Know My Name: A Memoir

Chanel Miller's memoir recounts her experience as the survivor known publicly as Emily Doe. After being sexually assaulted on Stanford's campus by Brock Turner, who received a six-month jail sentence, Miller wrote a victim impact statement that was posted on BuzzFeed. The letter went viral, reaching eleven million views within four days, was translated globally, read on the floor of Congress, and inspired changes in California law and the recall of the judge. Now Miller reclaims her identity to tell her full story of trauma, transcendence, and recovery. Despite the case having eyewitnesses, physical evidence, and Turner's flight from the scene, Miller's account reveals the isolation and shame victims experience even in seemingly straightforward situations. She examines how the criminal justice system and broader culture protect perpetrators while failing vulnerable people. The memoir explores healing through suffering while combining pain, resilience, and humor. Miller's writing has already influenced public discourse on sexual assault, and this account challenges prevailing beliefs about what is acceptable in cases of assault.