Working as an activist nun, Sister Helen Prejean's campaign to educate Americans about the inhumanity of the death penalty is known to millions worldwide, on the strength of the book and film Dead Man Walking. Here she provides background an account of her formative years, joining the Sisters of St. Joseph at the age of 18, and only much later having an awakening that her life's work was to immerse herself in the struggle of poor people forced to live on the margins of society. Prejean writes about the relationships with friends, fellow nuns, and mentors who have shaped her over the years, including her close friendship with a priest, intent on marrying her, that challenged her vocation in the "new territory of the heart."

"Prejean chronicles the compelling, sometimes-difficult journey to the heart of her soul and faith with wit, honesty, and intelligence. A refreshingly intimate memoir of a life in faith."—Kirkus Reviews