Seven titles that explore the lives of wayward youth

Susan Wiggs is the author of more than fifty novels, including the beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series and the recent New York Times bestsellers The Lost and Found Bookshop, The Oysterville Sewing Circle, and Family Tree. Her award-winning books have been translated into two dozen languages. She lives with her husband on an island in Washington State’s Puget Sound.

Her newest novel is Wayward Girls.

At Lit Hub Wiggs tagged seven "books that offer a haunting, unsparing look at hidden histories and the enduring spirit of those who survived." One title on the list:

A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power

Spanning three generations of Dakhóta women and filled with the imagery of dolls, this is another profound story of the Indian residential school system. From the 19th century to the present, Power explores how the state sought to “kill the Indian, save the man” by stripping children of their culture and family ties. The sense of intergenerational trauma is palpable, as is the power of storytelling to shine a light on the human spirit.

Read about the other titles on Wiggs's list at Lit Hub.

--Marshal Zeringue