Innocent: Confessions of a Welfare Mother by B. Morrison is the first book to examine welfare stereotypes from the inside and give a true story of the forces arrayed against a woman in poverty. Innocent tells why the author went on welfare, what she learned there, and how she got out.

Morrison uses her experiences as a welfare recipient to illuminate a system that demonizes poor people and to explore what actually works to help families escape from poverty. Innocent offers a powerful personal narrative on important social issues. Part coming-of-age story and part immersion in a foreign culture, this book puts a human face on poverty.

While there are many books about welfare and women in poverty, Innocent is exceptional in that it is written from the point of view of a real welfare mother. By telling her story and the stories of other women Morrison knew, Innocent illustrates the issues facing poor women and single mothers in particular. Anyone who cares about social justice and women's issues should find it of interest.

The reading will be followed by an open discussion of issues related to poverty and single parenting.