Thea

• Finalist, 2025 Page Turner Book Award "Morrissey crafts a wise and moving coming-of-age historical novel with resonant contemporary themes, meticulous period detail, and flawed but sympathetic characters who will win readers' hearts... Lovers of historical fiction and coming-of-age stories will relish time spent with Thea." -BookLife 'Editor's Pick' review

"Thea is a coming-of-age tale with a lot of heart and charm... Morrissey's characters truly leap off the pages." -Readers' Favorite review

"The story is one of friendship and found family, with a heartwarming conclusion... THEA is a moving historical coming-of-age novel whose characters' compassion and empathy inspires." -IndieReader review

Oklahoma City, 1925

Fifteen-year-old Thea Carter lives in a small garage apartment-Thea's seventh "home" in four years-provided by her alcoholic mother's employer, the morose and enigmatic Dr. Hallam.

School is Thea's refuge and she's an excellent student, but the parasitic Mrs. Carter's instability continually threatens her dream of getting a high school diploma. In an effort to keep her mother employed and the two of them housed, Thea secretly takes on much of her mother's work while at the same time navigating adolescence, friendships, and first love.

Dr. Hallam, impressed by her drive and intelligence, becomes Thea's unexpected ally, but in addition to wealth and position, the doctor also has a secret that could ruin him, and shatter his bond with Thea.