Description:
Set in Philadelphia during World War II and based on a true family story, "The Faithful Ones: A Novel," tells the story of how a man's principled choice in the bootcamp firing range lands him in a horrfiying mental asylum with no ticket out.
Brief description: Professor Emerita Kathleen J. Waites is a Philadelphia native, former nun, author, scholar, and public speaker. In addition to her numerous academic book chapters and journal articles, she is the author of "Particular Friendships: A Convent Memoir." Centered on her four years as a nun in the turbulent 1960s, it was a 2007 honoree of the Broward County Library's Literary Feast, along with such authors as John Dickerson, Susan Cheever, and Ishmael Beah. "The Faithful Ones: A Novel," based on a true family story and set on the Homefront during World War II, is her debut novel.
Review Quotes: "In Kathleen J. Waites' vivid, gripping, and heavily researched fictional account of atrocities at the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry during World War II, three voices merge to reveal a complex personal and familial journey that is both harrowing and heartbreaking. This is a powerful and moving account of the damage wrought by family shame and governmental and institutional cruelty where the reader is ultimately gratified when the rats are exposed and good triumphs over evil. A necessary and well told contribution to the story of Byberry and a meaningful tribute to the patients locked behind its walls who exist only in memory." -Deirdre Fagan, author of Find a Place for Me.
"An inspiring account of bravery and fortitude in the face of cruel injustice. Heartbreaking and beautifully told, Waites pulls you in and doesn't let go. This story and its characters-some real, some fictional-will haunt you for years to come." -Lenore Borja, author of The Last Huntress (Mirror Realm Series Book I)
"The Faithful Ones introduces us to unsung heroes of the greatest generation whose actions were forged by selflessness, sacrifice, and sympathy. With a careful blend of fact and fiction, Waites' captivating story centers on the tragic mistreatment of a pacifist-leaning Army recruit and the devoted young sister left to seek justice on his behalf. Its Philly-centricities and mannerisms provide a realistic backdrop any Philadelphian would recognize. With the right balance of fiction and documented facts, the reader is treated to an experience that ranges from horrific to heartwarming, and it comes to a satisfying conclusion. This one is hard to put down." -John Webster, author of The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry: A History of Misery and Medicine