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Title details for Seventy Times Seven by Alex Mar - Available

Seventy Times Seven

A True Story of Murder and Mercy

by Alex Mar
Alex Mar
Audiobook
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“Alex Mar’s bold yet sensitive account of one of America’s youngest death row inmates—and the people whose lives she forever changed—is intimately reported, deeply moving, and unforgettable.” —Robert Kolker, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road
“An absorbing work of social history and a story about the mystery and miracle of forgiveness. This is a book of awesome scope, and it deserves to be read with attention.” —Hilary Mantel, Booker Prize–winning author of the Wolf Hall trilogy
A masterful, revelatory work of literary non-fiction about a teenage girl’s shocking crime—and its extraordinary aftermath
On a spring afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, a fifteen-year-old girl kills an elderly woman in a violent home invasion. In a city with a history of racial tensions and white flight, the girl, Paula Cooper, is Black, and her victim, Ruth Pelke, is white and a beloved Bible teacher. The press swoops in.
When Paula is sentenced to death, no one decries the impending execution of a tenth grader. But the tide begins to shift when the victim’s grandson Bill forgives the girl, against the wishes of his family, and campaigns to spare her life. This tragedy in a midwestern steel town soon reverberates across the United States and around the world—reaching as far away as the Vatican—as newspapers cover the story on their front pages and millions sign petitions in support of Paula.
As Paula waits on death row, her fate sparks a debate that not only animates legal circles but raises vital questions about the value of human life: What are we demanding when we call for justice? Is forgiveness an act of desperation or of profound bravery? As Bill and Paula’s friendship deepens, and as Bill discovers others who have chosen to forgive after terrible violence, their story asks us to consider what radical acts of empathy we might be capable of.
In Seventy Times Seven, Alex Mar weaves an unforgettable narrative of an act of violence and its aftermath. This is a story about the will to live—to survive, to grow, to change—and about what we are willing to accept as justice. Tirelessly researched and told with intimacy and precision, this book brings a haunting chapter in the history of our criminal justice system to astonishing life.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 28, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593671276
      • File size: 376391 KB
      • Duration: 13:04:08

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from January 2, 2023
      Journalist Mar (Witches of America) delivers an engrossing study of faith, forgiveness, and justice centered on the 1985 murder of a great-grandmother in Gary, Ind. Fifteen-year-old Paula Cooper, one of four teenage girls who invaded the home of Bible teacher Ruth Pelke and stole her car, was sentenced to death for the crime. Mar details the physical abuse Cooper endured from her father, her mother’s attempt to kill herself and her two daughters, and Cooper’s experiences being “passed from stranger to stranger” in foster homes and emergency shelters in the three years leading up to the murder. Juxtaposed with Cooper’s volatile childhood are snapshots of Pelke, who had taught one of the teenage girls and driven her to church. Other profile subjects include Jack Crawford, the prosecutor who chose to pursue the death penalty against Cooper, who confessed to stabbing Pelke more than 30 times; Bill Pelke, Ruth’s grandson, who publicly forgave Cooper for the crime; and Earline Rogers, a state legislator who spearheaded efforts to exempt juveniles younger than 16 from the death penalty in Indiana. Though Cooper’s sentence was commuted and she was released from prison in 2013, she died in an apparent suicide less than two years later. Deeply reported and vividly written, this is a harrowing and thought-provoking portrait of crime and punishment. Photos. Agent: Sarah Burnes, Gernert Co.

    • Library Journal

      June 10, 2024

      Journalist Mar (Witches of America) offers a compelling exploration of the transformative power of forgiveness, delving into the tragic events surrounding the 1985 murder of 78-year-old Ruth Pelke. One spring afternoon, four teenage girls talked their way into Pelke's home with the plan to steal from her, but they end up stabbing her to death. Fifteen-year-old Paula Cooper, who was believed to be the ringleader, was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. However, the story took a turn when Pelke's grandson Bill, a former death-penalty proponent, publicly forgave Cooper for her heinous act. This act of forgiveness sets a series of events in motion, challenging existing laws and preventing juveniles under the age of 16 from receiving the death penalty. Mar skillfully narrates this emotionally charged and multifaceted story, prompting a critical assessment of the criminal justice system's role in administering punishment. Mar's nuanced narration offers insights into the intricate details of the case and sheds light on the flaws within the judicial system. Her vivid portrait of the individuals involved evokes empathy and compassion. VERDICT A compelling and moving book with excellent narration that captivates from beginning to end. For readers of Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy.--Jigisha Patel

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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