The Wound Is Where the Light Enters
A Memoir of Resilience
$51.95
- Hardcover
336 pages
- Release Date
6 October 2026
Summary
In the vein of Writing My Wrongs, a memoir from a young man sentenced to life in prison, who gave such a moving speech during his trial that the judge left his position and fought to free him, shining a light on the prison industrial complex and showing how potential remains locked behind bars.
Were our world more just, Chris Young would probably have a doctorate or be the CEO of a tech company instead of having spent eleven years in prison.
The Wound Is Where the…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780316565288 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0316565288 |
| Author: | Chris Young |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown & Company |
| Imprint: | Little, Brown & Company |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 336 |
| Release Date: | 6 October 2026 |
| Dimensions: | 235mm x 152mm |
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What They're Saying
Critics Review
“With remarkable grit and an eye for unnerving detail, Young breathes life into this account of a child caught between love and survival and an adult who overcame near-impossible odds through steadfast belief in himself. It’s a stunner.”
–Publishers Weekly, starred“Readers are presented with a memorable and convincing account of how an exceptional individual contested an unjust sentence and formed an emancipating understanding of his own plight … An astute reflection on the status of American freedom for the racially and economically marginalized. A poignant, inspirational, and timely account of personal survival and reinvention.”
–Kirkus Reviews“Chris Young’s incredible story will change lives–and has the potential to change laws, too. If we are going to heal this country’s addiction to mass incarceration, we need visionaries like Chris to show us the way. This is an urgent and necessary book in a distinct, new voice.”–Van Jones, CNN Contributor and author of Beyond the Messy Truth, Rebuild the Dream, and The Green Collar Economy
“Chris Young’s story is a mirror held up to our justice system and to our collective conscience. I had to sentence Chris to life in prison, but that was not justice. His story is proof that talent, intelligence, and potential are everywhere–but access and opportunity are not. Chris’s presence in my courtroom transformed my life. I am so grateful that, with the gift of this book, he now has the chance to transform yours.”–Kevin Sharp, Partner, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP; and former judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
“When Chris Young finally walked out of prison after serving more than a decade of a life sentence, I knew the world was about to witness something extraordinary. Even inside prison, his brilliance, discipline, and potential were undeniable. His story opened my eyes even more to how deeply unjust our system can be–and how powerful redemption truly is. The world needs to hear Chris’s voice–and I’m so proud to know him and to have played a part in his journey to freedom.”–Kim Kardashian
About The Author
Chris Young
Chris Young grew up impoverished in Clarksville, Tennessee, witnessing an endless barrage of abuse, death, and drug-addiction within his family and in his neighborhood. Following a suspension for fighting and a flare-up of his sickle-cell anemia, Young left school at the age of sixteen and found solace in his fellow gang members and the influx of money from dealing drugs. A victim of the “three-strikes” policy, Young was sent to prison for life for drug possession with intent to sell. While in prison, Young dedicated himself to his intellectual pursuits, which consisted of everything from Greek philosophy and history to coding and genetics. Since being granted clemency in 2021, he’s appeared on numerous major networks and in documentaries advocating for prison reform.
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