Out of the Easy

Sepetys, Ruta. Out of the Easy. 2013. 346p. ISBN 978-0-399-25692-9. FIC SEP on the library shelves. This book has been nominated for a Flume Award in 2015.

On the eve of 1950, Josie had everything going against her. The daughter of a prostitute, she joined Willie’s house at a tender age as a jill of all trades, cleaning, cooking, and making Willie’s drinks. Josie’s treacherous mother steals from her and frequents violent men more interested in getting in Josie’s pants than caring for her. Residing in New Orleans, the Big Easy and the cesspool of corruption, organized crime, and prostitution, Josie sees no escape out of a miserable life.

Her life changes dramatically, however, when Forrest Hearne, a handsome man from Tennessee walks in the bookshop where she works and purchases two books. Josie admires his nice watch, and adds him to the list of whom she would have liked as a father, since she never knew him.

That same day, the last one in 1949, Josie meets Charlotte, who is visiting her aunt and uncle in New Orleans. A student at Smith College, Charlotte and Josie hit it off immediately, and Charlotte invite both her and Patrick to a New Year’s Eve celebration at her uncle’s house. During that evening, Charlotte convinces Josie that she should apply at Smith and join her in Northampton.

Hearne’s death at a bar on New Year’s Eve is followed by Josie finding his watch under her mother’s bed at Willie’s brothel. Was her mother and her no-good boyfriend involved in his death? Will Smith College accept her, and, if it does, how will she come up with the $2,000 she will need to pay tuition and her residence? Who are these men who seem to be following her? Will she have to choose between Patrick, who’s always been there for her, and handsome Jesse, who would do anything for her? 1950 will be a year of changes for Josie, but will she survive them?

Sepetys talks about how she came to write Out of the Easy here, in a 9 minutes interview. It's a fascinating clip: