Redemption
A Story of Sisterhood, Survival, and Finding Freedom Behind Bars
By Stacey Lannert and Kristen Kemp
ABOUT THE BOOK
This is Stacey Lannert’s story. Her journey, at once
sad and beautiful, is one of innocence lost and
freedom found. The cards might have been stacked
against her, but she did not lose hope. From a
background of bleakness, she created a lifetime of
meaning.
Until age 8, Stacey was a happy little girl with lov-
ing parents and a younger sister named Christy.
Her mother stayed at home to focus on raising her
family. Her father had a good job that paid for nice
houses. Stacey’s world revolved around him. Tom
Lannert doted on her, and she basked in his atten-
tion. Everyday, Stacey watched the door hoping her
daddy would soon walk through it.
The family dynamic changed slowly and subtly.
They lived in several Midwestern towns as her
father switched jobs. At the time, she didn’t under-
stand anything about alcohol. She knew her mother
yelled at her father a lot. She knew that sometimes
his breath smelled strong, and he acted happier
than usual. Life wasn’t complicated in Stacey’s
young mind. To her, Daddy could never be wrong.
She only knew that he was her hero.
So when he asked her to play a special game with
him, she obliged. At the time, she didn’t understand
that fondling and inappropriate touching were not
normal. At age nine, the game changed, and he
began raping Stacey. Suddenly, he wasn’t the daddy
Stacey knew and loved. He was a man who terror-
ized and hurt her. This went on for nearly 10 years
when, at age 18, Stacey couldn’t take it anymore.
The few people who knew—possibly her mother,
too—failed to offer assistance. In an effort to
protect her younger sister from her father, she took
matters into her own hands, shooting and killing
him.
She was convicted of murder in the first degree and
sentenced to life in prison without the possibility
of parole. She didn’t realize it then, but her story
was just beginning as she walked inside the prison
gates. Once incarcerated, Stacey discovered how to
be free. Redemption is a truly heartbreaking and in-
spiring memoir about a family that is torn apart by
brutality and violence. It’s the story of putting lives
back together and living them to their fullest.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Ever since the crime was committed, Stacey’s
story has played out in the media. If you were
familiar with the story, what preconceived notions
did you have before reading the book? If you hadn’t
heard of Stacey Lannert before picking up Redemp-
tion, how did you become interested in her
memoir?
2. Stacey’s childhood seems to get off to a good
start. She lives in nice houses and loves her parents
and sister. But there were signs of problems early
on. Tom’s drinking seems to play a part in the fam-
ily’s demise. How much can alcohol be blamed for
the marriage troubles that spiral into family feuds
and sexual abuse?
3. What were your thoughts when you first read
about Deborah’s childhood of sexual abuse? Should
this have made her more aware of what was hap-
pening to her daughter? Or did her past cause her
to normalize abnormal behaviors?
4. Stacey often chooses to live with her father
despite what he does to her. How did you reconcile
that a child could separate an abusive parent into
the good father versus the bad father?
Redemption
Ever By My Side
READING GROUP GUIDE
By Stacey Lannert and Kristin Kemp

5. Christy becomes a troubled teenager. What do
you think were the causes of her behavior? What
made Stacey the more straight-laced high school
student?
6. A psychologist, babysitter and school counselor
knew about the abuse. Why wasn’t more done to
help her? What would you do if a child told you
the same information in confidence? Who would
you call?
rienced the unconditional love of an animal?
13. The book has two distinct parts: Stacey’s life
before the crime and her life in prison. How
would you describe the shift in the book’s tone?
14. Stacey’s relationships change when she is re-
leased. What do you think about Stacey trying to
work things out with her mother? Would you be
able to do the same thing?

7. What if a friend told you she was once abused?
How would you react? Where would you find the
tools and resources to be of help?
8. Do you believe that Stacey’s mother knew?
Why or why not? What do you believe a mother
in the same situation should do?
9. After the crime was committed, on July 4,
1990, Stacey is charged with murder in the first
degree. What was your reaction to the prosecut-
ing attorney’s decisions? Christy is charged with
conspiracy to commit. How do you feel about her
role in the crime?
15. The most extraordinary thing about Redemp-
tion is that Stacey not only survives, but she
makes positive changes in herself and in the world
around her. When you finished reading this book,
did your feelings about sexual abuse change in any
way? How?
16. How do you think child sexual abuse is
viewed in this country? What would you do to try
to change things for the better if you could?

10. Stacey says she felt safe for the first time in
her life after she arrived at Old Renz Correctional
Center (pg. 220). How is being sent to prison a
reprieve for Stacey?

11. She goes through ups and downs during her

time in prison. What were the most memorable
and meaningful moments of Stacey’s incarcera-
tion?

12. Stacey becomes very involved with training

service dogs. How are the animals symbolic of the
changes Stacey goes through? Have you ever expe-

Reading group guide for Redemption by Stacey Lannert. Copyright ©2011 by Crown Publishing Group. Distributed by permis-
sion of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this reading group guide
may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.