The Girl Who Outgrew the World
by Zoje Stage
“Zoje Stage has crafted the perfect fairy tale: Magical, brutal, and full of heart. A beautifully written story that I can’t stop thinking about.” – Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and For Your Own Good.
"The subversive fairy tale world and engaging plot will draw readers in." – Publishers Weekly
"A perfect blend of "The Wizard of Oz" meets Jerzy Kosinski, The Girl Who Outgrew the World reminds us of the parts of childhood too painful to remember, the people around us, who kept us small. But this time the story's rewritten: at last, it's the girl who gets to go on an epic hero's journey. Fabulous in every sense of the word." – Sarah Langan, author of Good Neighbors
"A strikingly beautiful novella about girlhood, teeming with fairy tale whimsy and heart-wrenching truth. Stage has created an entrancing, bittersweet adventure for the ages."
– Rachel Harrison, author of The Return and Cackle
When precocious Lilly, an eleven-year-old, undergoes an inexplicable and startling growth spurt, her father and doctors decide to take drastic action to curb what they see as a dangerous development. Faced with condescending treatment and cruelty, Lilly escapes and embarks on a journey to discover her true self. Zoje Stage's new novella is a parable for how patriarchy treats the female body (and, by extension, the female mind and soul) and the objectification of girls.
Zoje Stage is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of Baby Teeth, Wonderland, and Getaway. A former filmmaker with a penchant for the dark and suspenseful, she lives in Pittsburgh.
Paperback, 168 pages
Cover and interior design by Jeremy Parker