-Hena Ali Bernard

“The Parallel Sentence” is a candid story about parental incarceration. Each chapter brings you along on the journey of Hena Ali-Bernard as she shares the vulnerable and raw moments that lead to her being the child of an incarcerated parent.

Although, a portion of her experience is viewed through the lens of those that lived through it as adults, the imposed impression that was a stamp on her surpassed the stories. Hena takes the reader to the where it all started and brings them to present day, highlighting how one decision changed everything she had known. She does a brilliant job showcasing that it was not just the choice that ultimately created the unraveling of her family, but a broken judicial system. It is fitting to state that to date it is still broken and causes repetitive stories resembling that of Hena and of so many in this country. In “The Parallel Sentence” she gives us an intimate look into her father’s case and how it consumed her family for years, and the effects on her mother, uncle, and her as they were doing time on the outside while her father was doing time on the inside. Her honest and tender recollection keeps the reader engaged and vested in reaching the fate of her family.

The story is one of hope, desperation, uncertainty, and release. One that builds a bridge from what it means to be dealt a hand, and the gift of determining you aren’t bound to the hand you were dealt. Hena chose to build a life that ushers in the truth, healing and purpose that defies what society says her future should look like. She not only creates a rally cry for those currently in the fight, but she is a shining example of redefining what can be achieved in spite of the fight.