The Girls Who Went Away Audiobook By Ann Fessler cover art

The Girls Who Went Away

The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade

 Preview
Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends January 21, 2026 11:59pm PT
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just $0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible Premium Plus.
1 audiobook per month of your choice from our unparalleled catalog.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Girls Who Went Away

By: Ann Fessler
Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends January 21, 2026 11:59pm PT.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.94

Buy for $21.94

LIMITED TIME OFFER | Get 3 months for $0.99 a month

$14.95/mo thereafter-terms apply.

In this deeply moving and myth-shattering work, Ann Fessler brings out into the open for the first time the astonishing untold history of the million and a half women who surrendered children for adoption due to enormous family and social pressure in the decades before Roe v. Wade. An adoptee who was herself surrendered during those years and recently made contact with her mother, Fessler brilliantly brings to life the voices of more than 100 women as well as the spirit of those times, allowing the women to tell their stories in gripping and intimate detail.

©2006 Ann H. Fessler (P)2016 Tantor Adoption & Fostering Americas Biographies & Memoirs Gender Studies Parenting & Families Relationships Social Sciences Women Adoption Inspiring Thought-Provoking Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"Fessler recounts her own journey to find and reunite with her birth mother in this heartrending look at the untold story of American women compelled to surrender their children." ( Booklist)

Featured Article: The 10 Best Blog Moments of 2022


In 2022, the Audible editors brought you more interviews than ever, from debut and emerging talent to heavy-hitting authors, performers, and cultural icons. We highlighted essential listens on reproductive justice, launched a weekly feature for new releases, and took a moment to share some strange and wonderfully obscure picks from our own libraries. From deep-dive discussions with top creators to an exploration of the most wonderfully weird titles in audio, here are our editors' favorite blog posts from 2022.

Featured Article The 10 Best Blog Moments of 2022
Eye-opening Revelations • Powerful Personal Stories • Perfect Narration • Important Historical Documentation

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
it was an intense emotional book. it put words to some of the struggles I had in my heart that I didn't have words for before. it opened my heart to the women who suffer in silence. it gave me a new perspective on my birthmom and my brothers birthmom.

wow....I am an adoptee and a birthmom

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A wonderful book about what the baby snatch era was really like. The book is based on facts, but it is also gripping. Easy to follow. Worth every minute of my time. A must read for anyone who works in the adoption triad.

A fantastic read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am glad I read this. I'm adopted. I hope to find my biological mother.

This is a good book to read if you are adopted.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I am not close to anyone who is adopted, or who gave up a baby, but having listened to this book I feel a great compassion for people on both sides of the situation. Previously I assumed the stance of adoption being a great solution for all concerned, but having had three children of my own I now can't imagine having given one up to the unknown. The coercion that these girls went through, when they were incredibly vulnerable already, is amazing, and the thought of living with this the rest of your life is torturous. Thank you, Ann Fessler, for bringing this to light, for letting those living with it know that they are not alone, and those of us on the outside become aware of how multi-faceted adoption really is.

Greatly Increased My Understanding and Compassion

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If you have any connection to adoption in your family during the 1960’s this book is a must read. It touched me so deeply. Highly recommend!

Just incredible

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews