48 pages • 1 hour read
Piper KermanOrange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2010A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison follows Piper Kerman's 13-month incarceration in a federal women's prison in Danbury, Connecticut, starting with her involvement in a drug trafficking scheme right after college, leading to her arrest, and her eventual imprisonment. The memoir explores themes of justice, racial and socio-economic divides, and community within the prison system through her firsthand experiences and the friendships she forms with fellow inmates. It addresses sensitive topics such as drug trafficking, incarceration, and the struggles faced by women in prison.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman offers a gripping, personal account of life in a women’s prison, praised for its candid narrative and social commentary. While many commend its eye-opening perspective and humor, some criticize it for lacking depth in addressing systemic issues. Overall, it provides a thought-provoking glimpse into the prison system.
Who Should Read Orange Is The New Black?
Readers who enjoy memoirs with themes of personal growth, justice, and diverse narratives would appreciate Orange Is The New Black by Piper Kerman. Similar to The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and Wild by Cheryl Strayed, this book appeals to those interested in true stories of resilience, self-discovery, and reform within the American penal system.