Under Julia

Miami law prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of a school or daycare. Halfway houses, hotels and homeless shelters will not accept them. Which leaves them with only one place to go: under Julia. In this devastating new novel, Lauren Scharhag explores questions of guilt and redemption, of dignity and exile. Whether they were convicted of relatively minor crimes such as having sex with an underage girlfriend, or true predators nursing unspeakable desires, society considers them the worst of the worst, less than human. In their struggle to survive, they form a community, working together with surprising wit and tenacity. With the help of caseworkers, doctors, clergy and family, they can overcome the worst of themselves. Together, they discover that hope is still possible, and while they can’t undo the damage they’ve done in the past, they can move forwardâ€"into absolution.