A Story of Survival Against the Odds

In "When I Was 14, I Went to Prison," Neferteri Raynor pulls back the curtain on the harsh reality faced by Black youth in Philadelphia. This isn't just a story about a bad decision; it is a forensic examination of the environment that forces children to grow up too soon.

Navigating a traumatic home life while attending a high school that felt more like a holding cell than a place of learning, Neferteri found herself trapped in the infamous school-to-prison pipeline.

This memoir explores the systemic failures that criminalize trauma instead of treating it. It is a testament to resilience, offering a raw look at what it takes to survive the system and return to your community not just to live, but to lead.