They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to Wellwood House in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, to give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened.
Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who plans to marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who.
Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood.
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a compelling historical coming-of-age story intertwined with occult horror and speculative fiction. The story begins in 1970, centered on 15-year-old Fern, who is sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, a place where unwed mothers are hidden away to give birth in secrecy. Here, Fern meets other girls who are all waiting for their due dates when their babies can be adopted and they can return home. The only outside person they see is the librarian who runs a mobile library. After the librarian offers Fern a book on witchcraft, she convinces the others to use it to teach the maternity staff some harsh lessons. With a taste for power, Fern believes she can help one of the girls escape a desperate situation, but first she must make a powerful pact with the witches, which comes at a great price.
The story has a slow-burn start and appears to be mostly a historical fiction story until the witchcraft subplot comes in at the 30 percent mark. It takes even longer for the story to showcase horror scenes, and even those are few and far between. Once the witchcraft elements do kick in, the story becomes much more intriguing. The true horror in this story is the societal judgment, oppression, and violation that the young pregnant characters face—it will send shockwaves to young readers who can’t fathom a world where women were treated this way!
Most of the characters in this book are complex and morally grey. Fern is anxious, emotional, and people-pleasing at the start. She’s determined to follow the rules at Wellwood House and return home without causing any fuss. When she develops a bond with the other girls and realizes some are in much worse circumstances, something shifts inside her. In a desperate attempt to make things right, she makes a “deal with the devil” that has devastating consequences.
Readers will feel Fern’s heartbreak as she witnesses some of the horrors the other girls experience, especially those determined to keep their babies. At the same time, readers will question her poor judgment and extreme decision-making. Fern develops a strong bond with several girls, most notably fiery Rose and compassionate Zinnia, both of whom Fern reunites with decades later in some very compelling final scenes. The witchcraft elements are seamlessly integrated into the story in a way that feels believable and terrifying. The witches are depicted with a gypsy hippie vibe, traveling as a group and never settling anywhere for long, perfectly matching the era. The witchcraft book that Fern uses also presents a more traditional approach to witchcraft and spells that witchy readers will enjoy.
Although this is a longer read at just shy of 500 pages, its straightforward prose and engrossing storyline make it feel shorter. The author gives a vivid depiction of the early 1970s era—readers who grew up in these times will especially resonate with the characters, jargon, and historical references. During Fern’s time at Wellwood House, Roe v. Wade was still three years away, and maternity homes for unwed women were widespread through the States, and Hendrix accurately portrays the harsh realities and injustices that young women out of wedlock faced. It’s obvious that Hendrix did some research before writing this book—the circumstances for pregnant teens in the early 70s and the realities of natural childbirth are accurately depicted. There is a graphic birthing scene in the story that readers should be prepared for—many readers have praised it for its accurate portrayal and emotional intensity.
Overall, Witchcraft for Wayward Girls is a haunting and thought-provoking coming-of-age story that explores the societal challenges faced by young women. This is not a book for everyone—it’s bleak at times, emotionally intense, and requires patience to fully appreciate. If you’ve enjoyed Hendrix’s previous books, you’ll find the writing in this book is just as impressive, but the horror is presented in a very different way, more unsettling and thought-provoking than traditional horror. Readers who love historical fiction, supernatural horror, coming-of-age tales, and stories with strong female bonds will really love this book!
