Outlawed is a dystopian western set in an alternate version of the United States in the 1890s. After a great flu epidemic, society is hyper focused on marriage and childbirth. Barren women are ostracized as witches, sometimes even dying if they cannot conceive within one year. 

Ada has grown up the eldest daughter of a midwife. Being a single woman is taboo, unless you have enough children. As a mother of three, Ada's mother has the respect of the community and her great record as a midwife earns her a clean reputation. Ada has greatly enjoyed attending births and health related calls and intends to continue this work, but when she marries things do not go to plan. Ada does not conceive, and as the title suggests she must survive outside of society and the law. 

I loved the beginning of this book. North draws us in quickly and clearly establishes the world in which Ada is living. I found the second quarter of the book to drag a bit, but it was necessary building for the action and characters introduced in the second half of this beautiful, heart wrenching, and at times exciting novel. 

If you liked The Grace Year, The Handmaid's Tale, or you generally like dystopian or western books, and a good found family trope, this is a strong choice. There is ample representation of existing outside the gender norms that is absolutely stunning in its humanity and obvious but subtle criticism of those who cast aspersions on those who are "different." I absolutely think this book deserves more hype.