MASSACHUSETTS BOOK AWARD

WINNER of HONORS in FICTION 

 

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“Powerful and moving, with a heroine who is impossible to forget.” 

— Marjan Kamali, author of The Lion Women of Tehran

“What could be more timely than Sherbrooke’s gorgeously fictionalized and page-turning account of Lucy Stone?… A stunning look at timeless issues, all told through the lens of one extraordinary heroine.”

— Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You and

With or Without You

 

“Sherbrooke aims to revive interest in [Lucy] Stone by dramatizing her dogged attempts to support herself and her causes—and her equally dogged attempts to reconcile her professional career with motherhood and a ‘marriage of equals.’”

—The New York Times Book Review

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Born on a farm in 1818, Lucy Stone dreamt of extraordinary things for a girl of her time, whether it was staying in school beyond the eighth grade or working for the abolitionist cause. She dreamt of ordinary things, too, such as falling in love and raising a family of her own. But when she learns that the Constitution affords no rights to married women, she declares that she will never marry and dedicates her life to fighting for change.

At a time when it is considered promiscuous for women to speak in public, Lucy risks everything for the anti-slavery movement. Her powerful oratory mesmerizes even her most ardent detractors as she rapidly becomes a household name. And when she begins to lecture on the “woman question,” she inspires a young Susan B. Anthony to join the movement. But life as a crusader is a lonely one.

Then, one day, a dashing and forward-thinking young man proposes a marriage of equals. Lucy must reconcile her desire for love and children with her public persona and the legal perils of marriage she has long railed against. And when a wrenching controversy pits Stone and Anthony against each other, Lucy makes a decision that will impact her legacy forever.

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“A powerful and stirring portrait of one of the most influential women in the equal rights movement. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself ready to march!”

— Isla Morley, author of The Last Blue

“A propulsive and astonishing story…that shines a powerful light on values we still struggle to realize and uphold.” 

— Katrin Schumann, author of This Terrible Beauty and

The Forgotten Hours

“Sherbrooke taps into the current moment with authenticity and vulnerability, outrage and heartbreak. You’ll shake your head and raise your fist… Leaving Coy’s Hill is deeply moving and profoundly relevant.”

— Susan Bernhard, author of Winter Loon

“Unforgettable and unputdownable, this novel will remain in memory long after the last page has been turned.”

–  Crystal King, author of Feast of Sorrow and The Chef’s Secret

“Timeless and stunning, Leaving Coy’s Hill reminds us to fight, to love and to appreciate the power of passion – passion for ideas, people, and women’s rights.”

– Rachel Barenbaum, author of A Bend in the Stars

“Lucy Stone is the heroine we all need right now.”

— Julie Carrick Dalton, author of Waiting for the Night Song