A masterpiece of gut-punches, heartbreak, internal reflection, and a reminder of how un-dystopian some stories are.

When I think about government surveillance, classism, racism, homophobia, censorship, and imbalanced systems of power, I will forever think of this book. Chain-Gang All Stars is the powerhouse of a character-driven story that should sit with you for days, months, years after.

First chapter in, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah envelops the reader in the sick and disturbing reality of Chain-Gang All Stars. The unsure footing of who's the main character and what's happening quickly fades away as the scene builds to reiterate the brutality, surreality, and uncomfortable realness as the story unfolding. The gladiator-esque setting to fight for your freedom already sets the tone, but upon every chapter, every main to minor character, the dystopian reality sets the stage for a story unlike any other.

Adjei-Brenyah's writing is compelling and direct, yet intentionally and uncomfortably truthful. There is no way to "over-analyze" or search for the "hidden meaning" in the story because the truth is in the real life reflection to destructive systems and our own internal contemplation as we read. The voice of each character hums with authenticity, with inflection, and with feeling. Adjei-Brenyah's use of footnotes, of poetry, and hymns to satirically connect modern to historical slavery, and capitalism that is rooted in our prison industrial complex is as hard-hitting of an experience as you'd expect and more. Highly recommend the audiobook to those accessible.

The prison industrial complex, the judicial system, stigma and access to mental health, misogyny and racism, privacy and autonomy, are all important themes within the story. Yet, the most thought-provoking theme is the moral question of if we only care about people when they are "good", how can we ever expect things to get better? If the system that is supposed to protect actually creates and perpetuates harm, where is there space for love to exist?