A masterful, revelatory work of literary non-fiction about a teenage girl's shocking crime—and its extraordinary aftermath.

On a spring afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, a fifteen-year-old black girl kills a white elderly bible teacher in a violent home invasion. In a city with a history of racial tension the press swoops in.

When Paula is sentenced to death, no one decries the impending execution of a tenth grader. But the tide begins to shift when the victim's grandson Bill forgives the girl, against the wishes of his family, and campaigns to spare her life. This tragedy in a midwestern steel town soon reverberates across the United States and around the world—reaching as far away as the Vatican—as newspapers cover the story on their front pages and millions sign petitions in support of Paula.

As Paula waits on death row, her fate sparks a debate that not only animates legal circles but raises vital questions about the value of human life. This story asks us to consider what radical acts of empathy we might be capable of.

“An absorbing work of social history and a story about the mystery and miracle of forgiveness. This is a book of awesome scope, and it deserves to be read with attention.” - Hilary Mantel

“A full accounting not just of the details of the crimes but of the lives of those affected by violence, exploring whether the legal system can truly provide justice.” - The New York Times

“Haunting... You'll find yourself lying awake in the small hours, turning it over and over in your mind.” - The Washington Post

“Riveting... a probing and moving book.” - The Wall Street Journal

“A complicated tale, gracefully told, that will engross readers for years to come.” - New York Magazine (The Best Books of 2023)