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

"Chain-Gang All-Stars" by Adjei-Brenyah, Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker are celebrated stars in CAPE, the Criminal Action Penal Entertainment program. CAPE, a profit-driven venture within America's private prison industry, pits prisoners against each other in death matches for the chance at freedom. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, navigate the perilous world of CAPE, where winning means more than just survival—it means liberation.

As Thurwar approaches her potential freedom, she grapples with the ethical implications of the system and seeks ways to preserve the humanity of her fellow Links, despite the obstacles placed in her path by CAPE's corporate owners. The novel provides a multifaceted exploration of the American prison system, delving into themes of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration.

From the perspective of the Links on the field to the protestors outside the arena, and the employees within CAPE, "Chain-Gang All-Stars" offers a searing critique of the injustices inherent in the prison-industrial complex. It challenges readers to confront the true meaning of freedom in a society marked by inequality and exploitation.