Witchcraft for Wayward Girls
"Superb ... a perfect horror for our imperfect age.” – The New York Times
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
They were never girls, they were witches . . . .
They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, to give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, frightened, and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.
Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by the adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid . . . and it’s usually paid in blood.
In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, the author of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Final Girl Support Group delivers another searing, completely original novel and further cements his status as a “horror master” (NPR).
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER
They were never girls, they were witches . . . .
They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, to give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, frightened, and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.
Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by the adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid . . . and it’s usually paid in blood.
In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, the author of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Final Girl Support Group delivers another searing, completely original novel and further cements his status as a “horror master” (NPR).
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Witchcraft for Wayward Girls* is a dark, emotionally raw portrayal of unwed pregnant teens in 1970s America, blending supernatural horror...
This novel broke my heart in different shapes and sizes.
Witcraft For Wayward Girls takes place in the early 70s, just a few months before Roe v. Wade.
It's easy to bond with the young mothers juggling to grow up and having to face their newborn babies being ripped out of their arms. If I wasn't familiar with the author then I would be convinced that the story was written and told by a mother.
What a way to honor anyone close to your heart, who was forced into one of these homes for unwed young pregnant girls.
I've heard rumors about these girls and words I was taught to use for them.
I've changed my mind and heart and next time society asks me to join them in being judgmental, I'll remember what Grady Hendrix has shared and I'll know to be more empathetic.
A dark historical book about strength from within.
The social commentary runs deep in this book. When you decide to send your daughter to a home instead of giving her the support only a family can provide, you're putting things in motion that will never be able to be stopped. But who has the power? Can any single person change the course that has been laid out for them?
Fern, Rose, Holly and Zinna give it their best shot to change fate, power and more as they all experience teen pregnancy together. The sad true of this book, is that many of the happenings still happen today. Holly's story is still a truth that we read in the news far too often.
There are twists that are unexpected, and outcomes I didn't expect but overall an interesting read. I personally felt the ending was a bit lackluster, the time jump was needed but also a bit of a drag as all of the excitement of the story happens within a few specific chapters.
It's a hard read, there's a lot of sad, depressing stories from each of the girls in the home. The ending didn't bring comfort or tears of joy, just more sadness for all that was lost for the girls all because of the judging eyes of society. Like what a crap sandwich.
All the characters are well written, and you can really see the state of the world through their eyes. Feels very Girl, Interrupted. Felt like I was right there with them in the 70s. Depressed and oppressed.
You'll enjoy this book if you love historical points in time to mix with witchcraft, or paranormal.
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