The photos in this section depict a number of the young women who shared their lives with me, along with various scenes of Downeast life captured during my years of research and reporting.
I am grateful to Audrey, Josie, Mckenna, Vivian, and Willow—as well as the many family members, friends, teachers, mentors, and community leaders—for the countless hours they spent with me, and for their tremendous warmth and openness.
I am especially honored that all five young women have embraced the book and expressed pride in how their stories were told. They, and so many others of their generation, offer hope for the future of rural America. Their stories reveal what is possible, even in the face of significant challenges.
Audrey Barton (who has publicly shared her real name, Kelli Kennedy, since publication) was an academic and athletic superstar at Narraguagus High. Audrey earned a coveted scholarship to Bates College, but her heart remained Downeast. She is pictured here leading the school's underdog girls' basketball team to the 2016 Class C state championship.
Josie Dekker (who has publicly shared her real name, Sophia DeSchiffart, since publication) graduated at the top of her class at Narraguagus High and was the second in school history to attend Yale University. The first was her eldest sister. Josie's parents raised their five daughters to value education, faith, and hard work, and to pursue their dreams despite the family's limited financial resources.
Mckenna Holt (who has publicly shared her real name, Lanie Perry, since publication), softball pitching star and the captain of her own lobster boat at age 17. This photo was taken after a particularly good catch, while her mom and I worked as sternmen on her boat, the F/V Spittin’ Image.
Mckenna chose her boat name, pictured above, as a tribute to her dad, whose looks and spirited personality she strongly resembles. At age eight, Mckenna began fishing with her dad and brothers.
This is the Gold Ball-winning basketball team from Narraguagus High School, 2016, with coach Olivia Marshall aboard the fishing boat she named the "Gold Digger" in honor of her championship team. Both Audrey Barton (back center, #20) and Mckenna Holt (back, second from right, next to Olivia at the end) are among the girls in this photo.
Olivia Marshall and her sister Emily, who routinely served as Olivia's sternman, welcomed me onto The Gold Digger for an early morning October haul.
Olivia and Emily allowed me (pictured here with Olivia) to join in the work and patiently taught me how to be a sternman.
Wild blueberry farming has long played a central role in the Downeast economy. One of the towns featured in the book, Cherryfield, proudly calls itself the "Blueberry Capital of the World."
Blueberry farm owned by Vivian’s family. Pictured during August raking season. Vivian raked blueberries from an early age, and when she was strong enough, routinely loaded the fruit-laden 50-pound crates onto awaiting pickup trucks.
By October, the blueberry barrens transform to reveal miles of dramatic red landscape.
Mckenna Holt's family wharf in October's early morning light. Mckenna and her mom graciously took me out to haul lobsters with them on this day. Out on her boat, Mckenna feels like "the luckiest girl" in the world. She once observed that she feels sorry for people who sit behind their desks and stare at computer screens all day long.
Another view of Mckenna’s family wharf. Her parents started out with very little and worked to realize the dream of owning and running this wharf.
The view up Audrey Barton's family driveway just before the start of a summer lobstering season. Like Mckenna, Audrey grew up fishing and planned to build her life Downeast. But Audrey had little interest in making a career of lobstering. She wanted to be a speech pathologist and serve her community in other ways.
Beginning in her teenage years, Willow worked in the office of this Jonesport wharf. When she was old enough to drive, she would often head there after hours, stretch her body across the massive dock’s bobbing planks, and stare outward to the vague and unreachable horizon. Whether at night, when alone or during the day, when surrounded by fishermen, Willow knew that this was the place she could find peace with herself and the world around her.
The entrance to Narraguagus Junior/Senior High School, which all five young women attended.
This sign is prominently displayed in the main hallway of Narraguagus High. Below the sign are photos and summaries of alumni who've pursued careers locally and made the decision to remain Downeast.
Along the same hallway are more signs like the above, highlighting courses of study and career paths that might allow students to stay Downeast after graduation.
Manny Parsons left his job as a Harvard football coach and moved with his wife Lois to work with at-risk youth in Maine. The couple later found their way Downeast to launch the Maine Seacoast Mission's EDgE program, whose Cherryfield center is pictured here. The mission named the effort EdGE in memory of Ed Greaves, a part-time Addison resident and mission board president who had long pushed to bring Downeast’s kids experiences that would build skills, character, and leadership.
Over the years, the Seacoast Mission's footprint grew significantly to provide a range of much-needed services to the local Downeast community. Manny and Lois were instrumental in gaining local trust and helping to build a lasting footprint in the region.