These Heathens - by Mia McKenzie (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Where do you get an abortion in 1960 Georgia, especially if the town midwife goes to the same church as your parents? For seventeen-year-old Doris Steele, the answer is Atlanta, where her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, calls upon her brash, wealthy childhood best friend, Sylvia, for help. While waiting to hear from the doctor who has agreed to do the procedure, Doris spends the weekend scandalized by, but drawn to, the people who move in and out of Sylvia's orbit: celebrities whom Doris has seen in the pages of Jet and Ebony, political leaders like Coretta Scott King and Diane Nash, women who dance close together, atheists! And even more shocking? Mrs. Lucas seems right at home. The young people Doris encounters are no less surprising. When he's not flirting too hard or talking too much, Sylvia's nephew, Dexter, brings Doris into the heart of Atlanta's civil rights movement, where some activists practice nonviolence to prepare for sit-ins, while others carry guns to protect Black families from the Klan. From the guests at a queer kickback to the student activists at a SNCC conference, Doris suddenly finds herself surrounded by so many people who seem to know exactly who or what they want. Doris knows she doesn't want a baby, but what does she want? Will this trip help her find out?"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

From the "razor-sharp and outrageously funny" (Taylor Jenkins Reid) mind of Mia McKenzie comes a vibrant novel exploring how one weekend can change your whole life.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for the sins I've committed. And for the one I'm still planning to commit tomorrow. Amen.

Where do you get an abortion in 1960 Georgia, especially if your small town's midwife goes to the same church as your parents? For seventeen-year-old Doris Steele, the answer is Atlanta, where her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, calls upon her brash, wealthy childhood best friend, Sylvia, for help. While waiting to hear from the doctor who has agreed to do the procedure, Doris spends the weekend scandalized by, but drawn to, the people who move in and out of Sylvia's orbit: celebrities whom Doris has seen in the pages of Jet and Ebony, civil rights leaders such as Coretta Scott King and Diane Nash, women who dance close together, boys who flirt too hard and talk too much, atheists! And even more shocking? Mrs. Lucas seems right at home.

From the guests at a queer kickback to the student activists at a SNCC conference, Doris suddenly finds herself surrounded by so many people who seem to know exactly who or what they want. Doris knows she doesn't want a baby, but what does she want? Will this trip help her find out?

These Heathens is a funny, poignant story about Black women's obligations and ambitions, what we owe to ourselves, and the transformative power of leaving your bubble, even for just one chaotic weekend.

Review Quotes

"This touching coming-of-age story tackles themes like identity, growth, and power with razor-sharp wit and humor."--Harper's Bazaar

"Deliciously Black and queer . . . You will absolutely want to read this."--Roxane Gay

"This touching coming-of-age story tackles themes like identity, growth and power with razor-sharp wit and humor."--Good Housekeeping

"Propulsive [and] smart."--Forbes

"[A] heartfelt romp."--Electric Lit

"A captivating historical novel full of humor and depth."--Ms.

"McKenzie's humorous historical novel reflects on what becomes possible when women can choose for themselves."--The Washington Post

"Cheering Doris on through her life-changing weekend was one of my favorite reading experiences this year. I ate up the voice, the style, the story."--Modern Mrs. Darcy

"Bursting with heart and humor, These Heathens reflects powerfully on choice and chance, while also being endlessly entertaining."--Allison Larkin, author of The People We Keep and Home of the American Circus

"A one-of-a-kind, urgently needed novel about choosing the life you want to lead . . . Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and Atlanta's queer Black community, Mia McKenzie vividly depicts how Black women create circles of trust, freedom, and autonomy with one another."--Leila Mottley, author of Nightcrawling and The Girls Who Grew Big

"Page-turning, timely, and relentlessly entertaining, These Heathens reminds us that life is not only about what happens to you, it's also about what you choose and the people who help you along the way."--Jayne Allen, author of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted and The Most Wonderful Time

"A quick, funny, heartwarming read . . . Doris gives voice and form to the unspoken realities of women all over the world. This novel will stay with me for a very long time."--Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of Patsy and Here Comes the Sun

"A funny, sinful look at the Civil Rights Movement from a valuable queer perspective, and a glorious addition to the canon of resistance literature."--Gabriel Bump, author of Everywhere You Don't Belong and The New Naturals

"Mia McKenzie is a master of strong-willed, clear-voiced protagonists who, even when they go a bit wayward, remain so fun to root for."--Sara Novic, author of True Biz and Girl at War

"In this funny, poignant, and urgent tale, she shines a light on both the decisions women--particularly Black women--get to make, and on their autonomy--not just over their bodies, but over their entire lives."--Nancy Johnson, author of People of Means and The Kindest Lie

"A whirlwind exploration of the activism, culture and myriad changes that characterized the early 1960s."--BookPage

"McKenzie's novel crackles with energy, and her depiction of Black high society during a pivotal moment in American history has depth and vivacity."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Mia McKenzie is the two-time Lambda Award-winning author of The Summer We Got Free and Skye Falling, and the creator of Black Girl Dangerous Media, an independent media and education project that centers queer Black women and girls. She lives with her family in Massachusetts.