Martha McPhee is the author of five novels that delve into intricate family dynamics and moral quandaries. Her writing is distinguished by keen psychological insight and precise prose. McPhee explores themes of identity, culpability, and the search for meaning in contemporary life. Her works are recognized for their literary depth and their capacity to evoke profound emotional responses in readers.
"For fans of Mary Beth Keane and Jennifer Egan, this powerful, moving multigenerational saga from National Book Award finalist Martha McPhee-ten years in the making-explores one family's story against the sweep of 20th century American history"--
We drove across America to talk with girls from diverse landscapes and backgrounds. Our journey took us through the Palouse of eastern Washington, along the San Antonio River, and to a brokerage firm in a Dallas skyscraper. We spoke with a sidesaddle rider, a Hmong girl who became a citizen, a blues-rock musician, ballerinas, surfers, an ice skater, and a girl who creates and plays with dolls. This book aims to capture both visually and verbally the extraordinary things that ordinary girls do, along with the drives and desires that motivate them. The collection features original photographs and life stories by sisters Jenny, Laura, and Martha McPhee, who understand the experience of being girls, having grown up in the sixties and seventies during the women's movement. They explore what it means to be a girl in America today, examining normal experiences, self-definition, individuality, and belonging. Over more than two years, they sought answers to these questions. Girls introduces a rich tapestry of extraordinary and "normal" girls pursuing their passions—poets, novelists, musicians, unicyclists, football players, philanthropists, and activists. Beautifully written by Jenny and Martha and illustrated with striking black-and-white images by Laura, this work reveals the astonishing scope of girls' lives today and the spirit with which future women will shape the world.