The Degenerates
Atheneum Books for Young Readers · Paperback · March 16, 2021
“Respectful, unflinching, and eye-opening.” —Kirkus Reviews “Historical fiction that not only depicts a cruel, horrifying reality but also the strength and courage of the people who had to endure it.” —Booklist In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted, this fiery historical novel follows four young women in the early 20th century whose lives intersect when they are locked up by a world that took the poor, the disabled, the marginalized-and institutionalized them for life.
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- Who it’s for
- Four young women’s intertwined stories bring hard history into close, human focus.
- Genres
- 20th-Century US YA, Disabilities & Special Needs for Teens, YA LGBTQ+
- Published
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers, March 16, 2021
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“Respectful, unflinching, and eye-opening.” —Kirkus Reviews “Historical fiction that not only depicts a cruel, horrifying reality but also the strength and courage of the people who had to endure it.” —Booklist In the tradition of Girl, Interrupted, this fiery historical novel follows four young women in the early 20th century whose lives intersect when they are locked up by a world that took the poor, the disabled, the marginalized-and institutionalized them for life.
Continue reading
The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded is not a happy place. The young women who are already there certainly don’t think so. Not Maxine, who is doing everything she can to protect her younger sister Rose in an institution where vicious attendants and bullying older girls treat them as the morons, imbeciles, and idiots the doctors have deemed them to be. Not Alice, either, who was left there when her brother couldn’t bring himself to support a sister with a club foot. And not London, who has just been dragged there from the best foster situation she’s ever had, thanks to one unexpected, life-altering moment. Each girl is determined to change her fate, no matter what it takes.
Hard History, Human Stakes
Four young women’s intertwined stories bring hard history into close, human focus.
Come here for
- Early-20th-century historical fiction about young women denied agency
- A frank look at institutionalization, cruelty, and courage
Expect
- An unflinching portrait of life inside an institution
- Characters determined to change their fates
Where it sits
| YA LGBTQ+ | 57% |
|---|---|
| 20th-Century US YA | 51% |
| Disabilities & Special Needs for Teens | 43% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- YA Stories About Girls & Women
- 20th-Century US YA
- Social Themes for Teens
- Authors
- J. Albert Mann
- Publisher
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers
- Published
- March 16, 2021
- Format
- Paperback
- Reading lane
- YA Stories About Girls & Women