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Study Guide

Dead Man Walking

Helen Prejean
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49 pages • 1 hour read

Helen Prejean

Dead Man Walking

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1993

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  • Before You Read

  • Summary

  • Background

  • Key Figures

  • Themes

  • Index of Terms

  • Important Quotes

  • Essay Topics

    • Before You Read

    Reviews & Readership

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    Review Roundup

    Helen Prejean's Dead Man Walking receives acclaim for its powerful, compassionate portrayal of the death penalty debate, grounded in the author's personal experiences. Critics appreciate its emotional depth and ethical inquiries. However, some note the narrative can feel one-sided. Overall, it’s a moving, thought-provoking read that challenges readers’ perspectives on justice.

    Who should read this

    Who Should Read Dead Man Walking?

    A reader who would enjoy Dead Man Walking by Helen Prejean is likely interested in social justice, the ethics of capital punishment, and true crime narratives. Fans of Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy or Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow would appreciate its profound examination of the criminal justice system's flaws.

    Recommended

    Reading Age

    18+years

    Lexile Level

    1140L

    Book Details

    Topics
    Social Justice
    Crime / Legal
    Incarceration
    Themes
    Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
    Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
    Life/Time: Mortality & Death