Information Sheet
         “Just Mercy” (Adapted for Young Adults) by Bryan Stevenson
                About Just                                                      About The Author: 
                Mercy: In this                                                  Bryan Stevenson is 
                very personal                                                   the Executive 
                work--adapted                                                   Director of the Equal 
                from the original                                               Justice Initiative. 
                #1 bestseller,                                                  Since graduating from 
                which the New                                                   Harvard Law School 
                York Times calls                                                and the Harvard 
                "as compelling as                                               School of 
                To Kill a                                                       Government, he has 
                Mockingbird, and                                                secured relief for 
                in some ways                                                    dozens of condemned 
                more so"--                                                      prisoners, argued five 
                acclaimed lawyer                                                times before the 
                and social justice                                              Supreme Court, and 
                advocate Bryan                                                  won national acclaim 
                Stevenson offers                                                for his work 
                a glimpse into the                                              challenging bias 
                lives of the                                                    against the poor and 
                wrongfully                                                      people of color. He has won numerous awards, 
                imprisoned and his efforts to fight for their freedom.          including the MacArthur Foundation "Genius" 
                                                                                Grant. 
                Read Aloud Tips:                                                Additional Resources: 
                • Preface the book by reading age-appropriate                   Find more information on other books that can be 
                articles about the current mass incarceration issue in          used in your class library at literacy.roosevelt.edu. 
                America.  
                • As you read, pause to get students reactions. What 
                is truly on their mind?  
                • This author is dedicated to making change and 
                fighting for social justice, something he believes in. 
                Have students reflect on a time they worked towards 
                making change for something they believe in.