It is 1970, and 15-year-old Fern arrives at a home for unwed mothers in Florida. Sent by her parents, Fern prepares to wait out the next few months. Her plan is to give birth to her child, place the child up for adoption and return to her home, with her friends and siblings none the wiser.
Fern soon befriends some of the other residents. Despite their differences, the girls bond over their shared negative experiences. The girls are told what to eat, are forced to submit to uncomfortable medical exams and must spend long hours doing household chores.
One day a bookmobile arrives at the house. The librarian there gives Fern a book about witchcraft. Hoping to exact some revenge on a very unsympathetic male doctor, Fern and her new roommates try out a spell. Experiencing some initial success, the group becomes more involved with witchcraft, seeing this as a way to regain their power. However, things soon start to go horribly awry. This novel is a great spooky read for the Halloween season.
Erin Holl is an adult services librarian at the Galaxie branch of the Dakota County Library. Read more at dakotacounty.us.
