The Prison Nation: The History of Prisons in America For Teens

Prisons aren't just places with bars, locks, and guards—they're reflections of how a society decides to handle crime, fairness, and power. From the earliest punishments in Colonial America to today's debates about mass incarceration, the story of prisons is also the story of justice itself: who gets it, who doesn't, and why. This book takes teens on a gripping journey through the history of incarceration in the United States. You'll explore the harsh punishments of the past, the rise of massive penitentiaries, and the debates that continue to shape prisons today. Along the way, you'll encounter chain gangs, prison riots, reformers who fought for change, and individuals who managed to rebuild their lives behind walls designed to break them. But it's not only about the past—it's about what prisons tell us about society right now. The pages dive into questions that matter: Should justice mean punishment or rehabilitation? How do race, class, and power affect who ends up behind bars? And what alternatives could exist beyond cages and cells? Written in a clear, engaging style for teens, this book challenges readers to think critically about one of America's most controversial institutions. It doesn't offer easy answers—it pushes you to ask deeper questions about justice, fairness, and the future we want to create.