Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America

Written by Gigi Georges

Narrated by Lisa Flanagan

In Downeast, Gigi Georges follows five girls as they come of age in one of the most challenging and geographically isolated regions on the Eastern seaboard. Their stories reveal surprising truths about rural America and offer hope for its future. “It’s almost impossible not to care about these fierce young women and cheer for their hard-won successes” (Kirkus) in this “heartfelt portrait” and “worthy tribute” (Publishers Weekly).

Nestled in Maine’s far northeast corner, Washington County sits an hour’s drive from the heart of famed and bustling Acadia National Park. Yet it’s a world away. For Willow, Vivian, Mckenna, Audrey, and Josie—five teenage girls caught between tradition and transformation in this remote region—it is home. Downeast follows their journeys of heartbreak and hope in uncertain times, creating a nuanced and unique portrait of rural America with women at its center.

Willow lives in the shadow of an abusive, drug-addicted father and searches for stability through photography and love. Vivian, a gifted writer, feels stifled by her church and town, and struggles to break free without severing family ties. Mckenna is a softball pitching phenom whose passion is the lobster-fishing she learned at her father’s knee. Audrey is a beloved high school basketball star who earns a coveted college scholarship but questions her chosen path. Josie, a Yale-bound valedictorian, is determined to take the world by storm. 

All five girls know the pain and joy of life in a region whose rugged beauty and stoicism mask dwindling populations, vanishing job opportunities, and pervasive opioid addiction.  As the girls reach adulthood, they discover that despite significant challenges, there is much to celebrate in “the valley of the overlooked.” Their stories remind us of the value of timeless ideals: strength of family and community, reverence for nature’s rule, dignity in cracked hands and muddied shoes, and the enduring power of home.

Revealed through the eyes of Willow, Vivian, Mckenna, Audrey, and Josie, Downeast is based on four years of intimate reporting. The result is a beautifully rendered, emotionally startling, and vital book. Downeast will break readers’ hearts yet offer them hope, providing answers to what the future may hold for rural America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063097742

Gigi Georges

Gigi Georges, Ph.D., turned to narrative non-fiction writing after an extensive career in politics, public service, and academia. A former White House Special Assistant to the President, she has taught political science at Boston College, served as Program Director for the Harvard Kennedy School’s Innovation Strategies Initiative, and been a Managing Director of The Glover Park Group—a leading national public affairs firm. Born and raised in Brooklyn, she lives with her family in New Hampshire and Downeast Maine.

Reviews for Downeast

[diana.hauser · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America is written by Gigi Georges.The book is a MPR - Maine Public’s All Books Considered Book Club Pick - to be discussed in December 2022.The program is fantastic, as are all the book choices over the past 2 years.Downeast is nonfiction, a narrative nonfiction.The book includes an Author’s Note - a Map of Maine, highlighting Washington County - a very complete Table of Contents - a short Geography of the Region - a Prologue - 4 Parts with 23 Chapters - an Epilogue - an Afterword - Acknowledgements - Notes - Index - a Reading Group Guide.“Nestled in Maine’s far east corner, Washington County sits an hour’s drive from the heart of famed and bustling Acadia National Park. Yet it is a world away. For Willow, Vivian, McKenna, Audrey and Josie - 5 teenage girls caught between tradition and transformation in this remote region - it is home.” (Book Jacket)The Afterword details Ms Georges’ writing process and the Notes and Index Sections provide fascinating reading on their own.This book is very timely, well-researched and compelling, interesting and engrossing - it is a very remarkable book. *****

[sennebec · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I grew up in a small Maine town and Washington County is my favorite part of Maine. In this book, Gigi Georges weaves a beautiful and emotional story of five girls over a four year period. These five young women are honest, insightful and wise beyond their years. I've seen their peers working in stores and restaurants when visiting Downeast. The blend of narrative, statistical information and family dynamics, coupled with insights from relatives, teachers, and others living in the area, all enhance this book. I'm not one for reading nonfiction, but this was a notable exception. It's the sort of book any public or school library should have on their shelves for it not only offers insights, but hope and a bunch of relatable experiences for teens no matter where they live.

[froxgirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is set in Washington County, rural Maine, in a town where there are few amenities and where most young people leave for college and other opportunities. Work is limited to fishing, lobstering, and farming, and the weather is harsh. Although substance abuse abounds, there is little reference to it in the author's study of five girls graduating high school. They play together on a basketball team that is the pride of the town, and they face subtle pressures from their families to stay put. Without their commitment, these small towns are destined to disappear. The best outcome is that none of them get pregnant and married, and that all five make careers for themselves in lobstering, nursing, and there's also a Yale student who is able to overcome the alienation that usually comes with the different environment. The problem with the book is that all five stories are similar and that there's not enough differentiation between to have the reader emotionally bind with each girl. But it's still worthwhile to shine a light on this remote and hidden area that is so different from the southern Maine "Vacationland" that the tourists see.