Nonfiction

That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row

That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-09-15 00:21:43
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jarvis Jay Masters
  • ISBN：0061730483
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Roselyn ，

wow。 such a moving and heart-wrenching story。 Jarvis was a boy that was failed by every single system he came in contact with ever since he was a child。 and even in the darkest moments when he landed on death-row after a wrongful conviction， seemingly the most hopeless place， he still found hope。 i want to talk so much about how inspiring this is， how beautiful this story is， but the truth is it’s gruesome and painful and so awful。 we rarely think about the circumstances in someone’s life when w wow。 such a moving and heart-wrenching story。 Jarvis was a boy that was failed by every single system he came in contact with ever since he was a child。 and even in the darkest moments when he landed on death-row after a wrongful conviction， seemingly the most hopeless place， he still found hope。 i want to talk so much about how inspiring this is， how beautiful this story is， but the truth is it’s gruesome and painful and so awful。 we rarely think about the circumstances in someone’s life when we think about drug addiction or gang violence。 this book made me yearn for more compassion， for more kindness， because it’s really the smallest things the smallest interactions the smallest acts that matter the most for people。 it goes such a long a way。 people need people and we need to be kinder。 i don’t know what else to say， i think this is a book everyone should read 。。。more

India Anker ，

This is such an important read， I believe it gave me further insight into what people of colour deal with within the justice system which is something that I am very passionate about。 The fact that Jarvis is still on death-row to this very day， with absolutely no substantial evidence speaks for itself。

Madonna ，

This book is the most powerful book I have read since "Just Mercy"。 Impossible to put down 。 Heartbreaking。 This book is the most powerful book I have read since "Just Mercy"。 Impossible to put down 。 Heartbreaking。 。。。more

Alecia ，

4。5 stars for an inspiring， eloquent and introspective look at a life， written by an inmate on death row。 Jarvis Jay Masters， an inmate at San Quentin since he was nineteen years old， was moved to death row after being convicted of conspiring to murder a prison guard。 He strongly denies his complicity in that crime， and his appeals go on to this day （this book was published in 2009）。 Many people support him and believe in his innocence。Jarvis takes an unsparing， honest look at his harrowing chil 4。5 stars for an inspiring， eloquent and introspective look at a life， written by an inmate on death row。 Jarvis Jay Masters， an inmate at San Quentin since he was nineteen years old， was moved to death row after being convicted of conspiring to murder a prison guard。 He strongly denies his complicity in that crime， and his appeals go on to this day （this book was published in 2009）。 Many people support him and believe in his innocence。Jarvis takes an unsparing， honest look at his harrowing childhood。 His parents were heroin addicts， and he and his siblings were left for long periods of time without food or care。 He witnessed violence and one particular scene of violence perpetrated by his father to his mother haunts him throughout the book。 When they are finally taken from their mother， they are dispersed into different foster homes。 Although Jarvis is at first placed in a loving home， he is taken out and moved after a few years。 And thus begins his evolution into a violent person， exposed to things and events no child should endure。 And when he makes visits to his family， this environment also harms him。 His constant running away and institutionalization emphasize the huge faults in the system。 In the part of the book when he is in San Quentin， he explores his discovery of Buddhism and how it has helped him。 The challenges presented to him living in the prison system and trying to continue his journey of self-discovery and compassion seem almost insurmountable。 And yet he persists and seemingly prevails to this day。 This is a highly readable book about the possibility of redemption， well-written， and compelling。 。。。more

Cameron ，

This story is beautifully written and offers sad and remarkable insight into what is a very real reality for too many children and citizens in our society。Starting from a very difficult and painful childhood and moving into "the system"， the author and his siblings face challenges and constant upheaval。 These continue until adulthood and Master's move into the institutionalized prison system。 Master's growth as a man and his ability to gain remarkable insight into himself throughout all of this This story is beautifully written and offers sad and remarkable insight into what is a very real reality for too many children and citizens in our society。Starting from a very difficult and painful childhood and moving into "the system"， the author and his siblings face challenges and constant upheaval。 These continue until adulthood and Master's move into the institutionalized prison system。 Master's growth as a man and his ability to gain remarkable insight into himself throughout all of this turmoil is a story of great inspiration and so well worth reading。An excellent book。 Once started， I couldn't put it down。 The fact that this intelligent man remains on death row is a travesty and reflects poorly the flaws in the current system。 。。。more

Nanci ，

This book was recommended by one of my favourite Canadian folk and blues musicians， Rob Lutes。 Rob was so affected by Jarvis’s story he wrote the song “That Bird Has My Wings” and included it on his latest album “Come Around”。 It’s a good song and a great album。I was impressed by the quality of the writing from someone with limited formal education and a lifetime spent in institutions。 It’s an autobiography that reads like a novel。 There is no doubt Jarvis had a very tough childhood。 Removed fro This book was recommended by one of my favourite Canadian folk and blues musicians， Rob Lutes。 Rob was so affected by Jarvis’s story he wrote the song “That Bird Has My Wings” and included it on his latest album “Come Around”。 It’s a good song and a great album。I was impressed by the quality of the writing from someone with limited formal education and a lifetime spent in institutions。 It’s an autobiography that reads like a novel。 There is no doubt Jarvis had a very tough childhood。 Removed from the squalor of his drug-addicted mother’s home， separated from his siblings and sent to a series of foster homes and institutions， he floundered through life， making one bad decision after another。Jarvis is not an innocent man; he lead a life of violent crime。 However， whether or not he is innocent of conspiracy in the murder of a prison guard is impossible to judge from his story。 While he goes into minute detail of many aspects of his life， he barely touches on the killing， for which he is on death row。Jarvis is a gifted story-teller。 Although the jury is still out on whether all his stories are completely true， I admire him for writing this book and embracing Buddhism。 I hope his story brings attention to a badly broken foster care system。 。。。more

Andrea Janov ，

This story was moving， honest， heartbreaking， and self-aware without being self-indulgent or making excuses。 My heart broke for the young man who always tried his best to survive and thrive， with love in his heart， even when he was making poor decisions。 My heart broken for the grown man who is sitting on death row， for a crime he claims he didn't commit， living a more balanced life than many of us on the outside。 This story was moving， honest， heartbreaking， and self-aware without being self-indulgent or making excuses。 My heart broke for the young man who always tried his best to survive and thrive， with love in his heart， even when he was making poor decisions。 My heart broken for the grown man who is sitting on death row， for a crime he claims he didn't commit， living a more balanced life than many of us on the outside。 。。。more

Susan hill ，

InspiringI haven't ever written a book review。 Its one of the best book ever written。 He is so inspiring with his practice。 It's definitely a must read InspiringI haven't ever written a book review。 Its one of the best book ever written。 He is so inspiring with his practice。 It's definitely a must read 。。。more

Amanda ，

Impossible to rate a book like this。。。。how does one judge a book that was written by hand from a death row prison cell about the most intimate details of the author's life？ More than anything， this book shows that failing of the American foster care， child protection， education， and juvenile justice systems。 Jarvis Jay Masters never had a fair chance at life， and I hope he has some years of freedom in his future。 Impossible to rate a book like this。。。。how does one judge a book that was written by hand from a death row prison cell about the most intimate details of the author's life？ More than anything， this book shows that failing of the American foster care， child protection， education， and juvenile justice systems。 Jarvis Jay Masters never had a fair chance at life， and I hope he has some years of freedom in his future。 。。。more

Mandy ，

Beautiful and heartbreaking。 Tragic vignettes in the life of a man whose family， System， and support outlets repeatedly failed him。 But who also shows the reader that we are more than the sum of our mistakes。 Nice accompaniment to works such as HBO doc， "Crazy， Not Insane" about how childhood trauma shapes people and the need for American prison reform。 Great gift for anyone who needs to learn empathy or hardcore supporters of the death penalty。 Beautiful and heartbreaking。 Tragic vignettes in the life of a man whose family， System， and support outlets repeatedly failed him。 But who also shows the reader that we are more than the sum of our mistakes。 Nice accompaniment to works such as HBO doc， "Crazy， Not Insane" about how childhood trauma shapes people and the need for American prison reform。 Great gift for anyone who needs to learn empathy or hardcore supporters of the death penalty。 。。。more

Joan Schmitz ，

Thank you， Mr。 Masters， for sharing your story—a must read for all。 I generally start and finish a book within a few days， however， this one took me a few weeks as I had to put it down and absorb the horrors contained within。 It exposes our seriously flawed foster care and prison systems。 In my opinion， NO ONE is born "bad。" Individuals who commit crimes are often victims—victims of their family， communities， and our judicial system。 Thank you， Mr。 Masters， for sharing your story—a must read for all。 I generally start and finish a book within a few days， however， this one took me a few weeks as I had to put it down and absorb the horrors contained within。 It exposes our seriously flawed foster care and prison systems。 In my opinion， NO ONE is born "bad。" Individuals who commit crimes are often victims—victims of their family， communities， and our judicial system。 。。。more

EDDIE ，

Why do people blame terrible upbringings for their miserable life。 Too many examples of people making good in spite of obstacles。 Jarvis needs to explain his part in the killing of Sgt。 Burchfield。 This part is completely glossed over。 He is a BGF gang member who took an oath to kill cops。 Buddha is a crutch to help him cope with prison。 No one should feel sorry for the killer

Debbie ，

An absolutely wonderful book by a beautiful human being。 Jarvis shares his difficult and traumatic journey with such tenderness and honesty and I could feel my own heart opening wide with compassion and connection。 Thank you for sharing your life with us。 I see the world a little differently now💜

Judy Egnew Ness ，

Underneath one man's story of how he grew to end up on Sand Quentin's death row， are the heartbreaking stories of too many other children。 Taken from addicted parents who could not care for him， and placed in a long series of foster homes and juvenile facilities （some loving， and some abusive） the author learned to survive and cope as many such children do。 If you want to learn more about the circumstances and systems that push so many young Black men into the prison system， this book lets you l Underneath one man's story of how he grew to end up on Sand Quentin's death row， are the heartbreaking stories of too many other children。 Taken from addicted parents who could not care for him， and placed in a long series of foster homes and juvenile facilities （some loving， and some abusive） the author learned to survive and cope as many such children do。 If you want to learn more about the circumstances and systems that push so many young Black men into the prison system， this book lets you look deep into one child's journey。 There is the dark side of the foster care system， loss of predictable， secure attachments， lack of recovery and sobriety resources， and petty crime as the only way to earn money and respect。 Finally， imprisoned， and then further accused of involvement in a guard's death， the author found himself on death row。 Being Black， from a poor family， and with a "criminal" record， no actual evidence was needed and he was convicted based on scant testimony。 But readers are also able to witness his journey beyond his tiny cell， and see his soul-searching， honesty， understanding， and attempts at reconciliation and inner freedom。 。。。more

Kim Zinkowski ，

An interesting glimpse into another， and very different， reality。

Dr ，

Jarvis thank you for all you’ve taught me， shared with me through 2 books I’ve read by you。 The strength you show to face your hurts， demons， violent acts and to turn into the beautiful Buddhist practitioner you are。 I pray that truth will find the light and set you free。 I want those wings you so deserve to let you soar。 Love and peace to you my friend。

Ellie Viggiani ，

One of the best books I've ever read。 A must read for all， especially those interested in the criminal justice system and school to prison pipeline。 One of the best books I've ever read。 A must read for all， especially those interested in the criminal justice system and school to prison pipeline。 。。。more

Jenny W ，

I vowed a long time ago not to spend time with a book that didn’t engage me， and this one， although I really wanted to read it， just didn’t do it for me。

Suanna ，

Very powerful story。 Makes me think about how much some people have to overcome and the strength it takes to leave your family when they are taking you down the wrong path。 I only wish that he spent more time on becoming a Buddhist。

Sherry Van ，

Excellent。 I once read something like。。。。instead of judging others， we should be standing in awe of what they are dealing with or have had to endure。 Sad and even nauseating at times but such a valuable read if you truly want to learn about the effects of poverty and drug addiction。

Ravi Reddy ，

A moving account of the Jarvis’s life right from his childhood to being placed in a maximum security prison on death row。 He says he did not commit the murder of the prison guard。 Incidentally， he is still in prison and there’s a movement to get the death sentence overturned。

Ferris Mx ，

Sad to see how the system let Jarvis down。 Sad that so much hasn't improved in the 50 years since。 Sad to see how the system let Jarvis down。 Sad that so much hasn't improved in the 50 years since。 。。。more

Sigourney ，

This book stirs up alot of emotions that make me think。 From the start， Jarvis had a hard life that was forced upon him at a very young age。 He was thrown to the wolves of life very young with little to no guidance and merely went through life the only way he ever knew how。 His actions in his life put him in some difficult situations， eventually landing him in prison。 He then was accused of stabbing and killing a prison guard， when he had absolutely nothing to do with it。 I really pray that the This book stirs up alot of emotions that make me think。 From the start， Jarvis had a hard life that was forced upon him at a very young age。 He was thrown to the wolves of life very young with little to no guidance and merely went through life the only way he ever knew how。 His actions in his life put him in some difficult situations， eventually landing him in prison。 He then was accused of stabbing and killing a prison guard， when he had absolutely nothing to do with it。 I really pray that the truth is shown and he gets the justice he deserves。 I'll support in any way that I can。 Definitely going to do more research on him and his story because， whew。 。。。more

Marisa Gonzalez ，

Jarvis Jay Masters was 19 years old when he was sentenced to twenty years for armed robberies。 He was then placed on death row due to an alleged involvement with the murder of a corrections officer。 Jarvis maintains his innocence for the murder and continues to appeal the charges。 This book tells about his life in an abusive family and the failures he experienced in the foster care system。 Reading his story makes you think "there but for the grace of God go I。" Every person is born in to differe Jarvis Jay Masters was 19 years old when he was sentenced to twenty years for armed robberies。 He was then placed on death row due to an alleged involvement with the murder of a corrections officer。 Jarvis maintains his innocence for the murder and continues to appeal the charges。 This book tells about his life in an abusive family and the failures he experienced in the foster care system。 Reading his story makes you think "there but for the grace of God go I。" Every person is born in to different circumstances and some people unfortunately had the deck stacked against them from day one and overcoming those obstacles are sometimes impossible。 。。。more

Cassidy Kaye ，

Strongly encourage all to read this book！！！ Genuine and at times heart breaking a true look into the American school to prison pipeline aided by our broken foster care system。 Jarvis is a beautiful writer and speaks about his life on death row with poignant bittersweet reflection。

Katy ，

This memoir is well written， and reads much like a fictional story。 At an early age the author experiences the travesties of the family services system and the youth correctional system， which lands him in San Quentin prison by the age of 19， after a series of thefts， violence and armed robberies。Removed from the care of their drug addicted mother and step father at the age of 4， Jarvis Jay Masters and his three siblings were placed in separate foster care homes。 The first one he was placed in w This memoir is well written， and reads much like a fictional story。 At an early age the author experiences the travesties of the family services system and the youth correctional system， which lands him in San Quentin prison by the age of 19， after a series of thefts， violence and armed robberies。Removed from the care of their drug addicted mother and step father at the age of 4， Jarvis Jay Masters and his three siblings were placed in separate foster care homes。 The first one he was placed in was very loving and caring and taught him a great deal about family values。 There he was encouraged to be kind， thoughtful and provided reason to modify his learned behavior which would otherwise lead him astray。 However， once removed from this elderly couples care， at still a very young age， Jarvis’ attitude and behavior really slid downhill。Both the family services system and the juvenile correctional system encouraged Jarvis in a different direction。 About eighty percent of the book is the back story to the death row period， as it provides his explanation for how he arrived there。It is clear from the story that although Jarvis had opportunity to turn his life around， and for a while he successfully did that， the bullying， mistreatment， and violence he had suffered， and was taught at the hands of the systems， manifested itself in choices he made and the direction his life took。 He admits to having taken the “easier” road of following the violence and bullying rather than turning away when given the choice。 The systems traumatically impacted Jarvis as a young boy and failed him despite his efforts to escape their hold。 His eventual turn around occurs when Jarvis studies， adopts and implements a Buddhist lifestyle early into his prison sentence。 It provided him the tools and will to survive without the violence。 For that he should be commended。 He remains incarcerated on death row for the death of prison guard he did not commit。A well written but tragic life lesson。 。。。more

Patricia L。 ，

What a story！ What a life！ Riveting。 It tells so much of what a child learns。 that man needs wings

Kathleen ，

Crazy story。 Crazy life。 Hard to believe someone can survive a life like this and still have any hope left。

Karen ，

Poignant memoir of a man on death row and his experiences with foster care， family addiction and correctional systems。

Vanessa Isaac ，

Great writing， very touching。 Must read