Quotes
"The treatment of each unique child is the true measure of the state of the world. Donna Hylton was punished for being born female, black, and brilliant--yet she survived to create her own life. A Little Piece of Light will tell you just how fragile--and how indestructible--the human spirit can be."—Gloria Steinem
"Donna Hylton's painful yet liberating memoir will certainly
be transformative for many who read her words.
As a survivor of sexual abuse and violence--inside and outside prison--she
tells the whole truth of her experience, including her deep regret for the moments
that she's harmed others and her passionate commitment to co-creating a justice
system that acknowledges the little piece of light that shines within us no
matter who we are, what we've done, or what has been done to us."—Michelle Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of The New Jim Crow
"Donna Hylton is a
light warrior, an inspiration, a survivor, a profound storyteller, and an
important teacher for our times."—Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic
"[Donna Hylton's] life stands as a case study illustrating how prison reform
efforts and support for women in abusive situations can transform individual
lives and society.... Since her release, Hylton has continued her fight for women
who have no voice. Her story stands as a harrowing, yet powerful, picture of
what's possible when women escape brutality and encounter hope, even in the
most unlikely of places."—Associated Press
"Donna has a
remarkable capacity for turning pain into power. She's focused, determined,
present, thoughtful, passionate, and tireless. She's an invaluable asset to us
all."—Rosario Dawson,actress, writer, singer, and activist
"Donna Hylton's A Little Piece of Light reveals her life journey in an exquisitely written memoir. Donna suffered so long before finding a place to belong. It brings into question how America criminalizes the trauma of poor women. This book is a real page-turner that has you sitting on the edge of your seat.... A must read."—Susan Burton, author of Becoming Ms. Burton: From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight Against Incarcerated Women
"I first met Donna Hylton at Riverside Church when she had just been released from prison after serving 27 years, and she is an unforgettable presence. In this riveting book Donna bravely and honestly does the difficult work of reconciling the harm she suffered and the harm she caused, and the reasons both are important. A Little Piece of Light is a gripping account of promises kept or broken, showing the incredible resilience and triumph of women in the face of neglect and violence. Donna Hylton's story is both wrenching and life-affirming, and essential reading to anyone who cares about women, safety and justice."—Piper Kerman, author of Orange Is the New Black
"Donna Hylton proves it's not where you start but where you finish. In her searing narrative, A Little Piece of Light, she recounts spending more than 25 years at New York's Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for kidnapping and second-degree murder. How she got there will rock you to your core."—Essence
"Intimate and disturbing, the book reveals the ways
women are silenced and victimized in society, and it also tells the inspiring
story of how one woman survived a prison nightmare to go on to help other
incarcerated women 'speak out about the violence in their lives.' A wrenching
memoir of overcoming seemingly insurmountable abuse and finding fulfillment."—Kirkus Reviews
"Gripping.... [A Little Piece of Light] is a meditation on redemption and learning to love and forgive."—Booklist