Back in 1881, not many women went to Whitsitt College. This was not
going to stop Beth Carrington from trying to become a doctor. Even the
women who did go to college didn't study medicine. But Beth has two
goals: become a doctor and start a women's fraternity. Both turn out to
be easier said than done. As the only girl in her class, Beth's professes
and fellow students think she's wasting her time, and should be in
school to become a receptionist like other women. But nothing will stop
Beth from achieving her goals. She decides to find other women who
have the same goals and tenacity to succeed as she does, and they all
want to make their women's fraternity a reality.
Beth runs into several roadblocks along the way. Her dear family friend,
Will Buchanan and his fraternity brother Grant Richardson, both try to
talk her out of her women's fraternity idea. Grant, Iota Gamma
fraternity president and related to the founders of the college, has
fallen hard for Beth, and reluctantly promises to do what he can to help
her get her organization recognized. He uses his connections to
arrange for a meeting with the school board. However, because the
board is made up of all men, there was no way they would allow a group
of women to meet socially on campus. Beth takes matters into her own
hands, and the women have secret meetings of Beta Xi Beta women's
fraternity. But when she's caught, Beth faces suspension from school,
as well as getting the rest of her fraternity sisters in trouble, too. Can
Beth truly trust the people who claim to support her? And will she fulfill
her dreams at Whitsitt College?
Joy Callaway writes a great book. It is amazing that SECRET SISTERS is set in 1881 because it seems like
history repeats itself. Callaway shows how women are much stronger
than men give us credit for. Historically, Callaway also shows that even
back then there was hazing going on. I'm glad that Joy Callaway
showed how strong women really are and enjoyed reading
SECRET SISTERS.
A Paperback Original
From the author of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society comes
this unforgettable historical novel based on the founding
of the country’s first sororities.
Illinois, 1881: Whitsitt College sophomore Beth Carrington
has two goals to fulfill by the time she graduates: obtain
a medical degree, and establish a women’s fraternity, Beta
Xi Beta, that will help young women like herself to
connect with and support one another while attending the
male-dominated Whitsitt.
Neither is an easy task. The sole female student in the
physicians’ program, Beth is constantly called out by her
professors and peers for having the audacity not to
concentrate on a more “fitting” subject like secretarial
studies. Meanwhile, secret organizations are off-limits,
and simply by crowding together in a dank basement room
and creating a sense of camaraderie, she and her small
group of fraternity sisters risk expulsion.
In order to have the fraternity recognized, she knows she
needs help. She turns to the most powerful student on
campus: senior Grant Richardson, Iota Gamma fraternity
president and the scion of a Whitsitt family—a man she’s
only acquainted with because of her longstanding
friendship with his fraternity brother Will Buchannan.
Staunchly traditional, Grant doesn’t see the purpose of
this women’s organization, but captivated by Beth, he
agrees to give her a helping hand. What she doesn’t know
is how many will stop at nothing to keep her burgeoning
organization out of the record books—and who she can
actually trust along the way.
As Beth fights for her beloved Beta Xi Beta to be
recognized, she will uncover deep secrets about the
college and those who surround her, and will have to put
both love and friendship on the line so that history can
be made.