Bryan Davies

Some books provide readers with insights into contemporary social issues through the author’s expert command of the subject matter. Others are equally engaging because the narrative strikes every right note universally associated with great, timeless writing: compelling storytelling, well-developed characters, provocative plot twists – and a message that helps readers make better sense of the world around them.  

In Peggy was Right, Patricia Zehr artfully demonstrates how a combination of hard won, high level professional knowledge and writing ability can elevate a novel to great heights. Zehr’s 43 year Canadian healthcare career (first as a registered nurse, and then practicing as an obstetrics – gynecology specialist) provides Peggy was Right with its medical science rigor. Zehr draws on her personal experience working in one of the most challenging of all modern healthcare disciplines to tell the story of Peggy, a young, idealistic Ontario nurse who deliberately chooses to seek employment in Texas – a state with one of the highest US maternal mortality rates. Texas is also a reproductive rights battleground. Conservative state legislators immediately embraced the US Supreme Court’s 2022 reversal of Roe v Wade. Texas abortion bans and other restrictive reproductive health measures soon followed.

Peggy’s decision and her story opens with a harrowing prologue set in Texas, August 2023. Delilah, a Black, working class single woman supports her granddaughter, Becky, through a crisis that sets the stage for Zehr’s broader exploration of healthcare issues, personal struggles, and often profound racial inequality. Peggy was Right places ethically and politically conflicted American society in its crosshairs, where Zehr illustrates how the so-called North American ‘abortion debate’ is unfolding in ways where hope, human rights, physical and emotional pain, personal dignity, and (ultimately) resilience continually reshape the story.

Peggy was Right is a must-read for anyone who has navigated the turbulent waters of healthcare, felt the sting of systemic indifference, or fought for the right to make choices about their own body. It speaks to healthcare professionals and advocates, women’s rights activists, and general readers alike, offering a narrative rich with empathy, insight, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths.

Tagona Press is honoured to bring this important work to a wider audience. We believe in the power of stories to ignite conversations, challenge preconceptions, and drive meaningful change. Peggy was Right does just that, inviting readers to look beyond headlines and political rhetoric to see the human stories at the heart of our collective experience.

Read Peggy was Right and become part of a conversation that should matter to everyone, no matter where you may stand on the social, cultural, and medical ethics issues that Patricia Zehr explores with such nuanced skill. This novel is not just a reflection of our times. It is also a powerful call to action.