The Alabama Writers’ Forum
The Alabama Writers’ Forum, a partnership program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, works to cultivate our state’s literary culture. We do that through supporting writers at all stages. We encourage our young writers to find their creative voice through the Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids!–and through our Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards. We support the work of our state’s literary community through our Alabama Authors Directory, First Draft magazine, and other programming and opportunities for writers across the state. And we celebrate our state’s rich literary legacy through the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. We are, above all, a community of writers united by our desire to advance the literary arts in Alabama. If that describes you — join us! There are many ways to get involved.
How to Care for a Human Girl
How to Care for a Human Girl: A Novel By Ashley Wurzbacher Simon & Schuster Hardcover: $28 Reviewed by Calliope (CJ) Walls The novel How to Care for a Human Girl by Ashley Wurzbacher is a story of two sisters traveling similar paths after their mother's death. It delves into the stories of Jada and Maddy, sisters with a strained relationship. Each blames the other for their mother’s death, and both are fighting to survive a world turned upside down. The book begins with both sisters facing unexpected pregnancies. Jada, the eldest daughter, navigates a failing marriage and a new career in psychology. She approaches the world through science and reason as she tries to make decisions about her marriage and pregnancy. Maddy, the younger, is pregnant by a mysterious figure. She grapples with decisions about her own pregnancy, looking to religion but also turning to Jada to help her figure out her life. Through their shared experiences, the sisters are brought together in ways that help them both. Wurzbacher builds a melancholic parallel between the sisters. [...]
