Before beginning Writing Our Way Out I thought that the stories that the incarcerated persons would be sharing would be more focused on the present or even what they may have done to end up where they were. Instead, I was surprised to read about their childhoods and the other realities that are occurring in these men’s lives. Whilst reading their stories I get a small glimpse into their lives and emotions; I realize that I cannot truly appreciate their experiences, but in reading I get an understanding of their identity. There are many parallels and differences between each of their stories, emotional distress and lack of family support cause many of the issues that led to their incarceration. This book represents how storytelling can be used by anyone and refined with help by someone to allow a person to share their authentic life.