Challenge Corner discussion

There’s power in a book…

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, 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, terrified 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 knows she’s going to go home and 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 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).

**This BOTM thread will be open until April 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

Decided to start this one today. A friend is currently reading it and really enjoying it so we're going for it!

End of Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[Wow. I really didn't know what to expect from this book so far but it's got me!

I feel horrible Neva of course. I'm not at all surprised that her father left without saying goodbye.

I'm really hoping we have a found family situation come out of this home that she's been brought to or she finds some support somehow. Curious about what happens to the girls after they have the child. I'm guessing the child is taken away?

Excited to keep reading! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 18
(view spoiler)[Wow! I went in completely blind to this book so of course I did not expect this.

It's such a great, interesting read.

The poor girls! This whole situation is horrible. Zinnia shows up and tells the girls about what her mother did with the Lysol! Horrendous!

I'm so glad that Holly finally talked and it makes sense why she hasn't. No one would believe her when she spoke the truth. And goodness! The reverend is the one adopting the child?!

My heart hurts for Rose! They were horrible to her. She didn't want to go because she wasn't ready which I completely get. I've seen this happen in the last few years. An OB is going on holiday or a big holiday is coming up and they try to encourage a pregnant woman to be induced. It especially happens if the person is a little overdue. BUT, in Rose's case, they drug her and then take her baby after, telling her if she doesn't sign over her rights when they'll just say she's not stable. The whole thing was horrible. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 28
(view spoiler)[Goodness. Everything has gone wild.

The witch is out for her. I have no idea how this is going to end. Now that Fern is off to have her baby are they going to try to get her here or do they wait for her to return? How is the labour going to go?

Also curious how this moves forward because I questioned whether all of this was a way for the girls to deal with what they were going through. Regardless of how this ends, I still think the witchcraft was a way to distract themselves from everything that had happened/was happening to them.

The hail of rocks was wild and I'm curious about the cook. She seems to know so much about it.

Oh and what they did to the lady and her birthing eels?! That was wild. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[Ok! That was friggin wild ride!

I really enjoyed this book! I needed something crazy to happen at the end. I was ready to riot if the reverend ended up with the child. There was no way that was happening.

I thought it was a great story highlighting the struggles during that time.

While I hated her parents for not supporting her and her dad for dropping her off, not even saying goodbye, I was happy with how their relationship ended. She went on to thrive, and while she thought of her child all the time, she seemed happy. I liked that she realized that her dad was just doing what he thought was best in the moment and I liked how awkward it was when he picked her up.

What happened with the witches was insane and crazy. I loved the dark moodiness of it all.

I loved the family she found when at the home and connected with them at the end!

Overall, this was a great read. I didn't know what to expect going into it but it delivered! (hide spoiler)]

Hi there. I just sent you a friend request. I didn't know that was a thing on GR either!

I completely understand where you're coming from. It was slower at times and then also felt rushed during the intense parts which was odd. It kind of felt like nothing was happening and then everything was happening.

I've kind of flip-flopped on my rating and ultimately landed on a 4. I think it held my attention and surprised me at times which is always fun.