A review by booksnbeanies
The Degenerates by J. Albert Mann

4.0

This was an eye-opening, and heart-breaking book. Based on real women, The Degenerates is about four women who are considered 'morons' or 'feebleminded' and are therefore made to stay in this school for the rest of their lives. Alice is there because she has a club foot, Maxine is there because she was caught kissing girls, and Maxine's sister Rose is there because she has down syndrome. London joins them after being taken from the home she was living in after becoming pregnant without being married. These women are made to do the same things every single day and if they put one toe out of line, they are put in the 'cages' which are even worse than their daily routines.

This book is sad, but brilliantly written. I say this book is an eye-opener because I'm disabled and had I lived in that time period I might have ended up there as well.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves true historical fiction.

Thank you, NetGalley and Antheum Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.