Witchcraft for Wayward GirlsWitchcraft for Wayward Girls
What it's about
In 1970, fifteen-year-old Fern, pregnant, is sent by her father to a home for unwed mothers in St. Augustine, Florida, where girls are forced to give up their babies for adoption. When a mysterious librarian gives Fern and the other girls a book of witchcraft, they discover a power they can use to fight back, at a terrible price.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for horror. It's a furious, moving horror novel.
You'll love it if you liked
Weyward
The Handmaid’s Tale
A Resistance of WitchesGood to know
It deals with forced adoption, sexual abuse and childbirth.
By the numbers
- Readers18 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz36 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it's well reviewed, but isn't currently a prize winner, a lifetime bestseller or a book everyone's talking about, so we don't rank it. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Dark
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Quick answers
Is Witchcraft for Wayward Girls worth reading?
It won the Goodreads Choice Award for horror. Its Must-Read Score is 60.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Witchcraft for Wayward Girls about?
In 1970, fifteen-year-old Fern, pregnant, is sent by her father to a home for unwed mothers in St. Augustine, Florida, where girls are forced to give up their babies for adoption. When a mysterious librarian gives Fern and the other girls a book of witchcraft, they discover a power they can use to fight back, at a terrible price.
How long does it take to read Witchcraft for Wayward Girls?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Witchcraft for Wayward Girls won?
Goodreads Choice (horror) winner (2025).
What should I read after Witchcraft for Wayward Girls?
If you liked it, try Weyward by Emilia Hart, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood or A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan.