Overview
In Downeast, Gigi Georges follows five girls as they come of age in one of the most challenging and geographically isolated regions on the Eastern seaboard.Ā Their stories reveal surprising truths about rural AmericaĀ andĀ offer hope for its future.Ā āItās almost impossibleĀ not to care about these fierce young women and cheer for their hard-won successesā (Kirkus) inĀ thisĀ āheartfelt portraitā andĀ āworthy tributeā (Publishers Weekly).
Nestled in Maineās far northeast corner, Washington County sits an hourās drive from the heart of famed and bustling Acadia National Park. Yet itās a world away. For Willow, Vivian, Mckenna, Audrey, and Josieāfive teenage girls caught between tradition and transformation in this remote regionāit is home. Downeast follows their journeys of heartbreak and hope in uncertain times, creating a nuanced and unique portrait of rural America with women at its center.
Willow lives in the shadow of an abusive, drug-addicted father and searches for stability through photography and love. Vivian, a gifted writer, feels stifled by her church and town, and struggles to break free without severing family ties. Mckenna is a softball pitching phenom whose passion is the lobster-fishing she learned at her fatherās knee. Audrey is a beloved high school basketball star who earns a coveted college scholarship but questions her chosen path. Josie, a Yale-bound valedictorian, is determined to take the world by storm.Ā
All five girls know the pain and joy of life in a region whose rugged beauty and stoicism mask dwindling populations, vanishing job opportunities, and pervasive opioid addiction.Ā As the girls reach adulthood, they discover that despite significant challenges, there is much to celebrate in āthe valley of the overlooked.ā Their stories remind us of the value of timeless ideals: strength of family and community, reverence for natureās rule, dignity in cracked hands and muddied shoes, and the enduring power of home.
Revealed through the eyes of Willow, Vivian, Mckenna, Audrey, and Josie, Downeast is based on four years of intimate reporting. The result is a beautifully rendered, emotionally startling, and vital book. Downeast will break readersā hearts yet offer them hope, providing answers to what the future may hold for rural America.
This book title, Downeast (Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America) - 9780062984449, ISBN: 9780062984449, by Gigi Georges, published by HarperCollins (May 24, 2022) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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