The Forgotten Girls

A Memoir of Friendship and Lost Promise in Rural America

Hardcover, 272 pages

Published May 30, 2023 by Random House.

ISBN:
9780593730898

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4 stars (1 review)

6 editions

Review of 'Forgotten Girls' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The Forgotten Girls by Monica Potts is a well-written and insightful book that sheds light on the overlooked struggles faced by women in rural areas, particularly in Clinton, Arkansas, where the life expectancy of America's least educated white women has recently been shrinking due to what she terms "diseases of despair" such as suicide, drunken driving, and overdoses. The book is a blend of memoir and research, a profound and empathetic account of the struggles of poor, rural white women in America, and the challenges they face in escaping poverty and addiction.

Potts intertwines her own life story with that of her childhood friend, Darci Brawner, to provide a window into the lives of poor, rural white women in America. While Potts managed to break free from the constraints of her upbringing and pursue a career in journalism, Darci remained trapped in a cycle of despair. By sharing these contrasting …