Ep69: Beka Wueste’s “Human of the Year,” is a gripping tale about a man released from a Maryland prison after nearly 20 years. Join us to learn more about this story of family dynamics, emotional survival, and second chances

Meet the Author: Kirkus Star winner Beka Wueste is an author whose debut novel, “The Unsent Letters of Lucy Prior,” earned praise as a “deeply introspective and emotionally resonant novel” (Kirkus Reviews) and whose second novel, “Fireflies in a Jar,” was lauded as, “original, deftly crafted, emotionally engaging” (Midwest Book Review). Her short story collection, “My Side of the Word and Other Tales of Death,” was described as ” lyrical and thoughtful… a moving, imaginative, and unforgettable exploration” (Readers Favorite Book Reviews).

The collection was named as a finalist for the 2025 Short Story Collections/Anthologies category of the Reader Views Reviewers Choice Awards. Beka is also an award-winning visual artist who exhibits her work frequently in regional and national shows.

Born in Texas and raised in Virginia, Beka earned a B.A. in art history from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, and an M.A. in art history from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.

An enthusiastic traveler, avid reader, nature lover, lifelong cinephile, and collector of music on vinyl, Beka lives with her husband and their rescue Shiba Inu in Northern Virginia. Learn more: www.bekawueste.com

“Human of the Year,” by Beka Wueste

About Beka’s newest book: Human of the Year

Released from a Maryland prison after nearly twenty years served for a crime he committed during high school, Matt is reunited with his younger sister, Jenny. Matt has to prove to his parole officer, his family, and himself, that he can survive as a free man for the first time in his adult life, while facing the challenges of re-entry into a world that drastically changed during his incarceration.

Knowing that reaching the first year without retuning to prison is critical to Matt’s long-term odds of staying out permanently, Jenny brings him to live with her husband Hector and young daughter Julia, neither of whom Matt has ever met.

Despite Jenny’s best efforts, she struggles to integrate her brother into the life she’s built, and to protect him from people who think he belongs back in prison—including their parents.

Realizing that they have grown up into strangers, the siblings seek support from their community of family, friends, and colleagues.

Kirkus Reviews

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