n this novel by Sheila O'Connor, Evidence of V, tells a story of intergenerational trauma driven by the unknown. On a trip to the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul, O'Connor and her mother open her sealed adoption records, 65 years after her birth. The records reveal a dark untold history of Minnesota in the 1930's where the incarceration of young girls was common practice and how the women who had babies were forced to put them up for adoption. Using the information from her mother's file and a great deal of research, O'Connor writes a beautiful novel with pieces of fact woven into the telling of a dark history.⁠
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As an avid reader, Evidence of V, is a unique and captivating novel that reveals a dark history I never knew. From the first page, I was engrossed in the beautiful writing and the rare storytelling which incorporates narrative story telling, case studies, and excerpts of books from the 1930's. As a Minnesotan myself, reading about the untold history of the incarceration of girls as young as 13 was eye opening because of how common it was to punish girls who did not fit the societal norms. V, the main character, had big dreams of performing in the city which began with her dancing at the Cascade Club in Minneapolis. After V is caught leaving an older man's apartment, V is put on trial for her delinquency, specifically her pregnancy. In consequence, V's dreams are instantly taken away from her as she is sentenced to six years at the Minnesota Home for Girls where she will learn how to be a homemaker and successful wife in the future.