The Degenerates

by J. Albert Mann

In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted, this fiery historical novel follows four young women in the early 20th century whose lives intersect when they are locked up by a world that took the poor, the disabled, the marginalized—and institutionalized them for life.

The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded is not a happy place. The young women who are already there certainly don’t think so. Not Maxine, who is doing everything she can to protect her younger sister Rose in an institution where vicious attendants and bullying older girls treat them as the morons, imbeciles, and idiots the doctors have deemed them to be. Not Alice, either, who was left there when her brother couldn’t bring himself to support a sister with a club foot. And not London, who has just been dragged there from the best foster situation she’s ever had, thanks to one unexpected, life altering moment. Each girl is determined to change her fate, no matter what it takes.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, LGBT, Fiction, Disability, Queer

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2020

About the author

J. Albert Mann is a disability activist, an award-winning poet and the author of eight published novels for children. She has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults and is the Partner Liaison for the WNDB Internship Grant Committee. She lives on a little fishing boat in the Boston Harbor with her first mate, Marcella, a ginger tabby.

Reviews

[Sarah Perchikoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS. BOOK. I knew going in that The Degenerates was going to hurt. Four girls stuck in a “school” in the early 1900s where they’re labeled based on the ways they don’t fit society’s standard of what’s “normal.” My heart! I know enough about asylums during this time period to know things were not going to be any better in this situation.

(The book is compared to Girl, Interrupted, but I also saw bits of The Bell Jar in it too.)

But as bad as things get (and we’ll get to that in a minute), the bond between the girls is what makes everything else bearable. They are hurt, humiliated, abused, neglected, and yelled at, but if they can just get to a certain point in the day when they’re alone or when they can see their friends, they can make it another day.

Let’s start with the characters because that’s really the only way I can describe how great this book is.

London. London is my girl. London is the girl I related to most. She is sent to The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded because she’s pregnant. Yep, you read that right. She’s 14 and pregnant so she is sent away.

London is an Italian orphan, brought to the US for a better life with her parents who end up dying. Now, after being dragged out of her last foster home, she is taken to the school. But don’t worry, she has no intention of staying. London is a fighter. She fights the cops, she fights the attendants, and she has no problem fighting the bullies at the school. I wouldn’t normally call a 14-year-old a badass bitch, but that’s London.

That doesn’t mean London doesn’t have a softer side, though. She forms a very strong relationship with another student named Rose and eventually, shows she is a true nurturer. I loved every minute of London’s story.

Maxine. Maxine was sent to the school (along with her sister, Rose), by her mother. Why? I won’t give away the particulars, but Maxine was sent away because she likes girls. This does not stop her from liking girls (shocker, I know!)

Maxine is a protector, especially for Rose. She refuses to let anything happen to her even if it means she gets in trouble and is sent to what the girls call “the cages.”

Maxine is a bit of a dreamer as well. She likes to dream of what life would be like outside the school and how her, Rose, and her friends will live happily one day. I love this about her.

Maxine is also in love with Alice, another girl at the school. They have their own language together. Staring at each other without the staff or bullies seeing them, skin touching for only a second, and subtly taking care of each other and Rose. Maxine and Alice show that even in the darkest of places love can still exist. (excuse me while I sob)

Alice. Alice was brought to the school by her brother. We never really learn his reason. Perhaps it was to have one less mouth to feed? Or maybe he didn’t want to deal with her clubfoot?

At the school, Alice is one of only two black girls, keeps herself to herself, and is very much in love with Maxine. She’s also able to read people without them saying a word. She knows when Rose is scheming, she knows when Maxine is depressed or happy (or scheming), and she sees the fight in London way before anyone else.

Rose. My sweet, sweet Rose. It’s unclear whether Rose was sent to the school because of Maxine or whether she would’ve been sent anyway due to her Down syndrome. Rose is smarter than any of the adults (and probably most of the girls) know. She loves to steal. Food, clothes, money…anything. It’s fun. People underestimate her and she uses that to her advantage.

When London arrives, Rose could not be more excited. Someone new! When London attempts to escape the first night she’s there, that makes Rose like her even more. It becomes Rose’s mission to help London escape by any means she can. The whole time I was borderline anxious that something might happen to Rose. She is a devious cinnamon roll and I did not want her hurt.

Together, the girls do everything they can to take care of each other and try to make it through each day without being noticed by the staff.

The Degenerates is rough. I won’t lie to y’all. It’s difficult to see these girls society deemed unworthy go through so many awful things. But it’s their relationships, the light moments they grasped when no one’s looking that makes those hard moments worth getting through.

The book is also split between the four girls’ POVs and I absolutely loved it. I loved reading each character’s perspective and learning what they were thinking vs. what the other characters thought they were thinking. It’s what makes multiple POVs one of my favorite book things/writing devices ever.

Ok, trigger warning time! There’s a semi-descriptive miscarriage scene, lots of ableist insults (as I’m sure you can imagine), death of a baby (besides the miscarriage), and a pretty big fire (I know that’s a trigger for some).

The Dengerates is incredibly well-written. If you’ve ever tried to write a multiple POV story, you know how hard it is. It feels effortless here. And do not even get me started on the character development. It’s so well done I could cry. It’s done in such a subtle way over the course of the book that you (or maybe it’s just me) don’t realize it’s happening until you look back and are like OMG! THE GROWTH!

I’m giving The Dengerates by J. Albert Mann 4 out of 5 stars.

It comes out on March 17, 2020.

Thank you to Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the eARC and the physical ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic, spit-fire, tough and tumble, rough and rumble.  When four teenagers meet at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, they find commonalities in the fact that they don't so much need taking care of or help, but that they simply do not fit in.  Their families don't visit them, they try to run away, they slog through repetitive classes and lessons designed by teachers who couldn't care less.  But once they realize that they're in it together, they begin to make plans to leave.  For good.

Occasionally switching between perspectives, we get a deep and enriching perspective of historical Boston and the horrors that late 1800s/early 1900s America provided to those with different abilities.  We see the Fairmont Copley Plaza (RIP Carly Copley) and East Boston, not to mention references to Springfield and other nearby towns.  

I just loved seeing these girls grow into fiercer, more obstinate versions of themselves.  Before (with the exception of London) where they might have sat back and taken what came at them, they now ready themselves for any challenge, unafraid to band together to make sure nobody is hurt by the aids, nurses, or School bullies.

I'd also be leaving out a big chunk of my review if I didn't mention just how impressively diverse this book is.  We have London, an Italian-American pregnant girl; Alice, a black club-footed girl; Maxine, a lesbian; and Rose, a youth with developmental disabilities.  Together, they pack a punch and are the epitome of ride or die.  I'm so excited for this book when it comes out, I've already requested it for my library system and I just cannot stop talking about it.  Read this book, recommend it to your local librarian, shove it into the hands of your best friend.  It's.  So.  Good.

Review cross-listed here!

[Lost in Book Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I have been flying through books lately. My Goodreads currently-reading shelf is full like always but this time many of them are set as like almost completed (that's the system I have for when they are done, I set them at just a few pages short of complete until I write the review). There may be a better system but I currently like mine. One of the books I finished recently that is still waiting for me to review is the Degenerates. This book does not come out for a bit but I was super lucky and received an E-ARC of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


SPOILERS AHEAD


Maxine, Rose, Alice, and London are all living in the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded. Here they are on a strict routine, live a life with no choice, and are all unhappy. These young girls have all come to this school by different paths however, they are now all kind of friends and trying to help one another. Each of these four girls is determined to achieve their goals in life and change what others have determined is to be there fate. But they will need each other's help to do so.


Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was powerful and unexpected for me. I knew a little about it going in but I had no idea how the story would go and how invested I would become in these characters and their journey. I honestly did not know much in regard to this topic in history and I felt like the author did an excellent job of making it come alive. After finishing the book I found myself sharing what I had learned with others, reading more about the topic, and wishing I could have had more time with the four main characters. I am giving this book four and a half stars on Goodreads.


**I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[By Book and Bone (Sally) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put me through the ringer. It's absolutely fantastic and made me tear up at several points.
Knowing that 215 children's bodies were found at a Canadian Indigenous residential school and 796 children were found buried in a septic tank at a Mother and Baby home in Tuam (Ireland)... not to mention asylums and the 'schools' in Australia, The Degenerates hit hard.

Set in a time where young girls can be incarcerated and labelled 'morons' or 'imbeciles' for the crime of being pregnant, in the way, LGBTQ+, having a clubfoot or numerous other ailments, The Degenerates follows four girls during their incarceration. Rose is my absolute favourite character in this. She's so sweet and happy despite how dark her life is. She's the first DS character I've read the POV of and I now realise that's a flaw in my reading. Her sister Maxine is wonderful too and I can't give much away as it's an important story beat but she literally has no 'illness'. Neither does London, who is beaten and arrested for being pregnant. Alice has a club foot but that's it.
Many of the women and girls at this institution have little or no ailments, though regardless, none deserve to be there and treated the way they are.

It's the story of people who society is trying to pretend don't exist.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. I’ll post that review upon publication in March.

UPDATED on 3/22/20:

Four stars

When historical fiction is done well, it transports readers into the personal experiences of individuals who live in a time that seems present - rather than long ago - and into a set of circumstances that seems, by modern day standards, nearly unimaginable. That's exactly what happens in this work.

Mann's narrative highlights the experiences of several girls and young women who are sent to a "school," which is really an institution devised for segregating them from society for a number of horrific reasons including but not limited to their physical differences, statuses as pregnant and unmarried, and their sexual orientations. By developing round characters, who are extremely endearing, as well as insights into how they came to live in this state sanctioned imprisonment, Mann sheds light on one of many horrors this country inflicted on people whose identities did not give them the privilege necessary to hold basic human rights and opportunities. I'd say it seems like a faraway concept, but with the caging of humans and overt forms of bigotry and hatred we see today, these circumstances seem less shocking than they would have if I had read this novel even four years ago. Please vote.

These characters are riveting, and I love how painfully realistic this work is. I especially appreciate the author's note, in which they reflect their own identities as well as insight into the authenticity of the doctors' and nurses' language and perspectives. That is some next level business.

This is NOT an uplifter, but it is a novel I'll certainly (1) recommend to students and (2) remember for a long time based on what I learned from it and from the endearing characters it houses. London is everything, and Rose runs a great game of fun and brilliance of her own.

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

One period of American history we’ve all collectively decided to sweep under the rug is the 20th century’s eugenics movement. This mass amnesia is why “feminist hero” Margaret Sanger is so frequently and uncritically lauded by even the most socially aware activists. Indeed, in her first YA novel, What Every Girl Should Know, J. Albert Mann herself wrote a novel about Sanger that seemingly fails to address her involvement in policies aimed at keeping the poor and “unfit” from passing on their genes. I find this both odd and disappointing, and I wonder if Mann then wrote The Degenerates—which stands in opposition to Sanger’s beliefs—as a kind of “fix it” for her 2019 novel. But this author’s confusing track record is a different conversation for a different blog post.

The Degenerates is a young adult novel about several girls who are diagnosed as “idiots, imbeciles, and morons” and are subsequently committed to a state institution. Here is a life sentence with no hope of escape, parole, or appeal. Once you enter the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded, you’re there to stay.

I can imagine that a great deal of this very detailed book would be shocking to teen audiences. My own first exposure to American eugenics (which came through the rabbit hole of my morbid hyperfixation with Nazis in the fourth grade) was one of dismay and disgust. There’s a certain sense of betrayal when you’re young and first discover the myriad ways “land of the free” is merely a myth, perpetuated by the very individuals so keen on denying freedoms whenever possible. Worse still to learn that it has always been a myth. After all, there’s no functional difference between a government which denies your right to have children via forced sterilization and a government which denies your right to not have children via bans on contraceptives and abortion.

Here, Mann is clearly trying to educate her readers, but she’s doing so through the vehicle of a gripping story. The Degenerates puts a human face on the historical atrocities, exploring the different ways each of the four narrators has been deemed “unfit” to remain in the community—homosexuality, promiscuity, developmental delays, physical disability. The backstories are all unique, but the result is the same: magnanimous dehumanization. Of course, the girls aren’t feeble-minded, and they know it perfectly well. So they keep hope alive through the shared bonds of trauma and dreams of a kinder life.

I will say, though, that for such a brief book, four distinct narrators was probably too many. Much as I wanted each girl in the institution to have a voice, I don’t think Mann was able to fully develop the characters’ personalities. But I do appreciate that The Degenerates permits each protagonist to define her story on her own terms. Over the course of the narrative, the reader is able to see London, Alice, Maxine, Rose, and countless others find their strength. A few even find peace and contentment, of a sort, so that even the realistic-yet-bittersweet conclusion feels like a partial victory. (Each day of survival in a world hellbent on your destruction is a triumph.)

The Degenerates is a historical novel that prioritizes delivering information over pure storytelling, but it’s not made less worthy as a result. Mann clearly did a great deal of research prior to writing, and the text is unflinching in its examination of the ways eugenics policies destroyed lives and communities. Yet this isn’t a bleak, joyless tale: the author highlights love and sisterhood as the characters struggle to make sense of their place in an unwelcoming world.

📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

[Afifa Afreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest: Kids Version

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book took my breath away. It was gorgeous and heartbreaking. I honestly loved all four of the main characters so much, which is unusual. When there’s so many POVs one or two are bound to be unfavorable, but I honestly loved reading all of theirs.

Alice is a young black girl who was abandoned at The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded for her club foot. She is only one of two black girls at the school so she has to adhere to an even stricter set of rules than the other girls. She is hopelessly in love with Maxine, though she never shows it.

Maxine is the dreamer of the group. She dreams up unbelievable futures for her and her younger sister, Rose. And if she was being honest, for Alice too. Maxine does the best to take care of her sister after her mother dropped them both off nearly 5 years ago.

Rose is Maxine’s younger sister who has Down syndrome. She is sunshine. I absolutely loved reading her POV. I have never read a book with the POV of someone with Down syndrome and I absolutely love learning more about Rose. She’s not as naive as her sister would like to believe. She helps the new charge, London, squirrel away rations to run aways with.

London is a fighter. You really can’t describe her any other way. She has had a life of heartbreak after heartbreak. Her parents are both dead by the time she is four and she bounces around from shitty foster homes until she lands with the Old Lady who is a little less shitty than everyone else. Unfortunately, London is dragged to The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded after becoming pregnant at 14 without being married.

This story is about these four girls trying to survive in such a horrible, horrible place. I really really loved all of them and loved this story so much.

I love that the author did A TON of research and based all the characters off real people in history. All these girls existed. It was heartbreaking to see her lay out the references she had detailing these very real girls who had to go through all this heartbreak. All the teachers, doctors, and attendants existed as well. How any human being can treat other human beings that way truly baffles me.

I think it was a little bit of a shock to realize that because of my disabilities and my sexuality I could have very easily been amongst them had I been born a century earlier.

The only negative thing I do have to say about this story is that I didn’t love how the story was left so open for two of the characters. I know that it was very realistic, but I wish we could have had just a little bit of closure.

I think this really educates on the history of eugenics and I highly recommend giving it a read!

I will end this review on this note; I do highly recommend this book but PLEASE be careful. There’s a very explicit scene of a late term miscarriage. It was very hard for me to read and I know it will be triggering to some. Be cautious!

[Lany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to call this a "delightful," read because after the abysmal disappointment of the last book I tried to read, this one gave me just about everything that I could have asked for. However, given the topic- the forcible incarceration of girls at a school for the "feeble-minded," during the 1920s- "delightful," is probably not the right adjective. That said, it was so nice to read something that not only shined a spotlight on girls and women, but was pretty thoroughly inclusive (there are characters of color, lgbt characters, as well as characters with a variety of disabilities). Additionally, we get the perspective from each of the four girls showcased in the story, and they have distinct, honest voices, that never feel forced or out of step with their ages. I think that can be hard for some writers to achieve, especially since these girls are only 14 years old, an age group that tends to get a little over-looked in YA. It's definitely aimed at younger teens, but the story kept me interested, and I was always curious to know what was going to happen next. I'm a sucker for stories told in alternating chapters, so that definitely added to the appeal to me. And unlike the book that I attempted to read right before this one, the characters on the cover match the descriptions of the characters in the book. While I know the author doesn't always have much control over this, it went a long way in washing the taste out of my mouth from the last read.

I've always loved historical fiction, like some of my earliest chapter books were historical fiction, and reading The Degenerates definitely reminded me of all the things that made me love the genre so much when I was younger. Plus, it had the benefit of being way more inclusive than almost anything I was able to get my hands on back in the day, which was totally awesome.

Honestly, I didn't really like the way it ended- things felt a little...I'm not exactly sure how to put it...abrupt, maybe? It wasn't sudden, because I knew where it was going, but I fully expected there to be more beyond where the story stopped. I guess I just wanted more from the ending since I felt so invested in the characters all the way through the book. The ending is what kept this from being a 5-star read for me.

As a consolation, there is some pretty cool historical information about the eugenics movement and the material the author based the story on, which I always appreciate.

If you're looking for an inclusive historical fiction read that features strong, smart, and spunky girls, this is definitely worth your time.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

J. Albert Mann’s talent is making history come alive in such a personal way that you feel you are the main character living in this time in history. This time Mann lets the reader live through four young women living in a Massachusetts mental institution in the early 1900s.

London is locked up for being “morally feeble-minded” aka pregnant out of wedlock, Maxine is a “moron”, Alice is a “moron” and has a clubfoot, and Rose has Down’s Syndrome. Mann uses all four points of view to tell the story so the reader gets to be four different women at once. Each girl has a secret that reveals how humans are always human, whether in the 1900s or today.

Reading The Degenerates is an immersive experience that I didn’t want to end. I miss each and every one of these young women now that the book is over.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Mann's earlier work, What Every Girl Should Know, about the life of Margaret Sanger, so I was looking forward to getting my hands on The Degenerates. It didn't disappoint! The author has a gift for tackling difficult subjects and making them very personal and accessible.

[Soup Mancer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best YA I've read in a while. It's such a good, well-researched historical fiction with excellent prose. This is a book where every word has meaning. There are excellent themes and absolutely stellar characters.

[Krutika · Rating 4 out of 5]

// The Degenerates by Albert Mann

Last year I read about the fallen women of Ireland. A system and an institution set up with the sole purpose of exploiting young and old women for several reasons. This particular strong institution came to be known as Magdalene laundries, within the walls of which the sweat and blood of these women still swirl on and on.

What I didn't know was of a similar institute that was setup for both men and women in the States. Scientists and others believed in eugenics and hence came into picture the daunting Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center. Colored people, those with mental health issues, immigrants, physical disabilities, homosexuals etc., were sent to this center for life. They were called morons, imbeciles and degenerates. This story that Albert narrates is set in this particular institute.

The story which is set in 1928 revolves around four girls, each different in their own way: Alice, Maxine, Rose and London. But amongst them are thousands of other girls and women who face a similar situation. Trapped within the institute, they are mere puppets. They have no voice, no desires and have no hope of leaving the horrible place. There are graphic descriptions of what went on within those walls, leaving me shocked and furious. But there's also sisterhood, solidarity and above all a deep courage within the girls to protect each other.

Albert has taken the exact terms that were put to use by the attendants in describing the people who were taken forcefully. Thousands of innocents were graded as stupids/morons with a brain the size of an infant. Their harsh treatment is something unimaginable but the fact that it truly happened is beyond frightening.

Human race is undoubtedly the dangerous one to inhabit the planet and heinous acts like these worries me.

Fast-paced and interesting, this book was an eye opening read. I wish there was more to the story but I'll take this for now.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horrifying and heartbreaking exploration of what life was like for the girls locked up in institutions in the twentieth century in an unforgettable story of friendship, found-family, and survival against all odds.

Four girls' lives intertwine at an institution for the "feebleminded," where each of them has been received a life sentence with no hope of escape. Sisters Maxine and Rose--sent away because of Maxine's sexuality and Rose's Down Syndrome--their friend Alice, and new girl London struggle to survive in a system that considers them less-than. Deemed "idiots" and "morons" through unfair tests, the girls are forced to live and work in this "school" which is really a prison. Mann's careful research into the lives and experiences and "diagnoses" of girls like Maxine, Rose, Alice, and London, show through in every page. And upsetting as it is to know that places like this really existed, robbing people of their lives and freedom, it's also important to remember and understand that history. Very hard to read at times, but I thoroughly enjoyed the well-researched nature as well as the characters and their relationships with each other.

That said, some important trigger warnings to note: abelism and abelist language, outdated / offensive "medical" terminology (in particular an offensive / racist term once used for people with Down Syndrome), miscarriage, institutionalization, homophobia, sexism, etc. That author does explain the choice to use some of the terminology etc. in a lengthy author's note, which is well worth the read.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could make a case for blindly picking completely random titles on Netgalley. Because that's what I did and man am I impressed with this book.

Some of the language seems a tad out of place - "sucks" sounds more modern, for example - and a few metaphors are a little clunky. Other than that, the writing is quite lovely. Simple, yet evocative. The topics tackled lends themselves to strong emotional reactions, but Mann deftly plays with those emotions and makes the story visceral. And the characters are, by far, the strongest part of the novel. So beautifully layered, flawed, and distinct. London was my favorite, followed by Rose, and my heart was constantly breaking for Maxine. And the love between Alice and Maxine? It's so innocent but powerful. All the bonds shared between these four girls well done.

The ending seemed a little rushed and stilted. Everything wrapped so quickly that... something felt missing. It was all just a little to easy.

Parts of this story left me absolutley gutted - and I don't consider myself sensitive in general. I had to put it down several times out of frustration, sadness, or anger. Not at the author but at the reflection of a past reality. It is only a book but real people had these experiences. Some still do. That makes everything on these pages all the more heartbreaking.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Degenerates

Author: J. Albert Mann

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Slight LGBTQA+ relationship (makeout scene) and based on the covers one of the girls is black and the other might be Asian, but it wasn’t well described in the book.

Publication Date: March 17, 2020

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Recommended Age: 16+ (TW torture, violence, gore, some language, and

Pages: March 17, 2020

Amazon Link

Synopsis: In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted, this fiery historical novel follows four young women in the early 20th century whose lives intersect when they are locked up by a world that took the poor, the disabled, the marginalized—and institutionalized them for life.

The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded is not a happy place. The young women who are already there certainly don’t think so. Not Maxine, who is doing everything she can to protect her younger sister Rose in an institution where vicious attendants and bullying older girls treat them as the morons, imbeciles, and idiots the doctors have deemed them to be. Not Alice, either, who was left there when her brother couldn’t bring himself to support a sister with a club foot. And not London, who has just been dragged there from the best foster situation she’s ever had, thanks to one unexpected, life altering moment. Each girl is determined to change her fate, no matter what it takes.

Review: I thought this book was well done. The world building was amazing and I like that the author kept to the historical points in the book. I felt the author did well to subtly describe the horror that people faced in the early 20th century. The book didn’t shy away from showing a light on some of the darkest moments of our history in America. The book was also very well even paced.

However, I didn’t like how the book was told. The book kinda bounced between events and timelines a bit recklessly and that made it hard to follow. The book also didn’t develop these characters very well and I had a hard time caring for them as a reader. I feel like the book could have been told from one POV and worked much better than with three. I also didn’t like that the girls just accepted their given labels. It fits with the time, but I think it would have been more impactful if they outright rejected it in them.

Verdict: A great read, especially for those who like history!

[lids :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah, this was good. one thing i don't read often about is 20th century residential schools/asylums because it's a topic that really upsets me, but this book was rewarding to finish. i think it really allows the reader to understand the impacts of the eugenics movement on personal lives of individuals. i liked the characterization and the writing was very engaging!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so sad but so hopeful at the same time. you could really feel how trapped the girls were and it made for an emotional read. i read it in one sitting until 3am, which goes to show how hard it was to put it down.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

London couldn't stop thinking about the girl in the iron lung.

In 1928, four girls find themselves at the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded. London is pregnant and 14, so she is dragged out of the best foster home situation she has had in her life to the school. Alice was born with a clubfoot and was left at the school by her brother. Rose has Down's Syndrome and was sent to the school by her mother. Her sister, Maxine, is also at the school and will do all she can to protect Rose, though she worries what will happen when she moves to the adult wards and the sisters are separated.

Oh this was a rough book to read. Much like other stories that have explored the treatment of those who struggle with mental health or mental or physical disabilities (or just those that do not fit in with the society of the day) in the early 20th century, the story is heart-breaking and full of unbelievable cruelty. Though the book is fictional, the language used and the treatments the girls endure are pulled from real records of the time period. The fact that these things were happening to anyone, but especially children, is disturbing and rage-inducing.

But the story isn't just about the terrible things that are happening to our protagonists. It is also about the friendship, love, and hope that they give to each other. The way they continue to dream of a better life and support one another through the hard times is inspiring. Unfortunately, the author cannot go beyond the limitations of the time period in writing a realistic story, but she does add as much hope to the story as is possible for the setting.

Many reviewers have said that this book isn't for teens, but I disagree. I think that middle-grade and YA historical fiction should not shy away from the bad things that were happening in history. We do our young people a disservice when we hide how things really were, and we end up with a situation later on where adults don't believe things actually happened because they never learned about it in school. Yes the subject matter is difficult (though it is not nearly as dark as some of the nonfiction and adult fiction I have read that are set in similar institutions), but it is an important book. And I highly recommend it to those interested in the history of mental health treatment, LGBTQ+ history, and women's history.

CW: ableism (including offensive terms), bullying, child abuse, deceased parents, homophobia, institutionalization, mental illness, miscarriage, self-harm, suicidal ideation

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warning for outdated (but relevant) discrimination and mistreatment of the differently abled, people of color, and lgbtq+ members of society. Also teen pregnancy and graphic miscarriage descriptions.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this a 2.5, but for Netgalley and Goodreads purposes I did round up to a 3 because I understood why people enjoyed this book and what the author was attempting to do. Tough stories have to be told, but I think that the over all way this was told just was not completely for me, which is okay! Writing about unpleasant history can be, well, unpleasant but I think I just couldn’t get my mind around the story or characters. I think this would work better if I tell you what I liked and didn't like in bullet point format.

What I enjoyed:
-Multiple POVs to get to know each character
-Each character was from a differently walk of life (i.e. POC, differently abled, LGBTQ+, etc)
-Author wasn't afraid to tackle difficult topics or story matter
-Writing definitely brought out the right amount of anger in reader (i.e. me)

What I didn't enjoy so much:
-Couldn't fully connect w/ characters
-Content was definitely difficult to read
-Overall writing style wasn't for me

In the authors note it was pointed out that the author pulled all of the dialogue from real medical regards and so the horrible way these girls were treated and described was very real and I don’t doubt that. I just....I could not get into this book and I’ll admit I really wish I could. Great subject matter, tough content and definitely triggering. I just don’t think that it was for me ultimately. That being said, I noticed that a lot of people who did have the opportunity to read this book, did enjoy it, which is why I think it's important to form your own opinions. If you think this is something you'd be into, check it out! It was released a couple of weeks ago. Just be safe when reading.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was drawn to the cover of this novel and it's title. I inferred that it was about girls who are locked up for being different and I was not wrong. As I began to read about London, Maxine, Rose and Alice. I realised that I missed quite alot on the cover. You can see Alice's clubfoot and Rose has down syndrome. I noticed that Alice is subtly holding Maxine's hand and she does not notice. Unrequited love?

This book was so sad and graphic. It was similar to Woman 99 where women are institutionalised for their skin colour, sexual orientation and disabilities. London is pregnant and is taken to Walter E Fernald School. She meets Maxine with a secret and trying to protect her sister Rose and Alice with clubfoot. They have been abandoned by their families but refuse to give up. London is tough and hardened from moving between foster homes but she is a softie inside. I liked how she forms a friendship with Rose.

The way the girls are labelled "moron" and "idiot" by nurses and doctors was shocking. The scenes of solitary confinement and having to sit at the bench for hours was horrifying. I did not want to continue but the writing compelled me to. I can't believe these girls found hope and happiness in such place like London with the babies and Alice and Maxine with each other.

The ending is hopeful and I like how the author wants the reader to question how we still stereotype and prejudice even now.

[Adeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book, I don’t know how much was real but I suspect quite a lot. The main characters are all in an institution for the feeble minded for varying things, such as Down Syndrome, homosexuality, and being pregnant before marriage. It was very interesting to see how many things were considered traits of morons (the official diagnoses of the feeble minded) that have easy explanations or aren’t problems at all. I would have liked for there to have been a little bit more action. The character development was very good in my opinion. I would probably recommend this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ouch. This book was both engrossing and hard to read. What we did (and still do) to people different than us, not "normal", is horrifying.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9/5

Finally a fictional story about disabled children that doesn't pity them. Set in the 1920s, this novel is written by a physically disabled author about a real institution in Boston where disabled or unsavory children were sent for life and labeled "morons, imbeciles, and idiots." Mann drew real quotes from historical documents as dialogue for the staff and fictionalized inmates from those same documents. The perspective of the book alternates between four different girls at the institution, who each has her own distinct personality; Mann shows that disabled folks are compassionate, intelligent, clever, selfless, independent, and strong. There are also characters of color and queer characters!!

It wasn't the most exciting book to read; not much happened for 3/4 characters until near the end. The ending is a little open ended. And, the character with Down Syndrome, who would have been looked down on as the least intelligent girl, was only given a few chapters. I love that this book tries to give back voices to those oppressed in the past, but I wish it gave equal voice to the most oppressed (based on disability).

[Taylor (Books&Beanies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an eye-opening, and heart-breaking book. Based on real women, The Degenerates is about four women who are considered 'morons' or 'feebleminded' and are therefore made to stay in this school for the rest of their lives. Alice is there because she has a club foot, Maxine is there because she was caught kissing girls, and Maxine's sister Rose is there because she has down syndrome. London joins them after being taken from the home she was living in after becoming pregnant without being married. These women are made to do the same things every single day and if they put one toe out of line, they are put in the 'cages' which are even worse than their daily routines.

This book is sad, but brilliantly written. I say this book is an eye-opener because I'm disabled and had I lived in that time period I might have ended up there as well.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves true historical fiction.

Thank you, NetGalley and Antheum Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.
WOW.
This book is hard to read, especially knowing that things like this actually happened.
This book does not flinch from hard truths and is a great teen read, especially teens who enjoy historical fiction. The ending is realistic, but not punishingly so. One of my favorite reads for my LS 621 class <3
contains child abuse, teen pregnancy and miscarriage, lesbian characters

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Degenerates" tells a powerful and painful story set in the 1920s, focusing on four girls confined to a school for the “feeble-minded.” This institution locked up disabled individuals and others who didn't fit society’s standards, such as queer people and young pregnant girls. Though the story feels dystopian, it is rooted in historical reality.

The narrative is presented from four distinct points of view, and for me, the perspective of Rose, a sweet yet fierce girl with Down Syndrome, stood out the most. Representation of Down Syndrome in Young Adult literature is rare, particularly from the viewpoint of someone with Down Syndrome. The author’s dedication to research is amazing, and the book’s diversity is great featuring LGBTQ+ characters, characters of color, and individuals with various disabilities.

[Lexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rose! She’s the best part of this story, Rose and her stick!

Now, this book made me cry, it was hard and sad, and I know the ending it’s a happy one, but I think I was expecting something completely different, I don’t know.

[Carolyn Tara O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, upsetting, and realistic account of life in the early 20th century. Any girl who didn't fit the mold of what a good American girl was "supposed" to be -- white, straight, able-bodied, moneyed -- lived at risk of being thrown into an institution if they crossed the wrong person. The heroines of this novel will break your heart. They all have dreams, talents, love, and yearnings, but the Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded does its best to grind those things out of them.

And really, the name of that school tells you everything. This work of historical fiction, based on a real place and real history, puts us in the shoes of girls who faced the horrors of the eugenics movement. Though painful, it offers hope within the dark story. Highly recommended!

[Ruthsic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rep: queer black disabled main character (Alice), character with Down's Syndrome (Rose), queer character (Maxine), non-white minority (for that time) character (London)
Warnings: ableism and patient abuse, police brutality, depiction of self-harm and mentions of suicidal ideation, miscarriage and infant death, homophobia

When I started this book, I did not know how much I would come to love these characters and their stories. About four girls institutionalized and considered feeble-minded by the 'science' of their time, it is a story that talks about dehumanization of those considered different from society, as well as how much things can be done together. The institutionalization of young women is something I've come across before in historical fiction, but this is the most realistic perspective of it, and it would be, considering the research Mann has put into it. At the start, the direction of the plot was unclear, but we get to know these girls- three of them: Alice, and the sisters Rose and Maxine, who have been living there since childhood, while London is the one who is new, and shakes things up - and their grim lives in the facility where they are treated as sub-human and face contempt from the staff, if not outright punishments in the form of solitary confinement. London wants out, immediately, because she has her foster mother to get back to, and Rose gets pulled into her scheme, and soon Maxine and Alice.

The story is told through their points of view, and their personal stories resonate with hurt and abandonment, yes, but the overall tone of the story is also hopeful. Maxine is probably the one of them who hopes for a better future the most. Rose's fascination with London and London adoring her was cute; while Rose has an older sister, she is also taken care of by London and Alice. Alice, who is one of two black girls in the institute, is understandably cautious and wary and her love for Maxine brings down her walls. London is, well, a bit cynical, but a lot scrappy and has street smarts, which makes her a great catalyst for the girls to hope getting out instead of just moving on to the next stage of their stay, which is filled with uncertainty as Alice and Maxine will age out of their current section. The writing beautifully built up these characters and gets you to love them so much, and the plot takes us through the ups and downs of their plans, so it is an engaging read that moves at a good pace. The ending leaves us a bit open-ended, but also gives us a happy-ish conclusion.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Atheneum Books for Young Readers, via Netgalley.