Prisoner 88

Written by Leah Pileggi

A boy in prison must choose between loyalty and freedom during a daring escape.

3.8 Goodreads · 656 ratings

144 pages· 620L

$7.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1885, ten-year-old Jake is imprisoned with criminals, finding unexpected allies and a sense of belonging. As he learns to navigate this harsh world, an escape attempt forces him to choose between newfound friendships and his own safety. Will Jake's decision lead to freedom or further entrapment in the Old West's unforgiving landscape?

From the publisher

What if you were ten years old and thrown into prison with hardened criminals? That’s just what happens to Jake Oliver Evans. Inspired by a true account of a prisoner in the Idaho Territorial Penitentiary in 1885, Jake’s story is as affecting as it is shocking. Convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years, Jake is taken under the wing of a young guard and the kindly warden, as well as a few fellow prisoners. He is taught to read and given a job tending hogs at a nearby farm. In prison, Jake finds a home he has never had in a place most people are desperate to leave. But when he has to make a choice about right and wrong during an explosive escape attempt, Jake jeopardizes his friendships and his security. Debut novelist Leah Pileggi introduces a strong yet vulnerable character in an exciting and harrowing story of a child growing up on his own in America’s Old West.

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