An Inmate's Daughter

by Jan Walker

Jenna McDonald, the new girl in her Tacoma, Washington middle school, jumps into the cold waters of Puget Sound to rescue a little girl. Though she is a hero to her grandparents and little brother, Jenna’s mother is furious at her for drawing attention to the island prison where her dad lives.

Personalities emerge through Jenna’s eyes as she writes her journal. Because of her American Indian heritage from her father, she hopes to become part of the school’s multi-racial "in group." She finds it hard when she must evade questions about her father. She doesn’t dare break her mother’s "don’t Tell" rule.

Jenna’s father spends his time in prison studying to be a better parent. He says, "children of inmates are doing time, too." Jenna deals with responsibilities and situations that daunt many adults, demonstrating her generation’s ability to make the world a better place.

Jan Walker taught parenting and family relationships to adult felons for eighteen years. She used her background and success with incarcerated dads to create this "true fiction" novel. Over 2 million American children have a parent in prison or jail. The children are doing time too.