Description
Book SynopsisA powerful and humane exploration of the history of the "insanity defense," through the story of one poignant case.
Trade Review"A deeply moving tale of what happens when we ‘treat’ severe poverty and mental illness through the criminal justice system. Drawing on her firsthand experience and expertise with a modern-day insanity defense trial, Susan Vinocour writes like a novelist, showing us in riveting detail just how injustice operates." -- David Cole, national legal director, ACLU, and author of Engines of Liberty
"As passionate as she is knowledgeable, Susan Vinocour brings humanity and dignity to telling the story of a woman whose voice we would otherwise never hear.
Nobody's Child wraps a powerful narrative, a thought-provoking reflection on truth and evidence, and a wake-up call about the law's misunderstandings of mental illness into one unforgettable book." -- Susan Cheever, author of Drinking in America
"In the age of the accelerated news cycle, the weaponization of outrage, and the easy rush to judgment,
Nobody's Child is a harrowing journey through our broken judicial system. Susan Vinocour's expertise as a forensic psychologist—along with her humanity and literary talent—makes for a galvanizing read and, ultimately, a much-needed call for compassion." -- Jessica Bruder, author of Nomadland
"In this moving, well-researched account of the insanity defense…Vinocour does a fine job explaining the defense in layman's terms. Sterling prose helps make this a page-turner." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
