Genre
Memoir; legal procedural.
Setting and Context
Alabama
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator of the memoir is Bryan Stevenson. All events are told from his point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone is matter-of-fact; the mood is one of intrigue and hope.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Bryan Stevenson is the protagonist; the antagonist is the United States criminal justice system.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is how Stevenson and the EJI will exonerate Walter McMillian and other vulnerable prisoners when the criminal justice system is stacked against them.
Climax
The story reaches its climax when Walter McMillian's case is successfully overturned and he is freed.
