AUTHOR
MARGARET OF THIBODAUX
It is 1974, the last carefree, sultry Louisiana summer before high school begins when Margaret Thibodeaux’s world collapses: her daddy asks hometown doctor Muriel to marry him. It’s been six years since her mama mysteriously died, and Margaret is convinced that the closer Muriel gets, the less she’ll receive bedside visits from her mother—and the more she will fade from their lives.
Set on rejecting Muriel’s kindnesses, Margaret grapples with everyone’s delight over the engagement, including her two best friends, Honey and Robert, who think Muriel is nothing short of an angel. But when Margaret visits her mama’s grave for the first time and finds a poem left there—not in her daddy’s handwriting—the mystery of her mother’s death escalates. It isn’t until she befriends the local recluse, Jezebel, who has spiritual gifts akin to her own, that Margaret begins to unravel her assumptions, reconcile her grief, and discover a shocking revelation about her mama from across the veil.
At once humorous and heartbreaking, Margaret of Thibodaux is a captivating Southern story of longing and self-discovery, told from the perspective of a feisty and determined yet vulnerable teenage girl as she learns that love and nurturing can come in the most unexpected packages.
FAQ
Why are there two spellings of Thibodaux/Thibodeaux?
Margaret’s surname is Thibodeaux and she is descended from the town’s founders. The town was originally spelled the same way, but the name drifted over generations to today’s ‘e’-less version. Margaret explains this in the book.
What is it about?
It’s 1974 in Louisiana, and fourteen-year-old Margaret is convinced her father’s engagement to Muriel means losing what’s left of her mother, who died six years earlier. When Margaret finds a poem left at her mother’s grave—not in Daddy’s handwriting—she turns to Jezebel, a local recluse with spiritual gifts like her own, to unravel the truth.
What genre is it?
Literary fiction with a fourteen-year-old narrator—Southern, coming-of-age, with a supernatural thread running through it. Some readers and early contest categories have used “young adult” as shorthand; that’s not the intended shelf. It’s written for an adult literary audience, in the tradition of upmarket Southern fiction with young narrators.
Is it based on a true story?
No—it is a work of fiction, though it draws on Jo Taylor’s own experience of grief and her interest in the unexplained.
What themes does it explore?
Grief and inheritance, the unreliability of memory, spiritual and supernatural gifts, and the particular tensions of Southern family life—handled with sharp humor alongside the heavier material.
Is it part of a series?
No, it stands alone. It is Jo Taylor’s debut novel.
What formats are available?
Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
“. . . a masterclass in quality fiction writing. At once humorous and deeply touching, elegantly plotted and rich in its construction of the characters, Taylor’s novel is a must-read.”
—STEPHEN DUDAS, PhD in Literature, for Reedsy Discovery
“. . . its blend of Southern Gothic elements and evocative prose makes for a haunting yet deeply human coming-of-age story. At its core, Taylor’s fiction debut is a story about true friendship, accepting cultural differences, and the unpredictable ways grief shapes—and ultimately frees—us.”
—BOOKLIFE
Road Clothes Press | March 18, 2025 | 304 pgs
“. . . a poignant coming-of-age story that combines elements of humor, sadness, and joy . . . a wonderful book with broad appeal.”
—BOOK REVIEW DIRECTORY