San Quentin Exodus

“A morally ambiguous redemption story, filled with pain, courage, and hope, that captures and intrigues the reader from the first page.”—Sublime Book Review

One mistake. Thirty years. One last chance for freedom.
James, a still-water-runs-deep boy, struggles to navigate the rough and gritty streets of Oakland, California, in the 1980s. His only friend is a pit bull he rescues from dog fighting. On the cusp of college, James commits a crime that results in a prison term of thirty to life.
Allison, a young Indiana girl obsessed with Nancy Drew novels, vows to spend her life solving mysteries and helping people. Introverted yet daring, Allison grows into her identity as a lesbian, finds her life partner, and moves to Berkeley to teach prep school.
When she volunteers as a tutor at San Quentin, she meets James, who has been behind bars for thirty years. As she learns his story following a devastating parole denial, Allison confronts a difficult question: Does one terrible mistake define a person? If not, at what point does an incarcerated person deserve freedom—and can she channel her inner Nancy Drew to help him find it?
San Quentin Exodus is a braided novel about two people whose lives cross in a quest to reset an ill-fated life. With compassion and wisdom, it explores race, incarceration, identity, redemption, and the stubborn vitality of hope.
Perfect for readers who liked The Nickel Boys, Just Mercy, and The Mars Room, Exodus from San Quentin is an unforgettable story of ordinary people facing momentous choices.
Follow James and Allison on their journey toward a fierce humanity.