Women and Children First: A Novel
“While a young woman’s violent death sounds like the setup for a murder mystery story, in Grabowki’s deft hands, it becomes something richer and more surprising: an opportunity to capture the people left in her wake at their most honest, flawed, and insightful. Once you get into these women’s heads, they will never get out of yours.” ―Oprah Daily
A gripping literary puzzle that unwinds the private lives of ten women as they confront tragedy in a small Massachusetts town.
Nashquitten, MA, is a decaying coastal enclave that not even tourist season can revive, full of locals who have run the town’s industries for generations. When a young woman dies at a house party, the circumstances around her death suspiciously unclear, the tight-knit community is shaken. As a mother grieves her daughter, a teacher her student, a best friend her confidante, the events around the tragedy become a lightning rod: blame is cast, secrets are buried deeper. Some are left to pick up the pieces, while others turn their backs, and all the while, a truth about that dreadful night begins to emerge.
Told through the eyes of ten local women, Grabowski’s Women and Children First is an exquisite portrait of grief and a powerful reminder of life’s interconnectedness. Touching on womanhood, class, and sexuality, ambition, disappointment, and tragedy, this novel is a stunning rendering of love and loss, and a bracing lesson from a phenomenal new literary talent that no one walks this earth alone.
“I am a big fan of Women and Children First . . . Alina Grabowski is an astute and limber narrative artist and I could read her prose all day long and never grow weary.” ―Lorrie Moore, author of A Gate at the Stairs
# of Pages: 336
Book Binding: Hardcover
Year of Publication: 2024
Publisher: Zando – SJP Lit
Language: en
ISBN: 9781638930785
Alina Grabowski is an acclaimed author known for her poignant and thought-provoking writing style. Born and raised in a small town in the Midwest, she developed a love for storytelling at a young age. After graduating from college with a degree in English Literature, Alina pursued a career in writing and has since published several novels and short stories. Her work often explores complex themes such as family dynamics, relationships, and societal norms. In addition to writing, Alina is also a passionate advocate for women's and children's rights, which is reflected in her latest novel, Women and Children First. She currently resides in New York City with her husband and two children.