Where the Girls Were - by Kate Schatz (Hardcover)

About the Book

"It's 1968, and the future is bright for seventeen-year-old Elizabeth "Baker" Phillips: She's the valedictorian of her high school, with a place at Stanford in the fall and big dreams of becoming a journalist. But the seductive free-spirited San Francisco atmosphere seeps into her carefully-planned, strait-laced life in the form of a hippie named Wiley. At first, letting loose and letting herself fall in love for the first time feels incredible. But then, everything changes. Pregnancy hits Baker with the force of whiplash-in the blink of an eye, she goes from good girl to fallen woman, from her family's shining star to their embarrassing secret. Sent to a home for unwed mothers, Baker finds herself trapped in an old Victorian house packed with a group of pregnant girls who share her shame and fear. As she reckons with her changing body, lack of choice, and uncertain future, Baker finds unexpected community and empowerment among the "girls who went away.""-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

They were sent away to be forgotten. This is their story.

In this electrifying historical novel about coming of age in tumultuous 1960s San Francisco, a pregnant teenager reckons with womanhood and agency after being sent to a home for unwed mothers.

"Thrilling, propulsive, breathless, and brimming with a deep understanding of longing and frailty . . . of humanness."--Catherine Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Sandwich and Wreck

It's 1968, and the future is bright for seventeen-year-old Elizabeth "Baker" Phillips: She's the valedictorian of her high school, with a place at Stanford in the fall and big dreams of becoming a journalist. But the seductive free-spirited San Francisco atmosphere seeps into her carefully planned, strait-laced life in the form of a hippie named Wiley. At first, letting loose and letting herself fall in love for the first time feels incredible. But then, everything changes.

Pregnancy hits Baker with the force of whiplash--in the blink of an eye, she goes from good girl to fallen woman, from her family's shining star to their embarrassing secret. Without any other options, Baker is sent to a home for unwed mothers, and finds herself trapped in an old Victorian house packed with pregnant girls who share her shame and fear. As she grapples with her changing body, lack of choice, and uncertain future, Baker finds unexpected community and empowerment among the "girls who went away."

Where the Girls Were is a timely unearthing of a little-known moment in American history, when the sexual revolution and feminist movement collided with the limits of reproductive rights--and society's expectations of women. As Baker finds her strength and her voice, she shows us how to step into your power, even when the world is determined to keep you silent.

Review Quotes

"[Kate Schatz's] prose is like poetry. It's like hands in a bowl of candy. Thrilling, propulsive, breathless, and brimming with Schatz's deep understanding of longing and frailty . . . of humanness."--Catherine Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Sandwich

"A timely and important novel, and one of the most heartfelt I have read in years . . . Readers will gain eye-opening insight, empathy, and understanding as Baker struggles to find a voice amid society's shaming and to discover--and persevere--with what is best for her. . . . A must-read work, especially now."--Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society

"An incredible, unputdownable book . . . Kate Schatz's prose is like poetry, like hands in a bowl of candy."--Laurie Frankel, author of Family Family

"In 1968, where girls fall into two categories--'good' or 'bad'--where abortion is illegal, interracial babies unadoptable, and unwed mothers are locked away, Baker forges a path for herself that is as hopeful as it is defiant. In this compulsively readable novel, Kate Schatz shows the power of secrets and stories shared among women, and creates a world with much to teach our own."--Domenica Ruta, New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You and All the Mothers

"Where the Girls Were is an important, compelling, immersive, and masterfully told work of art. The motley crew of beautiful women and girls in this novel offers an urgent and nuanced glimpse into the experience of womanhood in America, the impact of secrets, and the insidious harm of shame. Kate Schatz leads us on a breathtaking journey with these thoughtful, fully realized characters, and I'll be recommending this book to everyone I know."--Sarah Damoff, bestselling author of The Bright Years

"With a fierce heart and an unflinching eye, Kate Schatz's Where the Girls Were portrays the sexual revolution and the fight for women's reproductive rights at the height of the countercultural movement. It's a compelling debut, timely as ever, proving that some battles never truly end."--Vanessa Hua, author of Forbidden City

"Riveting and exquisitely written, intimate and visionary, Where the Girls Were made me cheer, weep, and plumb, as well as heal, my own heart. Kate Schatz is a national treasure, and with this novel she's given us a gorgeous, moving, unforgettable tale of what it means to come of age, claim your power, and defy the forces of injustice against the odds."--Caro De Robertis, author of The Palace of Eros

"Where the Girls Were is a beautifully told story about an important moment in history, explored with such compassion and heart. At the center of this compelling novel is a wonderfully complicated heroine: Baker is at once wise and naïve, a 'good girl' who learns to tap into her own power and desires. With gorgeous prose and cinematic scenes, Kate Schatz has given us a remarkable novel."--Edan Lepucki, author of Time's Mouth

About the Author

Kate Schatz is a feminist author from California. She's the New York Times bestselling author of Do the Work: An Anti-Racist Activity Book, with W. Kamau Bell, and the "Rad Women" book series (including Rad American Women A-Z, Rad Women Worldwide, and Rad American History A-Z). Her book of fiction, Rid of Me: A Story, was published as part of the cult-favorite 33 1/3 series.