The Calamity Club - a Depression era tale of female solidarity filled with heartbreak and humor.

In 1933, the story opens with eleven-year-old Meg Lefleur, living in the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum for Girls in Oxford, Mississippi. Her existence feels like she's trapped in a Dickens novel. Despite being smart and clever, her age makes her seemingly unadoptable. The Chairlady, Garnett Pittman, is especially cruel towards Meg, who doesn't know what happened to her mother. Faced with back taxes on her home, twenty-four-year-old Birdie Calhoun travels to Oxford to seek financial help from her younger sister Frances, married to Rory Tartt, a successful banker. The couple lives with his mother in their large family home, unaware of Frances' humble background. Frances is striving to make a name for herself in society and has been volunteering at the orphan asylum trying to impress the hateful Garnett. During Birdie's stay in Oxford, she decides to also volunteer alongside her sister, and forms a connection with Meg. It becomes apparent that the Tartts' life is not as it appears, and they too are in need of money. After Birdie meets a woman named Charlie, who is trying to rebuild her life, they devise a creative and risky plan to help themselves as well as the Tartts.

Kathryn Stockett's The Calamity Club, is a wonderful follow-up to her 2009 novel The Help. At 656 pages, it was more than I wanted to tackle when the book was released in May. However, the dog days of summer seemed like the perfect time to dive in, and I am so glad I did. The women in this book are spirited and unforgettable. Once Birdie and Charlie develop their scheme to raise funds, the book's mood lifts considerably as they work to regain control of their lives. The blend of humor and heartbreak make for one highly entertaining book, which would lend itself perfectly for a film adaptation. Set aside some time for this book, and you'll be well rewarded.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: May 5, 2026.

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