Mary Coin by Marisa Silver

Inspired by Dorothea Lange’s iconic “Migrant Mother” photograph, Mary Coin is a haunting reimagining of the woman behind the image — and the photographer who captured her. Through the intertwined lives of Mary, a resilient mother struggling through the Great Depression, and Vera, the artist seeking to immortalize truth through her lens, Marisa Silver explores the cost of art, memory, and survival. Poignant and beautifully written, this novel gives voice to the forgotten and examines how one image can shape history, identity, and legacy.