First published 2025
A runaway flees violence and finds unexpected sanctuary with a pack of wild coyotes. Another young woman becomes entangled with white Christian YouTube influencers whose righteousness masks their hypocrisy. A mother watches helplessly as her daughter's apocalyptic visions begin manifesting in reality. These young Black women navigate a world where social expectations cast long shadows and prejudice constantly shifts its form. They search for connection and a place to belong while confronting both internal shame and external persecution. Queer women of color face particular dangers as they test the boundaries of acceptable girlhood. Each character follows her deepest longings and wounds to places where ordinary rules no longer apply. They discover sanctuaries in the most unexpected corners of existence. As they battle hatred from within and without, these women tap into their wildest instincts and confront their most painful realities. They cry out to be truly seen and understood.
Genres: fiction, african-american, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, outsiders, search-for-belonging
Period: 21st-century
216 pages · Paperback · The Feminist Press at CUNY
Content warnings: violence