Richmond, Indiana, 1967. From her adolescence, America Corydon has battled her overbearing father and societal expectations, and the eccentricity within her own mind.

Manipulating her cousin Asher, she opens the door to a lifetime of broken relationships, grief and an enduring but conflicted love. Together with their friends, Esther and Kay, young America endures two world wars, the Great Depression and other seismic events that defined a generation. Through it all, the four cling to each other, their bond offering a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

Historically authentic and deeply emotional, Mary Ellen Donat's IN THE SHADOW OF HER HAT is an exploration of identity, universal prejudices, and conflicting social values. Astonishing twists throughout the novel culminate in a surprising outcome that will leave readers breathlessly satisfied.