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These Heathens: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
From the “razor-sharp and outrageously funny” (Taylor Jenkins Reid) mind of Mia McKenzie comes a vibrant novel exploring how one weekend can change your whole life.
LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL AND THE ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE • A CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Dear Lord, please forgive me for the sins I’ve committed. And for the one I’m still planning to commit tomorrow. Amen.
Where do you get an abortion in 1960 Georgia, especially if your small town’s midwife goes to the same church as your parents? For seventeen-year-old Doris Steele, the answer is Atlanta, where her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, calls upon her brash, wealthy childhood best friend, Sylvia, for help. While waiting to hear from the doctor who has agreed to do the procedure, Doris spends the weekend scandalized by, but drawn to, the people who move in and out of Sylvia’s orbit: celebrities whom Doris has seen in the pages of Jet and Ebony, civil rights leaders such as Coretta Scott King and Diane Nash, women who dance close together, boys who flirt too hard and talk too much, atheists! And even more shocking? Mrs. Lucas seems right at home.
From the guests at a queer kickback to the student activists at a SNCC conference, Doris suddenly finds herself surrounded by so many people who seem to know exactly who or what they want. Doris knows she doesn’t want a baby, but what does she want? Will this trip help her find out?
These Heathens is a funny, poignant story about Black women’s obligations and ambitions, what we owe to ourselves, and the transformative power of leaving your bubble, even for just one chaotic weekend.
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"A one-of-a-kind, urgently needed novel about choosing the life you want to lead . . . Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and Atlanta’s queer Black community, Mia McKenzie vividly depicts how Black women create circles of trust, freedom, and autonomy with one another."
— Leila Mottley, author of Nightcrawling and The Girls Who Grew Big
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Bursting with heart and humor, These Heathens reflects powerfully on choice and chance, while also being endlessly entertaining.
— Allison Larkin, author of The People We Keep and Home of the American Circus -
Page-turning, timely, and relentlessly entertaining, These Heathens reminds us that life is not only about what happens to you, it’s also about what you choose and the people who help you along the way.
— Jayne Allen, author of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted and The Most Wonderful Time -
A quick, funny, heartwarming read . . . Doris gives voice and form to the unspoken realities of women all over the world. This novel will stay with me for a very long time.
— Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of Patsy and Here Comes the Sun -
A funny, sinful look at the Civil Rights Movement from a valuable queer perspective, and a glorious addition to the canon of resistance literature. These Heathens further proves Mia McKenzie is a name you should and will know for years to come.
— Gabriel Bump, author of Everywhere You Don’t Belong and The New Naturals -
Mia McKenzie is a master of strong-willed, clear-voiced protagonists who, even when they go a bit wayward, remain so fun to root for. Despite the equally well-rendered gravitas of the novel’s historical moment, These Heathens had me laughing on page one.
— Sara Nović, author of True Biz and Girl at War -
McKenzie is a consummate storyteller. In this funny, poignant, and urgent tale, she shines a light on both the decisions women—particularly Black women—get to make, and on their autonomy—not just over their bodies, but over their entire lives.
— Nancy Johnson, author of People of Means and The Kindest Lie -
This touching coming-of-age story tackles themes like identity, growth, and power with razor-sharp wit and humor.
— Harper’s Bazaar -
McKenzie’s novel crackles with energy, and her depiction of Black high society during a pivotal moment in American history has depth and vivacity.
— Kirkus Reviews
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About Mia McKenzie
Mia McKenzie is the award-winning author of The Summer We Got Free and the creator of Black Girl Dangerous Media, an independent media and education project that centers queer Black women and girls.
About Bahni Turpin
Bahni Turpin, winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and several prestigious Audie Awards for her narrations, was named a “Golden Voice” by AudioFile magazine in 2019. Publishers Weekly magazine named her Narrator of the Year for 2016. She is an ensemble member of the Cornerstone Theater Company in Los Angeles. She has guest starred in many television series, including NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Six Feet Under, Cold Case, What about Brian, and The Comeback. Film credits include Brokedown Palace, Crossroads, and Daughters of the Dust. She is also a member of the recording cast of The Help, which won numerous awards.