You’ll want to share these outrageous true stories with everyone you can.
“There is no black and white, there is only gray. Everyone has a story and it’s up to us to find the truth in the gray area.” That is exactly the challenge Rae Scott and Amber Allen tackle in Our Stories: Tales From The Jail and Other Uniform Stories. An eye-opening glimpse at what life on the front line is really like, this collection offers numerous day-in-the-life moments from professionals in law enforcement, corrections, and the military. Audiences are also introduced to some of those who are tangled up in the system. Sometimes harrowing and sometimes heartwarming, these vignettes humanize a segment of the population that is often marginalized and judged with unfair generalities. Delivered with respect and authenticity, each side of the story is given space on the page and offered an opportunity to be heard. The narrating voice is calm and casual, allowing readers to feel a part of the unfolding scene. A sober look at the unrelenting toll taken by mental illness, this gritty collection shines as an example of compassion, humanity, and empathy.
If the extent of your experience with those in uniform is a rightfully earned speeding ticket or a stylized television portrayal, this wild collection will be especially illuminating. Not only is this book a must-read, but you should buy two copies because you’ll want to share these outrageous true stories with everyone you can! After reading, you probably won’t eat eggs for a while, you certainly won’t get the image of a feisty nonagenarian in leg irons out of your mind, and you definitely won’t look at those hard-working folks in uniform without an expanded sense of how emotionally and physically demanding their jobs are. Clarity of certain terms and procedures, surprising statistics, and other essential resources are included to assist and enlighten readers. Fully embodying the mantra ‘If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’, the narration retains an overall lightness despite the frequent tragedy and trauma. The shock of these moments isn’t something you can prepare yourself for, yet Our Stories: Tales From The Jail and Other Uniform Stories is a book you’ll be glad you picked up. But be forewarned, your neck will be stiff from all the headshaking as one unbelievable encounter is followed by another. Truly, these remarkable stories will grant audiences an appreciation for what things look like from inside a police car or behind those ominous prison walls. Things may go up, down, or completely sideways but these everyday heroes prove that there’s often much more to people than meets the eye!
