The Last Carolina Girl

In this emotionally charged novel, fourteen-year-old Leah Payne navigates a turbulent world after the tragic loss of her father in their close-knit coastal Carolina community. Orphaned and thrust into the care of strangers, she must confront dark secrets and a troubling historical backdrop involving forced sterilizations mandated by the state eugenics board. As Leah fights to reclaim her future and discover her true identity, she grapples with the harsh realities that threaten her spirit and independence. Set in 1935, this poignant story illuminates the struggle for personal agency against systemic injustice.