A stunning historical novel set in the 1960's! Doris is pregnant and sets off to get an abortion. Seeking help she is taken to Atlanta for the procedure. But once there a whole new world opens up for Doris. She encounters iconic political figures. queer people, and more scarily the KKK. The writer takes us on a beautifully written journey that is refreshing and I overall enjoyed this book. The only thing I will mention is that the use of real famous people kind of threw me for a loop, but some people might enjoy this.

This was a sweet and moving coming-of-age novel about a 1960s teenager seeking an abortion in Atlanta, finding herself in the middle of the civil rights movement along the way. It was very conversational in nature, and Doris had a strong voice. I loved the characters Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Broussard, and watching Doris' whole world open up as she's exposed to ideas and people she's never had the chance to discover before. This book was funny and very tactful in tackling many issues, including racism, civil rights, homophobia, and sexism.



Spoilerish:
The only thing I had mixed feelings about was having real people in fiction, like MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King. I didn't hate it by any means, but it did give me pause. Then again, I'm not sure how you would write this novel without those features. Not a big deal, just something I was thinking about while reading.

In 1960 Doris Steele is a 17-year-old poor Black girl living in small town Georgia. She finds herself pregnant and doesn’t want to keep the baby. With little options in her town she goes to her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, who agrees to take her to Atlanta for an abortion. Over the course of the weekend Doris discovers worlds she never would have if she had stayed in her small town - wealth, homosexuality, feminism, the Civil Rights Movement, and so much more. Coming from a religious upbringing, Doris begins to open her mind, realize the importance of choice, and think about a bigger life beyond what’s expected of her in her hometown.
I think this is my favorite book I’ve read so far this year. From the first paragraph Mia McKenzie’s writing draws you in and makes you feel like you’re there. Doris is sassy, and has a tell-it-like-it-is attitude. The cast of characters that she meets is diverse, and the topics covered are serious, but written in a way that’s easy to understand. The way the story unfolds, and Doris’s growth felt natural. I think that this was also a timely and important read given the current political climate in the US.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Oh, what a wonderful book. Doris takes a short journey but opens her mind and changes so much throughout, awakening to life outside her small town and upbringing. The changes in Doris, both internal and external, unfolded realistically. The characters were well-defined and interesting. The writing was elegant, simple to understand/follow yet able to conver complex topics and ideas. The theme of choice and inequality really resonated, especially in light of Roe getting overturned, DEI being vilified/eliminated, and the erosion of gay rights in the US today

This zippy and conversational coming-of-age documents seventeen-year-old Doris Steele’s life-changing weekend in Atlanta in 1960. Unexpectedly pregnant and desperate for an abortion, Doris turns to the person she trusts most in the world — her English teacher, Mrs. Lucas. Mrs. Lucas and her wealthy Atlanta friends introduce Doris to queerness and civil rights and the importance of choice and Doris begins to question everything she’s ever learned about God and who she is supposed to be and what is right and wrong. I have some questions about the use of real people in works of fiction (i.e MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King), but overall really enjoyed this!

This is the story of a young Black girl in the 1960s South. She is pregnant with a baby she doesn't want, but being poor and from a small town where everyone knows each other's business, she has few options. Her favorite teacher, and friend, offers to help her by taking her to Atlanta for an abortion. There Doris runs right smack into the Civil Rights movement, meets Dr. Martin Luther King and a cast of gay, wealthy Black women with history and a willingness to help her. I truly enjoyed this eye opening book about young Black women's options at that time. Great character development, well written and an education to read. Excellent.

Amazing read! These Heathens by Mia McKenzie focuses on Doris Steele, a 17-year-old black teenager in 1960s Georgia, bogged down by familial obligations and expectations that her life will always be small (wake up, laundry, cooking, take care of children, sleep, and repeat - with a church visit interspersed in there to liven up that riveting schedule.). When Doris finds herself pregnant, she embarks on a journey with her role model (her prior teacher Mrs. Lucas *Icon*) to get an abortion in Atlanta. Her worldview explodes with new people and experiences - wealth, mixed race people, literal MLK and Malcolm X run ins, the KKK, feminism, sexuality and more. I am not drawn to coming-of-age tales but the poignant and funny writing of Mia McKenzie had me racing through this book.