The In-Betweens

“The In-Betweens is a truly fascinating history of a little-known American community of Spiritualists. I’d never heard of Camp Etna before reading this book, and I can’t imagine how I’d missed it. This is a story of a deeply female, fiercely autonomous, open-hearted and searching group of spiritual seekers, whose ranks have refused for well over a century to comply with any conventional ideas about religion, power, and women. Ptacin approaches her subjects with a mind that is both open and enthusiastic, without ever losing her keen reporter’s edge. It’s a brilliant work, and a fabulous read.” - Elizabeth Gilbert, author of The Signature of All Things and Eat, Pray, Love

“Deft, immersive, and smart, The In-Betweens is a marvelous exploration of a lost bit of history as well as a journalist’s deep dive into the idiosyncratic world of American Spiritualism. How lucky we are that Ptacin stumbled onto Camp Etna! The book is equal parts funny and strange and surreal, and entirely engaging.” - Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book