The Helpers

“Kathy Gilsinan’s optimistic The Helpers describes the remarkable awakening that coalesced around the COVID-19 pandemic. Gilsinan does not shy away from the very real grief, but her powerful storytelling brings to light the grit, urgency, and inspiration of ordinary Americans in extraordinary times. A necessary dose of hope!” – Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, clinical professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine, Editor-in-Chief of Bellevue Literary Review, and author of When We Do Harm“Brilliantly conceived, carefully reported, grippingly and vividly written, The Helpers is a story of the pandemic that will last.” – James Fallows, coauthor of Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America“Poignant stories from the darkest days of the pandemic…. Compassionate throughout, [Gilsinan] effectively conveys the struggles, fears, and sacrifices that each of these individuals faced. She also exposes many of the fatal flaws in the American medical system. A comforting, much-needed reminder that we are still all in this together.” – Kirkus Reviews“Inspiring…. Intimate and engaging, this is a worthy tribute to those who stepped forward in a time of tremendous need.” – Publishers Weekly

Kathy Gilsinan is a contributing writer at the Atlantic, where she has reported on national security and contributed to its extensive and acclaimed coronavirus coverage. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.