The Lost Girls of Willowbrook: A Heartbreaking Novel of Survival Based on True History
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Girl, Interrupted meets American Horror Story in 1970s Staten Island, as the New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Collector blends fact, fiction, and the urban legend of Cropsey for a haunting story about a young woman mistakenly imprisoned at Willowbrook State School – the real state-run institution that Geraldo Rivera would later expose for its horrifying abuses.
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Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.
Six years after Rosemary’s death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage’s stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn’t die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.
Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It’s always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined . . .
“A heartbreaking yet insightful read, this novel will open one's eyes to the evil in this world.” —New York Journal of Books
“Unvarnished, painful and startlingly clear.” —Bookreporter.com
Girl, Interrupted meets American Horror Story in 1970s Staten Island, as the New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Collector blends fact, fiction, and the urban legend of Cropsey for a haunting story about a young woman mistakenly imprisoned at Willowbrook State School – the real state-run institution that Geraldo Rivera would later expose for its horrifying abuses.
An Indie Next Pick | Peruse Book Club Pick | A Room of Your Own Book Club Pick | A Publishers Lunch Buzz Books Selection
Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.
Six years after Rosemary’s death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage’s stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn’t die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.
Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It’s always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined . . .
“A heartbreaking yet insightful read, this novel will open one's eyes to the evil in this world.” —New York Journal of Books
“Unvarnished, painful and startlingly clear.” —Bookreporter.com
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Community Reviews
This book opened my eyes a bit and made me very angry with the people who allowed conditions at Willowbrook to be what they were. I had to know how it ended even though it was so upsetting. I recommend NOT reading it before bed, it was hard to fall asleep .
Starts out slow,and it's a little hard to read about all the abuse and neglect,but it has lots of twists and turns and you will be surprised in the end.
What a disappointment! I have read a few other books by Wiseman and I liked them, so I was definitely expecting better. The 1st half was ok, but then it just got ridiculous. Read like a bad YA novel. Willowbrook State School was a real institution in Staten Island from 1947-1987. By 1965, it was the biggest state-run institution for people with mental disabilities in the United States. Sadly, it's questionable medical practices, experiments and deplorable conditions made national infamy when Geraldo Rivera did an expose on the facility.
This story had so much potential, but it just became too unbelievable. When Sage learns that her identical twin sister is alive (she believed her to be dead from pneumonia six years ago) and missing from Willowbrook state school, she immediately goes there to help in the search. However, there isn't a search; in fact, she hasn't even been reported missing to the authorities.
This story had so much potential, but it just became too unbelievable. When Sage learns that her identical twin sister is alive (she believed her to be dead from pneumonia six years ago) and missing from Willowbrook state school, she immediately goes there to help in the search. However, there isn't a search; in fact, she hasn't even been reported missing to the authorities.
What could have been a new look at the "locked in a mental asylum" theme, turned out to be rather predictable. The writer used a lot of cliches and repeated the same phrase to the point where I wondered if I was on the wrong page because it seemed that I had just read the same thing. I had the characters figured out well before they were revealed. In any case, the audiobook was well cast, and it kept me listening until the end.
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