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A Novel
by Susan Wiggs
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs, a wrenching but life-affirming novel based on a true story of survival, friendship, and redemption. Set in the turbulent Vietnam era in the All-American city of Buffalo, New York, six girls are condemned to forced labor in the laundry of a Catholic reform school.
In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns—locked awaymerely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.
Mairin— free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.
Angela—denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.
Helen—the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her "temporary" stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.
Odessa—caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.
Denise—sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.
Janice—deeply insecure, she couldn't decide where her loyalty lay—except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.
Sister Bernadette—rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.
Wayward Girls is a haunting but thrilling tale of hope, solidarity, and the enduring strength of young women who find the courage to break free and find redemption...and justice.
What was your last 5-star read, and what made you choose it?
My last five-star read was WAYWARD GIRLS by Susan Wiggs. I chose it because I like her books, and I was offered a copy to read. :slight_smile:
-Elizabeth
What are you reading this week? (6/5/2025)
I just finished Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs. Great historical fiction and wonderful characters. Quick view: Be prepared to find the truth about these schools known as the Magdalene Laundries wh...
-Elizabeth
What are you reading this week? (3/6/2025)
Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs
-Cindy_H
"This powerful and unforgettable novel is a poignant and enlightening look into a sad chapter of recent history. Read-alikes include Colson Whitehead's The Nickel Boys and William Kent Krueger's This Tender Land. —Library Journal (starred review)
"Wayward Girls is all about the power of female bonds. Yet reading it, I was reminded that it hasn't been all that long since women had no rights to contraception, sex education, or reproductive rights…and how we seem to be reverting back to a world like that. This isn't just a moment in time—it's a cautionary tale." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
"After decades of best-sellers, Wayward Girls might be Susan Wiggs opus. A gut-wrenching story of survival, friendship, and justice. Masterful." —Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
"A stirring read that examines the primal struggle of the spirit to not just survive evil but candidly confront it, buoyed by imperishable courage and hope. Wiggs thoughtfully explores the dynamics of her protagonists' relationships, deftly defining their successes and failures, their wins and betrayals..." —Shana Abe, bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor
This information about Wayward Girls was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Susan Wiggs is the author of more than fifty novels, including the beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages. She lives with her husband on an island in Washington State's Puget Sound.
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