Two books set during the “Baby Scoop Era” before Roe v. Wade, in conversation with each other. If you read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls and want to learn more about the context of the novel, read The Girls Who Went Away. If you read The Girls Who Went Away and want to read an empowering, fight back against the patriarchy, read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls.
Fessler, Ann. The Girls Who Went Away. 2006. 368p. Penguin Books, $19.00 (9780143038979). Recommended: Adult
A devastating compilation of stories capturing the collective trauma of an era of women forced to give their babies up for adoption before Roe v. Wade. Adoptee author Ann Fessler has written the stories of some of the estimated 1.5 million women willing to share their stories of relinquishment. A heartbreaking and emotional read, the stories contain throughlines and themes of the disempowerment these women experienced. Many lacked agency or even sex education. Written in 2006, this is a hallmark read, essential for understanding the impact of the broader social landscape on women’s lives.
Hendrix, Grady. Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. 2025. 486p. Berkley, $30.00 (9780593548981). Recommended: Adult
A witchy thriller, Fern is a young girl who has been sent against her will to a home for wayward girls to live until she has her baby. Like the girls before her, she is powerless and treated without empathy or compassion. She witnesses how the system is designed to force young mothers to give up their babies for adoption and return home with strict compliance. When a visiting librarian gifts Fern a book of witchcraft, the girls join together to take back control. Grady Hendrix brilliantly uses his platform as an author to uplift the stories of girls and women who were silenced for so long.
The Adoptee Bookshelf 