Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs Summary, Characters and Themes
Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a historical fiction novel that explores the lives of women impacted by injustice and trauma. Spanning different time periods, it intertwines the experiences of several women whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
The narrative touches upon themes of adoption, abuse, and resilience, as the characters fight for their identity and seek justice for their pasts. The story delves into the hidden histories of women sent to a Catholic institution known as the Good Shepherd, revealing their shared trauma and the long-lasting effects of their experiences. It is a reflection on the strength of women to reclaim their voices and fight against systems of control.
Summary
The story begins with Everly Barrett Lasko, a 51-year-old woman in Buffalo, New York, who is attempting to locate her birth certificate. Everly, who was adopted, finds that no official records of her birth exist, leading to a sense of disconnection from the world.
She only has access to an amended adoption certificate, a document that leaves her with more questions than answers. Despite her efforts to uncover her past, Everly’s search proves fruitless, and she feels as though she has no official identity.
This leads her to a deeper exploration of her origins, a search that spans over a century and connects her to a dark history.
The narrative then shifts to 1886, when two teenage girls, Ella Dunn and Minnie Covert, are arrested for truancy. Both girls are sent to a facility for troubled girls, where their lives are shaped by the harsh treatment they receive.
This facility, which is later revealed to be the Good Shepherd, serves as a backdrop for the struggles faced by women and girls who are deemed “wayward” by society.
The story then jumps to 1968, where Mairin O’Hara, a 16-year-old girl, struggles with her family’s financial difficulties. She works in a Buffalo orchard, where she meets Kevin Doyle, a boy who shows interest in her.
However, Mairin’s life is complicated by her best friend, Fiona, who confides in her that she is pregnant. Fiona’s pregnancy is a result of her relationship with her boyfriend, Casey, who denies responsibility.
Fiona’s parents, in an attempt to avoid scandal, plan to send her away to live with relatives, isolating her from the community. Mairin, devastated by her friend’s predicament, becomes more attuned to the realities of adulthood.
Simultaneously, Mairin’s brother Liam receives a draft notice for the Vietnam War, and Mairin’s anxieties grow as she fears for his safety. The political climate and the prospect of war further exacerbate the challenges Mairin faces.
Amidst these personal struggles, Mairin’s stepfather, Colm, becomes increasingly inappropriate toward her. Despite her attempts to speak up, her mother believes Colm’s version of events, and Mairin is left feeling betrayed and powerless.
The family dynamic grows tense, and the situation escalates into violence when Liam intervenes to protect Mairin.
In response to the escalating threats of violence at home, Mairin’s mother decides to send her to the Good Shepherd, a Catholic institution for troubled girls. This decision marks the beginning of Mairin’s harrowing journey in the institution.
The Good Shepherd is not a school but a place where girls are made to work in harsh conditions, under the supervision of nuns who enforce strict discipline. Mairin is shocked to discover that the facility is a place of forced labor, with the girls spending their days in the laundry, washing linens for local businesses.
The girls are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, and Mairin begins to form bonds with the other girls, including Angela, a girl with a traumatic past. Angela is subjected to regular invasive health checks by Dr.
Gilroy, the facility’s doctor, under the guise of providing care. Mairin, disturbed by these procedures, attempts to confront the doctor but is dismissed, and the abuse continues.
Despite the oppressive environment, Mairin’s rebellious spirit remains intact. She tries to escape but is punished by being locked in a small closet.
The horrors she faces at the institution push her to resist the system in small ways, finding solace in the fleeting moments of kindness shared with other girls. Throughout her time at the Good Shepherd, Mairin grows more aware of the manipulation and exploitation happening around her.
She becomes determined to expose the injustices she faces and to find a way out.
In 1969, a rare event occurs: Niagara Falls goes dry. The girls at the Good Shepherd are taken on a field trip to witness this phenomenon, and Mairin seizes the opportunity to escape.
During the trip, she tries to confide in a park ranger about the abuse at the Good Shepherd, but her plea for help is dismissed. Despite this, Mairin’s desire for freedom intensifies, and she begins to plot her escape.
She learns of hidden funds within the institution and, with the help of her friends, plans to steal the money and use it to escape. However, Odessa, one of her friends, backs out at the last moment, leaving Mairin to continue on her own.
Mairin steals the money and, with her friends, attempts to flee in a bookmobile. They manage to drive away, but their escape is short-lived as the authorities quickly notice their absence.
Mairin is separated from the others and finds herself alone, unsure of her next move. She contacts Flynn Gallagher, a figure from her past, who helps her escape.
Flynn takes her to Heyday Farm, a commune where she can find safety. However, Mairin remains uncertain about the fate of her friends and what the future holds for her.
Years later, Mairin reconnects with Angela, who reveals the full extent of her trauma. Angela had been sent to the Good Shepherd due to her same-sex attraction, which was considered sinful at the time.
She recounts her experiences of being sexually abused by Dr. Gilroy under the guise of medical exams and being forced to give up her child for adoption.
Angela’s painful history is tied to Everly, Mairin’s biological daughter, who had been born from the rape. Through DNA testing, Everly and Angela are finally able to reconnect, and they begin the difficult process of seeking justice for the abuses they endured.
As the legal battle progresses, more women come forward with their stories, revealing the widespread abuse that occurred at the Good Shepherd. The Catholic Church and the nuns who ran the institution attempt to deny responsibility, but the survivors stand firm in their pursuit of justice.
Angela’s testimony in court is a cathartic release, and while the case brings some resolution, the true victory lies in the strength of the women who have come together to reclaim their voices and their truths.
In the end, the survivors find solidarity with one another, and the story concludes with them looking ahead to the possibility of healing and justice. The trauma they endured cannot be undone, but the acknowledgement of their pain is a significant step toward finding peace.
Characters
Mairin O’Hara
Mairin O’Hara is a young girl caught in the web of familial and societal pressure in Wayward Girls. Her life begins to unravel when her mother, influenced by the abusive actions of her stepfather, Colm, sends her to the Good Shepherd, an oppressive institution designed to “reform” girls like her.
Mairin’s character is defined by her resilience and inner strength. Despite being subjected to harsh conditions, she refuses to succumb entirely to the system’s control.
From a hopeful girl excited about reconnecting with friends, Mairin quickly transforms into a survivor, battling not just the physical abuse at the institution but also the emotional turmoil of abandonment by her mother. Her sense of justice drives her to fight for not only her own freedom but also the well-being of those around her.
Mairin’s defiance is most evident when she attempts to escape and expose the corrupt practices of the nuns and their system. Her determination, despite feeling trapped, marks her as a character of immense growth and internal strength.
Everly Barrett Lasko
Everly Barrett Lasko is a 51-year-old woman who, after years of searching, discovers that the key to unlocking her past lies within her birth certificate. Raised by adoptive parents, Everly has always felt a disconnect from her origins, a sense of not fully belonging to the world.
Her quest for her true identity leads her to uncover a painful truth about her birth mother, Angela, and the dark history surrounding her adoption. Through her connection with Angela, Everly is forced to come to terms with the fact that she was the product of violence.
Everly’s journey is one of emotional reckoning as she moves from confusion and frustration to understanding and, ultimately, healing. Her persistence in seeking justice for the abuses at the Good Shepherd reveals her resilience.
Through her involvement in the lawsuit, Everly steps into a new role—one of an advocate for justice not just for herself but for others who were affected by the horrors at the institution.
Angela
Angela, who is Everly’s birth mother, is a woman marked by trauma from her time in the Good Shepherd. As a young girl, Angela was sent to the institution due to her same-sex attraction, which at the time was seen as a sin.
Her emotional and physical abuse, particularly at the hands of Dr. Seamus Gilroy, left her deeply scarred.
The emotional weight she carries from giving up her child, believing her baby to be stillborn, and later discovering the truth, is central to Angela’s character. Throughout Wayward Girls, Angela grapples with the secrets of her past and the deep sense of loss that accompanies the forced separation from her child.
Despite the overwhelming pain, Angela’s journey is one of empowerment as she comes to terms with her truth, aided by therapy and a supportive partner. Angela’s fight for justice is a crucial turning point in the novel, as she seeks to right the wrongs done to her and countless others at the Good Shepherd.
Her character represents the struggle for healing and the reclamation of one’s narrative in the face of a society that sought to silence her.
Colm
Colm, Mairin’s stepfather, is a deeply troubling character in Wayward Girls. His abusive behavior is the catalyst for much of the turmoil in Mairin’s life.
Colm’s cruelty extends beyond his mistreatment of Mairin and her brother Liam; his manipulation of Mairin’s mother, and his ability to control the family dynamics, paint him as a sinister figure. His actions serve as a constant source of fear for Mairin, who is left feeling vulnerable and unsupported by her mother.
Colm represents the toxic male figure whose power, both physical and emotional, dominates the household. His violence toward Mairin forces Liam to act, adding a layer of complexity to the family’s struggles.
Colm’s character is one of abuse and manipulation, his influence over Mairin’s family a constant source of tension and emotional devastation for the characters around him.
Liam
Liam, Mairin’s older brother, plays a pivotal role in her life, especially as her protector against their abusive stepfather, Colm. As a young man facing the threat of being drafted to the Vietnam War, Liam embodies the tension of the era.
His bond with Mairin is one of the few constants in her life, as he stands up for her against Colm’s advances, even at the risk of his own safety. Liam’s character is marked by a sense of duty and sacrifice, as he prepares to leave for a war he does not believe in, while also attempting to safeguard his sister’s well-being.
His relationship with Mairin serves as a stabilizing force in her life, even as he faces his own uncertain future. Liam represents both the protective older sibling and the reluctant soldier, caught between personal duty and the larger societal demands of the time.
Fiona Gallagher
Fiona Gallagher is Mairin’s best friend, and her journey intertwines with Mairin’s throughout Wayward Girls. Fiona’s struggles with her unplanned pregnancy mirror the pressures Mairin faces in her own life.
Fiona’s situation adds another layer of complexity to Mairin’s understanding of the world, as Fiona is forced to leave town to hide her pregnancy from her community. The tension between Fiona’s desire to keep the pregnancy and the societal pressures to hide it reveals much about the time period’s expectations of women, especially in small-town America.
Fiona’s situation, combined with her troubled relationship with her boyfriend, Casey, who denies responsibility for the pregnancy, reflects the struggles many women face when their reproductive choices are taken from them. Fiona’s role in the story serves as both a contrast to Mairin’s struggles and a reflection of the larger societal issues that the novel seeks to address.
Sister Gerard
Sister Gerard, a figure of authority at the Good Shepherd, represents the oppressive and manipulative nature of the institution. As one of the nuns in charge, she plays a central role in maintaining the harsh environment at the refuge.
Her character embodies the authoritarian figures who impose rigid discipline under the guise of reform. Sister Gerard’s role in the forced labor of the girls and her participation in the hidden financial schemes highlight the corruption within the system.
Though she may appear as a benign figure to the outside world, her actions are deeply harmful and contribute to the lasting trauma of the girls under her care. Sister Gerard represents the institutions of power that exploit the vulnerable for their own gain, without regard for the human cost.
Themes
Identity and the Search for Belonging
The quest for identity and the deep yearning for belonging form a central theme throughout Wayward Girls. The protagonist, Mairin, struggles with a sense of displacement throughout her life, which intensifies when she is sent to the oppressive environment of the Good Shepherd.
In a world where she feels disconnected from her family, particularly due to her mother’s inability to protect her from her stepfather’s abuse, Mairin is forced into an institution that strips her of any personal identity. The institution’s rigid structure, meant to reform “wayward girls,” takes away her voice and autonomy.
This theme of losing one’s self is also mirrored in Everly’s search for her birth parents. As an adoptee, she feels like she does not exist in the official world because her birth certificate has been sealed, leaving her feeling like an invisible person in society.
Both Mairin and Everly grapple with the trauma of being unseen and unheard, seeking to reclaim their identities and their rightful places in the world. For Mairin, this search for belonging becomes an act of survival, as she attempts to resist the oppressive systems around her, whether it’s the abusive household or the authoritarian structure at the Good Shepherd.
Her escape and the solidarity she forms with other girls reveal the importance of finding a sense of community and support, even in the most dehumanizing of circumstances.
Abuse and the Cycle of Trauma
Abuse, in its many forms, is another pivotal theme in Wayward Girls, demonstrating how trauma can permeate every aspect of one’s life and persist across generations. Mairin’s suffering at the hands of her stepfather, Colm, is exacerbated by her mother’s refusal to acknowledge the abuse, choosing instead to believe Colm’s manipulation.
This creates a toxic environment where Mairin feels isolated and betrayed by those she should be able to trust the most. The forced labor and mistreatment of the girls at the Good Shepherd echo the same system of exploitation, where individuals in positions of power abuse their authority over the vulnerable.
Angela’s tragic story of repeated sexual abuse by the doctor, Dr. Gilroy, at the Good Shepherd highlights the devastating effects of abuse.
Not only does it break her physically, but it also shatters her emotionally, leading to the forced surrender of her child. The psychological scars from these experiences remain long after the physical wounds have healed.
This theme also touches upon the broader societal structures that perpetuate these abuses, such as the Catholic Church and societal attitudes towards women, particularly those who deviate from traditional gender norms. The narrative unfolds the consequences of these systemic abuses, ultimately showing how the survivors, through solidarity and collective action, break free from the cycle of trauma.
Mairin’s own recovery and the legal battle against the Good Shepherd serve as poignant reminders of how acknowledging and confronting abuse is a necessary step toward healing.
Rebellion and the Struggle for Autonomy
The theme of rebellion is powerfully explored in Wayward Girls, with Mairin embodying the struggle for autonomy in a world that constantly seeks to control her. From the very beginning of the story, Mairin’s desire for freedom is evident when she dreams of a life outside the small town’s oppressive norms.
When her mother sends her to the Good Shepherd, Mairin’s rebellious spirit is further tested. The institution’s rigid rules, forced labor, and harsh punishments fuel her desire to escape, and she begins to resist in small ways.
Whether it’s her attempts to flee the facility or the quiet defiance she shows by attempting to help Angela, Mairin’s resistance becomes an act of reclaiming her agency. This theme of rebellion is not just limited to Mairin but is also shared by other girls at the institution, who form bonds of solidarity in their shared experiences of oppression.
The escape plan, although ultimately unsuccessful, symbolizes the determination of these girls to break free from the control and manipulation imposed on them. Mairin’s eventual flight from the Good Shepherd to a commune with Flynn represents the culmination of her struggle for self-determination, as she finally seeks a place where she can exist outside of the systems that have confined her.
The theme of rebellion in Wayward Girls is not just about breaking rules; it’s about finding one’s voice and taking back control over a life that was dictated by others.
Justice and the Pursuit of Truth
In Wayward Girls, the quest for justice is not just a personal battle but a collective one, with several characters seeking to right the wrongs done to them. Everly’s journey to uncover the truth about her origins and the abuses at the Good Shepherd is a pivotal part of the narrative.
After years of searching for her birth parents, she finally connects with Angela, who shares the traumatic story of her time at the institution. The legal case they pursue, along with the support of other survivors, becomes a vehicle for exposing the hidden atrocities that occurred behind the walls of the Good Shepherd.
The pursuit of justice becomes an act of reclaiming their dignity and acknowledging their pain. Angela’s testimony, where she recounts the sexual abuse she endured and the lies surrounding her child’s adoption, is a cathartic moment that not only brings justice for her but also validates the suffering of other women who were silenced.
The theme of justice in the story is not just about legal retribution but about giving voice to those who have been oppressed and overlooked by society. As the survivors come together and face their abusers in court, the act of speaking their truths becomes a crucial part of their healing process.
The case’s progress, despite the resistance from the Catholic Church, serves as a reminder that justice is often a long and difficult journey, but one that is essential for both personal and collective healing.