Book Details

In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur, abandoned by her mother, resides at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum. Birdie Calhoun, unmarried and outspoken, arrives in Oxford seeking financial assistance from her sister, Frances Tartt, to help their struggling family. Through her involvement with the orphanage, Birdie befriends Meg and uncovers the harsh realities of the institution. Simultaneously, Charlie, Meg's mother, returns to reclaim her daughter after being wrongfully institutionalized and sterilized. Together, the women devise a bold plan to take control of their lives, challenging societal norms and confronting the oppressive forces of the time.