Chain Gang All Stars National Book Award Finalist Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is a searing debut novel that dives into the depths of America's private prison system through the lens of two top women gladiators, Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker. As stars of CAPE (Criminal Action Penal Entertainment), they fight in deadly matches for the ultimate prize: freedom. Thurwar, on the brink of winning her release, struggles with the weight of leaving her fellow inmates behind while navigating the brutal obstacles set by CAPE’s corporate overlords determined to maintain their power.

This novel is a scathing critique of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, reminiscent of Orwell's 1984 and Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale. It paints a dystopian yet painfully familiar picture of societal exploitation and the commodification of human lives for entertainment and profit. Adjei-Brenyah’s powerful storytelling not only highlights the dehumanizing aspects of the prison-industrial complex but also underscores the resilience and humanity of those trapped within it.

Acclaimed by Stephen King for its brutal yet beautiful narrative and recognized as a top book of the year by numerous publications, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a thought-provoking exploration of freedom and oppression, making it a vital read in contemporary American literature.