My Time Will Come

In My Time Will Come, Ian Manuel recounts his compelling journey from a troubled childhood in Tampa’s Central Park Village to being sentenced at fourteen to life without parole for a non-homicide crime. After spending eighteen years in solitary confinement, Manuel reflects on the implications of mass incarceration in the U.S. and the often overlooked complexities of adolescent development. His narrative illustrates the profound power of forgiveness, highlighting the advocacy of his victim, Debbie Baigrie, and the transformative impact of his dedication to poetry as a means of redemption.