In September, I always find myself leaning into the back-to-school spirit of becoming more interested in the non-fiction section of the bookstacks.
I heard some buzz about the book, Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America by Gigi Georges and set to finishing it. My family and I travelled to Downeast Maine this summer as a vacation getaway and I found myself imagining what it might be like to live in these communities; so seemingly far from the life I know in the Midcoast region. Georges’ accounts of the lives and rugged determination of these five women was fascinating to me. She touched both on the challenges and the advantages to rural Maine living.
I loved the way Georges wrote about the upbringings of these women, and how their lives intertwined in rural community living. It seems that regardless of the hardships they endured, there was always a friendship in the community for them to lean on. I enjoyed learning about the amazing teachers and coaches and other mentors who helped these women find their way.
A great read for those who have always been curious about Downeast living and how our next generation is faring despite the poverty and division in our local politics. We will always sit next to each other on the bleachers to cheer our youth on.
