Mainline Mama

by Keeonna Harris

A powerful and wrenchingly intimate memoir about the formidable challenge of raising a family separated by prison walls and how we can fight back against a broken byzantine system.

Keeonna and Jason met as young teens. Only fourteen, Keeonna had never had a boyfriend before, dreamed of attending Spelman to become an obstetrician, and thought she was “grown.” Within a year she was pregnant, and Jason was in prison, convicted of a carjacking and sentenced to twenty-two years. Overnight Keeonna had become a “mainline mama,” a parent facing the impossible task of raising a child—while still growing up herself—with an incarcerated partner.

In this devastating and triumphant memoir, Keeonna recalls her harrowing journey as a Mainline Mama, from learning to overcome the exhausting difficulties of navigating the carceral system in the United States, to transforming herself into an advocate for other women like her—the predominantly Black and brown women left behind to pick up the pieces of their families and fractured lives.

Keeonna speaks frankly about the depression and suicidal thoughts that threatened to defeat her, how she learned to rebuild her broken relationship with a mother that lost trust in her, and how time eased the shame, guilt, and stigma of being a young Black teen mom with a partner behind bars. She offers inspiration and solace, showing how to create moments of beauty, humanity, and love in a place designed to break spirits, such as picking the perfect wedding dress for a ceremony in a state prison visiting room.

Mainline Mama is about creating self-love and community—crucial acts of radical resistance against a prison industrial complex that is designed to dehumanize and to separate and shut away incarcerated individuals and their loved ones from the world.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Biography Memoir, Adult

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2025

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harris had dreams: grow up, go to Spelman, meet and marry a Morehouse man, become an OB/GYN. And then maybe think about babies. But at fourteen, Harris met Jason, her first boyfriend and first love. At fifteen, she had a baby, which tipped her life sideways. And again when she was fifteen, Jason was sentenced to 22 years in prison, changing the course of both of their lives for good.

Since my family's expectations had changed, I knew I had to set new expectations for myself. Nobody was talking about me going to college anymore; I was rerouted into what my family thought was a good, stable job: working customer service for a phone company. [...] Now that I had a baby I wasn't supposed to shoot for the stars; I was kept grounded to set up a good foundation. (loc. 1504*)

Mainline Mama chronicles Harris's experience of two decades of a relationship that could never be on her own terms. From asking her grandmother to take her to the prison to visit—because she was too young to visit on her own, and her mother didn't approve of the relationship—to becoming a veteran visitor who knew the ins and outs and workarounds to planning her wedding in a prison, Harris had to grow up fast, and she had to learn a whole host of skills and information that most of us will never have to use.

Of all the dreams for my wedding, watching my whole family go through a security checkpoint was never one of them. (loc. 197)

From a writing perspective, this is a three-star book. It's solid and extremely readable, but it can get a bit repetitive and occasionally a bit soap-box-y (though—let's be clear—it's not unwarranted). But from a content perspective, this is five stars all the way. Harris's voice and story are so underrepresented. This is her story, not Jason's, though of course the two are entwined.

Jason was a twenty-one-year-old boy who couldn't cry in public, and the only way we could talk was over the phone, in front of everybody in prison. A gang member in prison couldn't be on the phone whining and crying. Couldn't be sad, so he got mad. All the sadness turned into anger, and sometimes it was directed at me. We went through things we couldn't or didn't know how to talk to each other about. (loc. 1091)

As Harris visited and wrote to Jason, learning the rules of one prison after another—sometimes driving seven hours for a visit, or sleeping in her car overnight—she saw, and experienced firsthand, how the prison system impacted not only those who were incarcerated but also loved ones. She was not in prison, but she was limited in when she could call and when she could visit; limited in what she could wear and what she could bring; limited in how long she could hug her boyfriend (and later husband) when she visited. And: Because they were growing up in parallel trajectories, able to see each other but not on their own terms and never within their individual day-to-day lives, they were not able to understand what each other's realities really looked like.

Without spoiling anything, I'll say that this book in its current form is probably only possible because of the way things panned out, and also because Harris is writing from decades of experience rather than a year or two. It's worth noting that this isn't a book about why Jason went to prison or whether or not his punishment was reasonable; it's a story about what happens to the people left on the outside. It is a complicated, messy story, but it is well worth it for her perseverance, her insights on what life is like for those impacted by the prison system but not incarcerated themselves, and for her clear-eyed view of how long and how far the ripples caused by incarceration can extend.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me why I tend to avoid memoirs. I always struggle with rating them because they’re deeply personal — how do you critique someone’s lived experience?

My biggest issue with Mainline Mama is that while it’s a personal reflection on the author’s life and her connection to the prison system, it’s also attempts to shed light on the many obstacles faced by incarcerated individuals and their families. Because of that, I was hoping for more facts, statistics, and historical context to dive even deeper into this much needed discussion.

The lack of structure also made it difficult to stay engaged. The book jumps between past and present without a clear storyline, almost as if the author was writing as memories surfaced. I think with stronger editing and more external research, this memoir could have been much more impactful.

That being said, I still think this is an important read for those interested in understanding the emotional toll of incarceration on families, but it left me wanting more depth and clarity.

Thank you to NetGalley & Amistad for this egalley.

[Ada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book on Kiese Laymon’s IG story and when Kiese says to read the book, you read the book.

As a teenager, Keeonna’s first love is arrested and sentenced to 20+ years in prison. She begins to navigate the prison system and along the way forges lifetime friendships and builds herself a community among amazing women. These women, also known as Mainline Mamas, have perfected the ins and outs of the prison visitation system.

Keeonna hooked me as a reader from the start. She’s a natural born storyteller and her sentences continuously flow one into the other seamlessly. It was hard for me to reach a stopping point at night because I was so invested. She weaves her story between moments of her life before, during, and after her partner’s incarceration. It creates a real and intimate portrait of her journey and her character.

Publication date: 2/11/25

Thanks to NetGalley and Amistad Books for access to an advanced copy.

[Elyse Hallett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw recounting of her time as a mainline mama - a woman who has a loved one in prison and frequently visits them - and her experiences navigating the prison system, the community she developed along the way, and the journey she took to refinding herself and her purpose. Beautiful and vulnerable. At times, repetitive, but that just added to the rawness of this, rather than detracting. Beautifully conveys the power of community and of the difference that having someone in your corner can make

[Renée | Book Girl Magic · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Gurleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great memoir that helped me understand more about the lives of the families of incarnated people. Well written and kept me engaged.

[Katie Cernugel · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really wanted to love this one and the story itself is so fascinating but i just couldn't get myself into this. at only 210 pages, i thought i could get through it in a weekend. instead, it took me over a month.

harris' journey and story are really incredible, and i'm amazed by everything she went through and endured. i think the work she is doing present-day is extremely important and i applaud it.

for some reason though, i never felt fully invested in her story. the writing felt a bit too bland(?) at times and made it difficult for me to stay engaged. i think i just expected more based on the synopsis. it all felt pretty surface-level, which may have been by choice considering the topics discussed, but it left me with this kind of "meh" overall opinion on the book. i'm struggling to even think of what to put in this review.

that said, it was definitely still a great life story and i learned a LOT about the American prison system and the dynamics of those locked up and their loved ones on the outside.

[Becs]

This is one of those stories that still haunts me months later. One of the reasons I read memoirs is because I’m curious to see the world from perspectives other than my own, and this gives me a glimpse into a perspective I haven’t seen before.

As a teenager Keema Harris has to start figuring out all of the rules around prison visitation because her partner is behind bars. Over the next several years, she continues to have to go through this process again and again as her partner is moved to different locations. At some of the locations she forms friendships with other women visiting their partners, and learns from these Mainline Mamas the intricacies of the new places.

This book really shines a light on how incarceration affects and disrupts the lives of not only the person incarcerated, but also their loved ones. Keema Harris never makes excuses for her partner's behavior, but shows the messy, complicated situation that his imprisonment leaves for her.

[Lauren Brock]

3.5 stars
I found the book interesting enough - it definitely gave me a different perspective of growing up in the city in gang neighborhoods. It’s also hard to decipher my frustration of her choices vs. the writing/story of the book.
I wish there was less of the middle portion of the book about working around another prison (which was essentially the same) and more of her doctoral work.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Carol Meerschaert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives you a peek into a life so many must endure and too many ignore— the world of those who love folks in prison. It is also a story of resilience and how one woman navigated life.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird read but I did get to the end...

[Lalaa #ThisBlackGirlReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeonna Harris’ Mainline Mama is a deeply personal and thought-provoking memoir that takes readers inside the complexities of loving someone who is incarcerated. Through her raw storytelling, Harris explores the emotional, financial, and social challenges of sustaining a relationship with an imprisoned partner while also carving out her own path to self-discovery.

One of the things I appreciated most about this book was its unfiltered look at the incarceration system and the impact it has on families, especially Black women who find themselves navigating the realities of prison visitation, financial strain, and the emotional weight of long-distance love. While I didn’t always agree with Harris' choices, I admired her resilience, her commitment to growth, and the ways she built her own community of support. She didn’t let her circumstances define her, and that, in itself, is a powerful testament to Black womanhood.

I would have loved to learn more about her work with other women in similar situations, but overall, this was a compelling read that challenged me to think more deeply about love, incarceration, and survival.

A few standout quotes:
🖤 “I spent so much time believing that my love was enough to make up for everything else.”
🖤 “Black women know what it means to hold things together, even when they are breaking.”

Thank you to LibroFM for providing me with the audiobook! If you’re looking for a memoir that’s both eye-opening and deeply personal, Mainline Mama is worth the read.

[AMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought that I could get into a book about a woman who would willingly subject herself to this lifestyle. I know quite a few in real life and can't seem to wrap my head around it. I can't see myself doing time with someone, let alone someone who can't regulate their emotions enough to appreciate that I'm here for you and don't have to be.

I have sympathy for people who find themselves a victim of circumstance and end up in prison. No one should be mistreated because they are locked up. However, lets acknowledge that some of them have choices. Like Jason could have really accepted the help from her stepdad instead of trying to keep it real. He had a kid to think of and should have wanted to give that child what he never had. Untreated childhood trauma is devastating, however, one has the choice to attempt to heal.

I couldn't imagine 20 years of weekends away from my life and my kids. Yes, he needed love and support but so do these little people that I brought into this world. Even more so bc I'm responsible for them and making sure that they don't end up a statistic and in the same system.

Some parts of this read like a publication. She's and advocate after all and wants relay the facts and bring us to her way of thinking about the prison system being full of victims, which I don't doubt on some level. It felt heavy handed in some sections but the personal accounts made it bearable.

I'm glad she got her happily ever after. I still could never do it but it did give me more insight on the women that do. I feel like I understand them better.

[Mark Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One problem I have with memoirs are that a lot of them are written by accomplished authors. For example, when someone like Dave Eggers or Mary Karr pumps out a memoir, you know they are going to manipulate the story to make it a) readable, b) compelling, and most importantly c) favorable.

On the other hand, we often see memoirs by people like Keeonna Harris who clearly have no experience writing mainstream fiction or fact., What I like about these stories is that they feel more authentic, warts and all. And for example, there is a lot in Keonna Harris's book that is self serving or a little skewed towards her point of view, her lack of guile means you see right through it - you can really figure out the real story.

Not that a lack of experience kept Harris from writing a good book. This is a really interesting life story. About half of it concentrates on her life with her boyfriend and eventual husband who managed to get a 22 year sentence from the State of California, with the rest of the book more about her life growing up and dealing with her family - which of course is all very relatable.

She spends maybe a bit too much time proselytising about how shitty she and her husband get treated by the state, but I can understand why she has a lot to say about that. And I mean, it really is criminal to take a ward of the state and ship him off to a private prison in Arizona. We want prisoners to maintain a connection to their family, it is maybe their best shot at not being recidivists. When you move them 400 miles away from home, well, how is that supposed to work?

Anyway, unless you have a loved one that is on paper or living courtesy of the state, odds are your attitude is they're getting what they deserve. I get that, and Keeonna is not going to change your mind about it. But maybe, just maybe, she will convince you to think about it a bit.

Great memoir.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainline Mama (thank you #gifted @libro.fm @amistad ) is an intimate look at what it’s like to raise a family when your partner is in prison.

A memoir written with both heart, insight, and humor, it asks if it’s even possible to build a family when the system is set up to punish and keep apart. And how that bleeds to affect everyone in the community.

Keonna has to reckon with the challenges of seeing the person she loves in prison, which can only happen on weekends after a long drive and many hoops to jump through. She has to decide when her kids can see him, too, and how to balance her own life outside the prison when every weekend is dedicated to driving to the prison town.

It’s not all negative. She’s able to build a community where the other mainline mamas (prisoner’s wives and girlfriends) support each other. One where everyone contributes what they can. There are definite moments of humor, too, such as when she describes her man as “planting his little flag of toxic masculinity”

I listened on audio, narrated by the amazing Bahni Turpin. She brings the story to life. There is some time jumping, which was a little confusing. I wish some more time had been dedicated to the events at the end, too. But it’s a book that makes me think about the struggles of these families and how it’s the opposite of rehabilitation. 3.5 stars

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

With unsparing honesty, this memoir brings us into the author's world as a young Black woman navigating motherhood, systemic injustice, and a complicated love for a man sentenced to decades behind bars. This isn’t just a story about visiting prisons or waiting on collect calls—it’s a portrait of the inner life of someone who grew up too fast and learned to live in society’s expectations. Harris captures what it means to come of age with your future shaped by personal choices and inequality. Her voice is reflective and sharp, grounded in emotional truth and political awareness.

The author doesn’t offer readers tidy resolutions. She gives us complexity: the tension of loyalty and self-preservation, the weight of being a caregiver and a scholar, the everyday triumphs of raising children while navigating a world built to deny her ease. Through prison walls, scholarship halls, and the raw terrain of memory, Harris delivers a memoir that is intimate and unflinching. It's not just a personal narrative—it's a quiet rebellion, a reclamation of voice, and an indictment of a system that fractures lives across generations.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[Shipra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about strong mothers - it reminds me of my mother, me as a mother and all the mothers I see around me - their unconditional love. They can be soft and fierce at the same time when it comes to the family. They go to any lengths to protect, guard and provide for them. I spotted Mainline mama by Keeonna Harris.
A powerful and inspirational memoir, this one traces the journey of Keeonna - how she navigated the path to becoming a 'mainline mama' while battling with her own life facing the challenges of a teenage mother, with husband in prison and at the same time educating herself and going on to finish college and become an advocate of women in the same boat as hers. A triumph of perseverance , grit and faith - that's what this book brings forth.

At a point Keeonna says that "Relationship with prisons tear down one who's in and those outside" which was the sad reality for her and others like her. You feel for the mothers when she says that the "system poisoned us". The family travels long distances to meet their loved ones in prison and the authorities make them feel that "visitation is a privilege not a right" which is so not true. The women find support in each other as prisons "eclipse their joy" and the punishment is not only for the ones who are inside but more so to those outside.

[Emma Cathryne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeona Harris' brilliant memoir offers a harrowing, emotional glimpse into the appalling inhumanity of the prison-industrial complex from the perspective of a young wife and mother seeking to build a family with her incarcerated husband. Harris' experiences expose the subtle and not-so-subtle ways the system seeks to keep families isolated from one another, from strict dress codes and endless waiting lines to prohibiting physical contact and restricting communication.

Alongside this thoughtful rebuke of a broken system, Harris also details the emotional neglect and systemic rejection she experienced as a Black teenage mother trying to build a life and career alongside raising her children with limited support. Harris' memoir is a testament to resilience and community-building in the face of a society fully aligned against her & her family's success. My favorite chapters were those in which Harris describes her community of fellow "Maineline Mama's" and their practice of unwavering compassion, collective action, and mutual aid. A great read for many reasons, but especially for those looking to build an education on the multifaceted impacts of carceral oppression.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeonna brought a voice to an often forgotten aspect to the prison system, the families and loved ones who are also punished. The state takes the control and forces them to jump through so many hurdles I didn't realize when it came to visitation and the sheer amount of effort that goes into continuing to have a relationship with people incarcerated when the world wants us to just allow them to fade into the background. Yet, they dangle visits and communication in front of them in an effort to keep them controlled. It is an aspect that can be stripped from incarcerated folk so easily and it made me really have to think even more on my abolition journey that the prison industrial complex is not built for growth of prisonioners like they like to claim but about power and control and something to be exploited and manipulated. As Keeonna talks about growth cannot occur when you are in survival mode 24/7. It will happen after release but with even more hurdles due to being removed from society, your family and the trauma of being incarcerated.

Thank you to Libro.Fm for a free audio copy to read. It is powerful in audio and I would recommend it!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brave, honest, and beautiful memoir. "Mainline mama" are women who are not in prison themselves, but stay connected to someone in the prison industrial system. It was eye opening hearing about Keeonna's experience being a mother and navigating the prison system while raising kids. She had so many hoops to jump through and put herself last, so much so that you feel exhausted even reading what she had to do (drive 3 hours to the prison, drop a car off on Friday night in line for visitation, sleep in a motel or at a friend's house, then go back in the morning, spend a few hours waiting to be processed in, and getting a couple hours with her husband). I loved the last part of the book, describing her personal and emotional growth, understanding what her own needs were and using what she went through to advocate for the other mainline mamas and women who do not have anyone caring for them. Found myself wanting more of the advocacy work she does and more about her process of learning boundaries and self-care.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling personal story from a new perspective for me. Opened my eyes to experiences of a group I hadn’t previously known or heard much about - but did coincidentally see a glimpse of in one season of my life when my work commute took me past a county jail and courthouse parking lot. While waiting at a light every afternoon I would see women in the parking lot using improvised sign language to communicate with men standing at windows in the jail. I realize now that I didn’t have the empathy and curiosity at that time to wonder about the position they’d been put in and the pressures and toll it would have on their own lives. I’m sure I wondered why they stuck with their partners, like Keeonna’s friends and coworkers. As always, there is more to a life than an outsider can see.

I wish the editing was more rigorous - there was repetition between chapters and it could have been organized to make the book sleeker and better emphasize the themes. I see this in many of the memoirs I’ve read. I blame you, publishers!

[Celeste celestially_yours Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my efforts to read more non-fiction I came across this memoir.
This book is about reflection, family, love circumstance, but mostly about surviving the system. I don’t have a personal experience with the prison system, but I know folks that do. Even if you don’t personally know anyone that’s been affected by the prison system this book will truly touch your heart in unexpected ways.
This book is about forming lasting friendships in ways that help cope and deal with the complexities of the prison system and maintaining relationships with loved ones behind bars. A system that is definitely designed to tear you down. It answers the question of what and who “ home” can really represent. Final message of resilience and achieving the things you planned out for your life even with detours you can still get those things in a very different way and end up in a happy place with more than you thought possib

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I thought I was reading a novel. When I realized that this was someone's life story, I was even more impressed both by the writing and the story itself. I can't remember reading anything quite like this. It speaks to the kind of bonds that develop from being caught in a certain situation. I can't help but think that the author just managed to do everything so well. She has the ability to figure out what is needed and the perseverance to achieve it, all while starting out with much against her. Her path was one that would cause most women to give up. So this is a good story to tell for inspiration. Harris comes across as a strong woman, but one who understands her own mistakes and knows how to pivot. Where did her strength come from? The book itself is rough in spots and sometimes jumps unexpectedly, but it certainly draws the reader in.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this. I hope it is widely read! Five stars for a unique read!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for writing a book I didn’t know I needed to read. Your memoir hits me in my heart, where The Other Wes Moore and The Color of Water and When Breath Becomes Air hit me. Your book personalized an experience I saw in many lives during my teaching career, that the incarceration of a family member affects the entire family dynamic. Your first pregnancy and the impact of being a young teen mom reinforced the importance of family rallying around a barely teenaged girl who becomes a mother. Clearly you are bright and practical but running emotionally deep. Reading your memoir allows me to get a deeper, truer understanding of the impact of putting young Black and Brown men in prison for and extended period on the entire community than I would have if we had simply had a conversation. At a time when people of color are being marginalized again, this memoir is a desperately needed cautionary tale that reads easily while provoking awareness. YOU are being heard!

[Geo · Rating 3 out of 5]

the content of this book was quite interesting but i did not enjoy the writing style at some points in important ways. i felt like she kept repeating the same points over and over again and not in an elegant adding emphasis way but in a damn bro u just said that shit i get it already way! is it weird to call something a plot twist when it’s a memoir? anyway the plot twist at the end had me like damn. i love that growth and realization for her. i really enjoyed hearing about how she lived her life on her own terms (even as she was reckoning w how that was impossible in many ways as someone involved w the carceral system). i feel like the experience of the loved ones of incarcerated people is rarely talked about and this was a very in depth look at it which i appreciated but ultimately i did not like the book that much because i didn’t feel it was that well written. i feel like she could have cut a good 50 pages.

[Karen Glickstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author tells an important story that needs to be heard by people who will never be part of, or understand, our prison system. Her personal story is compelling and is told with honesty. As i listened to the book on audio, the "voice" was real and compelling. That said, the book seemed to drag at places. Repetition can be an important tool for a writer to emphasize a point. But, I felt it was used too much here--after about the tenth mention that "visitation is a privilege not a right" I felt like the author was trying to beat the proverbial dead horse and the impact was almost the reverse of what was intended. Although I did not agree with all points the author made, I learned quite a bit. This memoir would be especially interesting for discussion as to how the prison system might be reformed--and how the people who love those within the system can best be supported.

[Sindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Mainline Mama, Keeonna Harris shares her life’s story life as a teen mom with an incarcerated partner. Keeonna was on track for university and had dreams of becoming a doctor when at just 14, she found herself pregnant while her boyfriend was sentenced to over 20 years in prison. Overnight, Keeonna had to raise her child, while still growing up herself, navigate the prison system, rebuild her relationships with her family, and learn to put herself first. This memoir is an honest, funny, and beautiful reflection of resilience, strength, love, and radical resistance.

“To the see the person I love, I have to put myself at the mercy of the state.”

Thank you Libro.fm & HarperAudio for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Samantha Gizzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting look at a life and culture so different from mine! The biggest issue is that it read like a first draft. It needed a strong editor to give it a logical timeline and cut out all of the repetitive anecdotes and descriptions. Another thing that bothered me was that the author constantly downplayed violent crimes. I understand that a life dealing with the prison system and having loved ones inside would be extremely difficult. However, the author completely disregards the damages done to the victims of her families’ and friends’ crimes and focuses instead on how prison is making her own life miserable. I was hoping for more about the work she’s done post-graduation and less dating/marriage drama, but I still feel like I gained something of value from this book!

[Kelly Hooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mainline Mama offers a compelling and eye-opening glimpse into the lives of Keonna and Jason. The couple met as teenagers and became parents young, just before Jason was sentenced to 22 years in prison for carjacking.

While I’ve read other books about incarceration, this was the first that truly centered the perspective of someone on the outside and the loved one left behind. At times, I found it hard to connect with some of Keonna and Jason’s choices, but that’s the power of memoir: it invites us into lives and realities different from our own. Watching Keonna’s growth and evolving perspective over the course of Jason’s sentence was one of the most moving parts of the story.

Many thanks to Netgalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Marianne Kaplan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0. I enjoy reading a good memoir and this was one of them. Story of a young African American woman whose life goals for herself were drastically altered due to her teenage pregnancy at age of 14 and the 20 year incarceration of her Baby Daddy at the same time. Story deals with how she survived and actually thrived during the time her partner was in prison. She had very little privilege, with only a high school diploma and few employable skills. Nevertheless, she thrived, finishing college and obtaining a doctorate while singly raising three children. Her resilience is inspirational. Recommend the book.