it was beautifully and uniquely written. I also thought the author did a great job of tying everything in throughout the book. I didn’t finish it feeling like I had questions left unanswered. The end was brutal. To me, it symbolized how we are stuck in a system of punishment instead of rehabilitation. The FMC is caught in a lose lose disguised as a win. I’d highly recommend this book if you can handle it