I truly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, loved the authors insight. The struggle of the mental health and the longing to belong. The combination of love, despair and hope.

The 33 stories we read in “Lucky Tomorrow’ (totaling 144 pages) are about every day people who typically go unnoticed. Their strength, hardiness and pure mental stamina moved me. The short stories are sometimes shocking, devastating, often sadly disappointing and disturbing, and a few times down-right inhuman! ….
Yet….with an author whose life work has been to help improve the lives for those in need ….Deborah Jiang-Stein’s ‘work-for-change’ is a powerful positive voice.

Deborah Jiang-Stein, (new to me), dedication and life work inspires the hell out of me.
For more than 10 years, Deborah has championed support for people in need of freedom, education, shelter, and career development.
I knew I wanted to learn more about Deborah Jiang-Stein instantly after reading the blurb for “Lucky Tomorrow”.
[side note]—
….In recent years, my youngest daughter has become a serious active advocate for everything Deborah Jiang-Stein does, too. As the mother of a serious ‘up-and-coming’ hardworking dedicated advocate daughter ….I continue to want to learn all I can to be of support myself (limitations at my age with medical issues), but I still care and wish to help - at least offer support to our advocate leaders on the front lines.
I knew I couldn’t thank Deborah Jiang-Stein enough even before reading.
And then ….’WOW’….
….these stories—these people—these women—(with a history of abuse, or drugs, or other traumas), their hardships, (medical, mental, psychological, etc.), vulnerabilities, challenges of all kinds ….’real people’ ….(many mother’s), in need of so much…. from rehabilitation, financial, educational support, housing, addictions, disabilities, childcare support—as well as major issues facing prisoners today: racism, assaults, privatization, etc….
IT’S AN UPHILL BATTLE fighting for support - even for basic hygiene supplies. The re-entry programs for women isn’t exactly an easy-peasy ‘one-size-fit-all’ transition either.

Well….
….the stories we read — are emotional. I FELT THEM!
So many of the women we read about our scared, lonely, and deeply hurt. They have suffered serious medical conditions.
And how humiliating it is too be told when to brush one’s teeth, when to take a shower, how long the shower can be…etc.

Jiang-Stein tells us that the stories in this collection are anchored and grounded in four distinct places, equally supporting the characters:
The Midwest, where she currently is living. Seattle, her hometown where she grew up. Tokyo, where she lived for three years. And the South, where she was born, and continue to travel and speak in prisons.
Over the past 10 years, Jang-Stein has been face-to-face with more than 40,000 women, men, and youth who were unseen from the public. The work kept her in close contact with people who were discarded.

Now….a couple of teaser excerpts (but for the full experience- I highly recommend taking a day or two read about some unforgettable remarkable women! These stories shift our universe!

“There’s a moment of truth, the answer you want to give, the story you need to tell, but can’t. You started out in a nuthouse when your mother was locked up there, popped out behind, in a locked steel door in an isolation unit, your mother in shackles and handcuffs because her meds weren’t working, guards along with the doctor and nurses at her side”.

“You wish they let babies grow up with their mamas no matter what. Maybe then yours wouldn’t be on death row now. Maybe if she had been able to keep you, she wouldn’t have gone so wack and sliced up that guard to pieces”.

“That’s what flowers do too. Soothe the edge. Even before I started Felma’s Cart. Thing is is, when someone like me gets a bee in her bonnet to do something, we do it no matter what. There’s no stopping me once I know what I want. And if you’re in my way, look out. I don’t mean I’ll hurt anyone, not that kind of look out, even if the shrinks at the hospital, think I will. I mean, look out World because here I come. Before you know it, I bet a large-scale nursery hires me. I’ll start at the bottom and work out. I love watering flowers, how you can be quiet and relax and think, so I hope that entry-level at the big nursery”.

“All I ever had of my mother now rested in a pile of white ashes. I bent over, then knelt and dug my fingers into the remains of my mother’s napkins sketches. My hands coated with caked ashes as my tears dripped into the white dust”.

“How does it feel to be a person whom others don’t see?”
As Deborah Jiang-Stein says:
“I believe in you. Keep the hope, keep your spirits up”

5 stars!!!!
Thank you Deborah Jiang-Stein. You are AMAZING!!!

Much appreciation to The University of Minnesota Press!!
I asked to read an early copy of these stories. Thank you deeply. It was a great gift. I hope to a little better person in the world from the inspiration these stories feed me.

I highly recommend readers - women - men - people who care about others —
Take one afternoon - maybe two - to read these stories.
They’re not only substantial and significant…but they shift us … in the best of ways!

Thanksgiving blessing to all!