"He didn’t know the healthy infants in those snapshots, but they show up in other pictures through the years, growing into children, sprouting into teenagers."

Time Out
by Claudia Rowe

3.5 stars.
This book is about Williard Jimerson. It is a true story.

Williard Jimerson was convicted of murder after shooting a 14 year old girl by the name of Jamie Lynn Wilson in the back. Williard himself was only 13 at the time.

He was tried as an adult. And he was given a long sentence, over twenty years.

Much happens in those years but what Time Out focuses on is the human growth and changes Williard goes through while in jail. He becomes a voracious reader, earns a college degree, and eventually makes a new life for himself, both while behind bars and after he gets out. He also weds his childhood sweetheart, Yinka.

On one hand, I liked this book. Actually I really did overall enjoy the story. I always love to read redemption stories, be they fiction or Non fiction. Williard, in one sense, did not stand much of a chance. He was from Seattle, from a family where his dad was notorious on the streets and Williard himself was often on those very streets, seeing himself as someday being his dad's successor.

The murder happened at a time when Seattle's streets were plagued with crime and people couldn't take it anymore. There were many who thought that a 13 year old should never have been tried as an adult but his circumstances and also the circumstances of Seattle , made it impossible for that not to happen.

The book is on the short side, more a Novella and I kind of wish it had been longer. There were questions I had that were not answered. But most of all there was Jamie.

Jamie Lynn was the victim and there really was no reason for her to be killed except peer pressure. At the time of the murder, she was running through the streets away from Williard and his crowd and they gave chase. Williard and another boy shot her for no apparent reason.

As other reviewers have mentioned. I wanted to know more about the murder itself. Why were the kids mad at Jaime? Why did they follow her? What happen ed to the other boy who also participated in the murder? This stuff is never explained.

The writer does provide pictures of many of the people in this book including Jayme, who looked like a lovely and kind person. Although I had sympathy for Williard and was very glad he turned his life around..against all odds...the victim should not be forgotten either. I realize the focus of the book is Williard himself and his journey but I'd have still liked more information on the questions I raised above.

Still..the writing was excellent. It is an easy to follow story that can and did stir up emotions. It would make an excellent book club selection as there would almost certainly be differing opinions on this story.

To summarize , this was a well written and engrossing read that I would recommended to people, particularly true crime readers or people who enjoy reading about the Justice system. ( )

Inspiring biography that brings up some good points. ( )