Finding a Voice: The Practice of Changing Lives through Literature

by Jean Trounstine, Robert Waxler

Disturbed by the lack of real success of prisons in reforming offenders, Robert Waxler, an English professor, and Judge Robert Kane, a former Massachusetts District Court justice, created Changing Lives Through Literature (CLTL)--an educational initiative for criminal offenders based on the idea that studying literature can transform lives. Since its founding in 1991, CLTL has won numerous awards and been featured in national media outlets like The New York Times, Parade Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, and the Today Show. The CLTL program has also been featured in the new book Every Book Its Reader: The Power of the Printed Word to Stir the World by Nicholas A. Basbanes.

In Finding a Voice, Waxler and Jean Trounstine (who extended CLTL to female prisoners in 1993) discuss the "how and why" of their unique alternative sentencing program. Along with describing the program's beginnings and the team approach that made CLTL a success, the authors also give a wealth of practical advice for other teachers. Their sample lesson plans, text suggestions, and discussion of controversies faced by CLTL show readers a way of approaching literature with alternative learners everywhere.

Jean Trounstine is an author, activist, and Professor of Humanities, Middlesex Community College (MA). Robert Waxler is Professor of English, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth.

280 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2005

About the author

I am an activist, author and professor emerita at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts and my latest book is "Boy With A Knife: A Story of Murder, Remorse, and a Prisoner’s Fight for Justice" (IG Publishing April, 2016). It explores the true story of Karter Kane Reed and the injustice of sentencing juveniles to adult prisons.

I worked at Framingham Women’s Prison for ten years where I directed eight plays with prisoners. My book about that work, "Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women’s Prison" has been featured on NPR, The Connection, Here and Now, and in numerous print publications here and abroad. In addition, I've spoken around the world on women in prison, co-founded the women’s branch of Changing Lives Through Literature, an award-winning alternative sentencing program featured in The New York Times and on The Today Show, and co-authored two books about the program. I published a book of poetry, "Almost Home Free," and co-edited the New England best-seller," Why I’m Still Married: Women Write Their Hearts Out On Love, Loss, Sex, and Who Does the Dishes." I am also on the steering committee of the Coalition for Effective Public Safety in Massachusetts.

When I'm not spinning or with friends and family, I take apart the criminal justice system brick by brick for magazines and blogs such as Boston Magazine, Truthout.org, the Rag Blog and Huffington Post.