Quarter Finalist

Assessment:

Idea/Concept: Neckel’s story of her decision to become a police officer late in her professional life is deeply compelling and richly entertaining. Reading at times like a novel, Neckel narrates with both authority and knowledge of law enforcement, while also conveying her vulnerability and relatable uncertainties regarding her bold life choices.

Prose: Neckel’s prose is both personable and lively. Dramatization of circumstances result in the work swaying into creative nonfiction territory, but the veracity of Neckel’s life experience are never in question.

Originality: This work is memorable and unconventional, primarily due to the author’s unique life story. The combination of dramatic in-scene storytelling and more quiet exposition, allow the memoir to stand out.

Execution: Between conveying the circumstances of her journey to becoming a cop and her clear descriptions of the profession itself, Neckel also offers a motivational narrative about pursuing possibilities despite the odds.

Date Submitted: October 02, 2019