Novelist Ann Leary's 'The Foundling' takes readers back to an institution for 'feeble-minded' women

Published August 9, 2023 at 8:40 AM EDT

Find a book excerpt here.

We revisit Robin Young’s July 2022 conversation with author Ann Leary. Leary’s book “The Foundling” centers around a young woman who gets a job at an institution where women considered morally or mentally defective were sent so that they would not reproduce.

Leary was inspired to write the book when researching her grandmother, who worked at a real-life institution for the “feeble-minded.” “The Foundling” is now out in paperback.

This article was originally published on WBUR.org.

Orcas are hunting whale sharks, the largest fish species on Earth

Lauren Sommer

A new study reveals how a group of killer whales is able to hunt whale sharks, adding to a growing body of research showing how the whales use intelligence and coordination in impressive ways.
Advocates renew a push for states to enact voting protections

Hansi Lo Wang

With efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act unlikely under Republican control of the new Congress, advocates are refocusing on state protections against racial discrimination in elections.
How crocodiles get their scale patterns (Hint: It's unlike other animals)

Jonathan Lambert

Many animals get their external marking--like, feathers, hair or scales-from genetics. But it turns out, the crocodile gets its head patterns differently.