"This is a sensitive and positive account of life in our neighborhood. We will save it along with our volumes of history." - Sr. Nancy Glynn, Sisters of Bon Secours
"As she does in
Say Hello
, her first novel, Katy Stanton examines wounds and promotes healing in
Around the Corner
, a fascinating portrait of the rich past, complex present, and promising future of the City of Baltimore." - Peter Dorsey, Professor of English, Mount St. Mary's University
tells the story of a Baltimore neighborhood, one block away from "The Corner" made famous by David Simon and Ed Burns. In this neighboring block, we meet a different set of characters who, across generations, find ways to support one another and fight back against disease, poverty, and despair.
In 1920, Sister Jeanne, a young immigrant from France and a Sister of Bon Secours, visits the homes of the ill and works in the newly established Bon Secours Hospital. St. Martin is a thriving Catholic congregation, serving both rich and poor families. By 2020, the church and hospital are gone, a pandemic is raging, and violence is a constant threat. Yet, a small group of Sisters of Bon Secours still lives in the community, joined by an enthusiastic team of partners striving to bring health and wellness to the neighborhood through an urban farm and community garden.
Will the neighborhood thrive in 2050? Will people join the Sisters in their work? Will children have safe places to play and grow? Can the former Catholic church become something new? Maybe hope is waiting just Around the Corner.