Doris, the protagonist of These Heathens, grew up in a small, rural Georgia town called Millen where she helps care for her younger siblings. Doris is bright and did well in school, but had to drop out when her mother became ill. Now, her life is mostly cooking, cleaning and caretaking. When Doris realizes she's pregnant, she is absolutely certain she does not want to have a child. But in a small town like Millen, the options for abortion are few and the possibility of obtaining an abortion in total privacy are even fewer. Doris seeks aid from her favorite school teacher, Mrs. Cate Lucas, who despite initial reluctance agrees to help Doris.

Doris and Mrs. Lucas head to Atlanta for an abortion. It's the first time Doris has left Millen and her eyes and mind are blown open. There is dancing, drinking, homosexuality, protesting for desegregation, rich black people, and far less regard for the church than Doris is used to. At first, Doris is slightly horrified. And then, she realizes, these things might not be all bad.

Through the course of These Heathens, we learn a little about the nonviolent protests held by SNCC, get glimpses of historic figures like Julia Avery and Coretta Scott King, and watch Doris's coming of age. Overall, this book was both warm and heavy. I loved the relationships and characters and while we touched on sad/hard themes (like the Klan threatening black people who have registered to vote), it is relatively easy reading. Doris, in particular, is easy to love and root for.

5 stars. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“These Heathens” tells the story of Doris Steele, whose need for an abortion sets her on an unexpected journey. As she travels to Atlanta, Doris slowly discovers new ideas through her encounters with civil rights and queer communities. Her growing radical views don’t appear overnight. Instead, they gradually develop as she begins to question the strict beliefs of her small-town upbringing. Overall, this was a great and very impactful read.

Overall I enjoyed the novel. I loved the diversity in characters and felt like a very specific time in history.
But the novel felt rushed. The topics discussed in the book (race, sexuality, women’s rights) deserved way more time to be fleshed out and it would have made more sense to Doris’s character to take the time to explore them.
Overall a good read!

This book wasn't on my radar until it was gifted to me. It takes place over a life-changing weekend in the 1960s when 17-year-old pregnant Doris travels to Atlanta with her former teacher. The purpose of the trip is to get an abortion, but Doris ends up with a real education about the civil rights movement and homosexuality.

I wanted a little more background on Doris, like how she got pregnant and more about her later life. But as a snapshot of a Black girl's coming of age story, this is well done.

This book was great and I would definitely recommend it to my students. I think this is a way point to get students to look things up and read about the past specifically gender sexuality and the civil rights movement. It would be a great way to introduce students without a textbook and also provide them the opportunity to look things up for themselves. This book was humorous And serious at the same time. It was very interesting to read about all of the people.

These Heathens was a happy accident for me! It was an impactful and poignant story that I am grateful to have encountered.

Doris is a 17 year old black girl living in small town Georgia. The year is 1960 and the Civil Rights movement is in full swing. Doris finds herself in a very personal dilemma and seeks out the person she trusts most to help, her former teacher Mrs. Lucas. Mrs. Lucas finds a solution to Doris’ situation and they head off to Atlanta to resolve it.

While in Atlanta, pious Doris is exposed to a host of situations that she hasn’t encountered before; queerness, sit-ins, and progressive politics among them. Doris even has encounters with familiar Civil Rights leaders (ex. MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King) and, unfortunately, the KKK. She must unlearn everything she has always believed to be THE truth and forge a new path for herself. In a single weekend, Doris’ life is forever changed.

The writing is just lovely. Mia McKenzie joins knee-slapping humor and tough subject matters. While that coupling may seem troubling, it is done with such grace and tenderness that it just works. Doris is a great and complex character. She has an air of innocence about her but is far from naive. The rest of the cast of characters were exceedingly well written. As a reader, I got a very clear picture of each character’s beliefs and motivators. I am not entirely sure how I feel about the addition of real life historical figures but it did keep the book exciting and engaging.

This coming of age story is an important read and I think just about everyone can benefit from it. I will be recommending it to anyone who will listen! I’m excited to check out more of McKenzie’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This novel had me hooked right from the first sentence, and I stayed completely entranced the whole way through. With a story this short, you can't waste a single sentence. Trust, the author did not struggle to make every word matter.

The story of a deeply religious, small town black teen attempting to get an abortion in 1960's Georgia could very easily get crushed under the heaviness of its subjects. But Doris's quick wit lifted it up in all the right moments.

These Heathens was not a lecture. It was not attempting to tell the reader how to feel about any of the tricky issues it brought up. It was simply an exploration and discovery of Doris's true, honest thoughts about everything going on around (and within!) her.

The Heathens was such an entertaining book. The author did such a great job of turning the situation of a poor black teenager in rural Georgia struggling to rid herself of an unwanted pregnancy into a life changing weekend that would give young Doris a look into the lives of more people and more situations than she could have ever imagined. Writing in the voice of Doris, a country girl who had more gumption than education was brilliant. I loved Doris’s phrases and reactions. The author deftly handled many themes including the inability of women to govern their bodies with a light touch, interspersing historical people and events. This would be a great book club book. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to preview this book.

3.75 stars rounded up. I loved the story, the writing, the characters, and Doris’ growth in the book. It felt a little rushed at times since the book takes place over a couple of days, and a lot happens. This is one I’d recommend to YA readers who want to explore historical fiction with Black characters and queer representation.

"These Heathens" by Mia McKenzie may be a coming-of-age tale taking place in the 1960s, but so much of it is incredibly relevant to modern day America.. Following Doris Steele, a precocious 17 year old desperately seeking an abortion, this novel takes place over a single weekend as Doris travels to Atlanta and meets a variety of civil rights activists and members of the city's underground queer community. The writing is simply a joy; Doris is quickwitted, funny, and utterly out of her element as she meets people who make her wonder: could she choose a life for herself beyond what is expected of her?

A masterpiece. I am so grateful that I have gotten the ARC of this story. I know I will not be able to correctly convey how this novel made me feel. It is definitely one that I will continue to go back to. It is a novel that you wish you can read for the first time again. I feel as if I am getting a first look at a story that will become very important and well known. It's hard to describe how the book affected me, but I will say it is like something I've never read.

These Heathens is an epic tale of womanhood-- It's 1960, Doris is 17 and pregnant. She needs an abortion and enlists the help of her old English teacher, Mrs. Lucas. Not wanting her family to find out, the two travel to Atlanta where they meet Sylvia, Catie(Mrs. Lucas) childhood best friend. What follows is a weekend that opens Doris' eyes to a world outside her small southern town. Atlanta is in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Doris finds herself intrigued with the organizations and sit downs that are happening. She is also thrust into a secret life that some of the women around her partake in. Doris has never been around queer people, but it seems Mrs. Lucas is right at home.

I love that we see how homosexuality was looked at in the 1960s. It didn't surprise me, but it was interesting to see it on the page, the blatant hypocrisy of Doris' and others beliefs of homosexuals. It's a great way to convey how the -isms- racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.. are all interconnected. But it wasn't always seen that way and still isn't for a lot of people. It is better, but of course, we have a long way to go. I found myself mad at Doris at times for her beliefs but I had to tell myself to not look at it through my perspective or my eyes.

There were so many beautiful quotes throughout about life, freedom, choice. This is a book I will be purchasing a physical copy of because I love it so much.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Doris Steele is a 17 year old who finds out she is pregnant in a rural town in Georgia in 1960. She asks a teacher, Mrs. Lucas, for help and they travel together to Atlanta where Mrs. Lucas knows someone who can help Doris. While in Atlanta, she ends up at a SNCC conference where she learns about the upcoming sit-ins. I don’t want to give too much away, but she meets some very important people and learns so much about herself during her stay in Atlanta.

These Heathens was fast paced, I do wish it were longer! Doris is a character who you are happy to get behind and root for. She is kind, caring, and witty as hell. I really enjoyed getting a look inside her mind when she is in the middle of everything and learning about the upcoming civil rights movement.

I’m not usually one to read historical fiction, but this book is different. I genuinely enjoyed the ride and do recommend reading These Heathens when it is published on June 17th, 2025.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This was a beautiful book. I thought it was so well written and just was so beautiful. I can’t really articulate how great the story was. The way the author dealt with so much was really impressive given the length of the book. No stone felt unturned and I felt like everything was studied in depth. It was really a coming of age where a child realizes she doesn’t know as much as she thought and everything she ever knew is challenged.

Can't recommend this book enough!

5 Stars! Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Doris Steele is seventeen years old and finds herself pregnant. She can’t go to the local town midwife for an abortion, so she reaches out to her former teacher, Mrs.Lucas for help. The two embark on a journey to Atlanta where Mrs.Lucas’s friend, Sylvia, has offered to help find a doctor who can help Doris. Upon arriving in Atlanta, Doris is thrust out of her comfort zone. This story takes place as the SNCC is gearing up to hold sit-ins, and Doris finds herself engaging with the Civil Rights movement. Doris is forced to take a hard look at what she wants out of life, and figure out her future. This story takes place during a pivotal time in history, and we get to experience it all through Doris’s eyes.

The writing in this book was phenomenal - the writing flowed so well and resulted in a fresh take on a coming of age book. This book made me laugh, cry and cheer Doris on as she advocated for herself. This book was a story about personal growth, and how being around those different from us can open our eyes to accepting others. The story also covered difficult topics, like abortion and bodily autonomy, but in a very real life way. Doris is oftentimes at odds with herself due to her religious upbringing, but also wanting to make a choice for herself.

Pick up this book if you enjoy stories of immense growth, a witty narrator, and a wide cast of diverse characters. I am so glad I got to read this book early - it is a great addition to anyone’s bookshelf!

Mia McKenzie’s These Heathens was a clever, genuine, and refreshing coming of age story. Doris Steele, a seventeen-year-old from a small town in 1960 Georgia initially travels to Atlanta for an abortion, but she ends up finding much more than she expected. The characters she meets — from civil rights activists to glamorous Black celebrities — introduce Doris to a world she never imagined, forcing her to confront who she is at her core and the kind of life that she's imagined for herself.

What really made this book stand out for me was Doris’s voice. The novel starts heavy and Doris is hypocritically judgmental of many of those around her, but as her world shifts focus and perspective, Doris herself does as well. Over time, I found her voice to be funny, genuine, and deeply observant, which made it easy to get invested in her journey. The novel was a poignant historical fiction that blended Doris's own narrative with the time period that she was living in, and it was a quick read that I really enjoyed.

I think fans of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and more recently, Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi would enjoy this.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hey, hey, my favorites!

First off, a huge thank you to NetGalley and Mia McKenzie for the gifted copy of These Heathens! I really enjoyed this one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Y’all, this book had me hooked from page one! These Heathens is an electrifying, thought-provoking journey through 1960s Atlanta, where one small-town girl’s weekend trip turns into a crash course in radical self-discovery. Doris Steele starts out just trying to get an abortion without the whole church congregation finding out, but whew, does she end up with way more than she bargained for.

Mia McKenzie does an incredible job blending humor, history, and heart. Doris is thrust into a world of civil rights activists, queer community members, and bold women who defy every expectation society has placed on them. The characters? Unforgettable. Sylvia is the rich, unfiltered best friend we all need, and Dexter—well, let’s just say he’s got game and opinions.

What really made this book shine for me was how effortlessly it tackled huge themes: bodily autonomy, identity, and the tension between faith and personal freedom. One minute, I was laughing at Doris’ small-town shock at big-city life, and the next, I was sitting with the weight of everything she was up against.

If you love stories that are daring, deeply moving, and full of unforgettable Black characters, These Heathens needs to be on your shelf. It’s history, it’s coming-of-age, it’s rebellion—it’s everything.

By far the best book I've read in quite some time! Everything just drew me in. I was captivated by everything, just as Doris was, to the point where I could barely put it down to sleep last night. I know that we got to the end of the story being told, but god do I wish I had more chapters so I could continue to get to know all of these characters and see what they do for the rest of their lives. I find myself wanting to research them as if they were all real people. I feel so lucky to have been able to read this early

Doris’s actions and adventures as a black woman in the 1960s are poignant and thought-provoking. In another time, in another place, seeing people who seem to gave a good grasp on life, what would YOU do?Amazing read.

This is, genuinely, one of the best books I have ever read.

I don’t normally read historical fiction and I’ve been in an awful reading slump, so I went into this one not really sure what to expect. But this book had me hanging on its every word from the first page. I could not stop reading, could not stop thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. I haven’t felt this hooked by a book in ages.

I’m absolutely captivated by the character Doris and her incredibly funny and poignant narration throughout the story. Her voice is unique and filled with so much heart and warmth and humor, I feel like I know her.

The other characters in this book were also all so well written and enjoyable. They all felt so real and that was the beauty of it.

This book covers so many important and relevant topics in today’s world, and it handles them all beautifully, all while being funny and entertaining and completely charming along the way.

I don’t often say this, but I think everyone should read this book. It has something to teach literally everyone, and it’ll make you laugh and cry and smile and think about life.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’m honored to have read it early. Now I just can’t wait to get a physical copy in my hands when the book releases.

This is such a lovely book that I'm still crying a little as I finish it. Doris is seventeen and pregnant in the 60's at the height of racial tension in the South. So when she decides to have an abortion things become difficult as she meets Dexter and goes to a sit-in with him, not knowing what to expect or why. There she meets the famed Dr. King and so many emotions swirl through her head as she realizes she's been living in a bubble of sorts. It's a beautiful tribute to the tumultuous times our nation lived through as we continue to fight racism everywhere.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!