Wayward Girls

<p><strong>"After decades of bestsellers, <em>Wayward Girls</em> might be Susan Wiggs'' opus. A gut-wrenching story of survival, friendship, and justice. Masterful."--Robert Dugoni,<em> New York Times </em>bestselling author of <em>The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell</em></strong></p><p><strong><em>"</em>The magnificent Susan Wiggs takes a leap into the history of women..a page-turner, replete with mystery and suspense."—Adriana Trigiani, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <em>The Good Left Undone</em></strong></p><p><strong>From <em>New York Times</em> 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.</strong></p><p>In 1968 we meet six teens confined at the Good Shepherd—a dark and secretive institution controlled by Sisters of Charity nuns<em>—</em>locked away<em> </em>merely for being gay, pregnant, or simply unruly.</p><p><strong>Mairin</strong><em>—</em> free-spirited daughter of Irish immigrants, committed to keep her safe from her stepfather.</p><p><strong>Angela</strong><em>—</em>denounced for her attraction to girls, sent to the nuns for reform, but instead found herself the victim of a predator.</p><p><strong>Helen</strong><em>—</em>the daughter of intellectuals detained in Communist China, she saw her “temporary” stay at the Good Shepherd stretch into years.</p><p><strong>Odessa</strong><em>—</em>caught up in a police dragnet over a racial incident, she found the physical and mental toughness to endure her sentence.</p><p><strong>Denise</strong><em>—</em>sentenced for brawling in a foster home, she dared to dream of a better life.</p><p><strong>Janice</strong><em>—</em>deeply insecure, she couldn’t decide where her loyalty lay<em>—</em>except when it came to her friend Kay, who would never outgrow her childlike dependency.</p><p><strong>Sister Bernadette</strong><em>—</em>rescued from a dreadful childhood, she owed her loyalty to the Sisters of Charity even as her conscience weighed on her.</p><p><em>Wayward Girls</em> 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.</p><p><strong>"Wayward girls is all about the power of female bonds...this isn''t just a moment in time—it''s a cautionary tale."—Jodi Picoult, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author of <em>By Any Other Name</em></strong></p>