Juror Number 2

The Story of a Murder, the Agony of a Neighborhood

by Efrem Sigel

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org

*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

Pub Date Nov 16 2020 | Archive Date Nov 25 2020

The Writers' Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

Biographies & Memoirs | Politics | True Crime

Talking about this book? Use #JurorNumber2 #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!

Description

This riveting memoir recounts the author’s experience on a jury in a murder trial and his subsequent investigation of the conditions in East Harlem that led young people to be involved in drug-selling and criminal activity. Besides the trial itself, the book is the story of the failures in NYCHA housing projects, the schools and the criminal justice system, and the efforts of a handful of educators, nonprofit leaders and criminal justice reformers to find pathways to success for these young people.

In the author's words, "As a juror in a criminal trial, your vote is one of 12 determining whether the accused goes free or is punished. When the charge is murder, you never forget that a decision to convict can take away his liberty for the rest of his life. I had thought that our jury’s vote at the conclusion of the trial would be the end of the story. But I was mistaken. For me the jury verdict was only the beginning."

This riveting memoir recounts the author’s experience on a jury in a murder trial and his subsequent investigation of the conditions in East Harlem that led young people to be involved in...

A Note From the Publisher

ISBN 9781732425521 (hardcover)

ISBN 9781732425514 (ebook)

ISBN 9781732425521 (hardcover)

ISBN 9781732425514 (ebook)

Advance Praise

“Sigel writes with compassion. If this were a real-life Twelve Angry Men, he’d be cast in the Henry Fonda role. The trial takes up the first half of the compact, engrossing work. The second half of the timely book is devoted to Sigel’s ‘search for why.’ He skillfully puts a human face on the denizens of run-down housing projects, overwhelmed schools, and the police. There is hope in the vivid success stories of nonprofit organizations trying to break the cycle of recidivism. An absorbing account that will especially speak to advocates of social and criminal justice reform.”
—Kirkus Reviews, July 2020

"Engrossing and engaging and so well written. It’s such a gift that you show the humanity of the men who were caught up in the trial."
—Wendy Kopp, Founder, Teach for America

"Truly compelling, impossible to put down. A powerful, powerful piece of writing."
—Max Byrd, acclaimed historical novelist

"This riveting story is far more than a courtroom drama; it challenges all of us to ask hard questions about our individual and institutional roles in influencing changes that can save and improve lives."
—Joseph Johnson, University Provost, San Diego State University and founder, National Center for Urban School Transformation

“Compelling and insightful, Juror Number 2 mesmerizes as it explores the intimate relationship between education and violent crime in New York’s housing projects. Not to be missed.”
—John Lescroart, bestselling author of 30 legal and crime thrillers including The 13th Juror

"From his unique vantage point as a juror in a murder trial, Sigel brings us face to face with the lives of young men in East Harlem─their fractured families, lack of economic security and access to quality education─who turn to gangs and crime. Yet his visits to housing projects, the NYPD, the schools, and social agencies show that success, if rare, is possible. Juror Number 2 is a clarion call to action."
—Patty Machir, executive director, Futures and Options

Marketing Plan

Author appearances via Zoom and in-person. Q&A with book club readers of Juror Number 2. OpEds and blogs online and in newspapers on topics related to the book. Active social media campaign including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter. Targeted media advertising. Distribution via Ingram and Amazon.