What Is the Top-Rated Selection from Natalie Portman’s Book Club?

Brittany K. Barnett’s memoir, “A Knock at Midnight,” has amassed a 4.59 average rating pulled from nearly 6,000 Goodreads users since the memoir’s 2020 release. One reviewer called her “an amazing young woman,” whilst another described the book as “absolutely remarkable in every way,” adding, “this should be required for everyone.”

Raised by a mother who struggled with addiction and served time in prison, Barnett approached the law with an understanding with more than a theoretical understanding of the stakes. She was still studying when she came across the case of Sharanda Jones, a Black woman sentenced to life without parole for a nonviolent drug offence — her first. Barnett, herself the daughter of a formerly incarcerated parent, recognized something uncomfortably close to home. But the more she uncovered, the more disproportionate the punishment revealed itself to be.

As the mechanics of that system came clearer into focus, so, too, did Barnett’s purposes. She supplemented her lucrative corporate path to fight for those serving extreme and procedurally flawed sentences. “A Knock at Midnight” follows that relentless pursuit of justice.

Natalie Portman hosted a livestream conversation with Barnett that resonated deeply with Instagram followers, many of whom praised the thoughtful exchange on reform. During the discussion, Portman highlighted Barnett’s work, “transforming the criminal justice system and reimagining freedom.” The book remains one of the most impactful selections in Portman’s club to date, with ongoing relevance in legal reform efforts across the United States.