S8 E2 Becca Babcock

Season 8, Episode 2 Emma Weaver has personal motives for choosing her M.A. thesis topic. She divides her time between poring over mute archival records and trying to find members of the notorious Gaugin family who'll talk to her. They were rounded up by authorities at their remote settlement in the 1990s, and Emma needs to interview people who were there to discover what happened after they were dispersed to the justice system and foster homes. Becca Babcock's début novel, "One Who Has Been Here Before" traces Emma's life-changing encounters with people who'd lost everything but who ultimately help her deal with her own conflicts, underlining the importance - and difficulties - of developing a genuine empathy for others. The release date is April 20. Contact your local independent bookstore to preorder your copy today.