Book Review: Raising Hel

Reviewed by Samantha Hui

A moving novel about the power of stories & activism

When every woman’s story mirrors a shared, heartbreaking truth, self-respect and solidarity become the tools to reclaim our strength and fight back.

“Inside me, the kernel of a writer’s heart that hadn’t quite died during the long dark years produced a little jolt. Or was it fear of the future bumping in my breast?”

Storytelling and story-listening are powerful catalysts for change. Cynthia J. Bogard’s Raising Hel explores how one woman’s story of escape becomes a journey of not only self-discovery but also community-building. 

Set against the whirlwind of the 1970s feminist movement, the challenges faced by the women in this book resonate with the struggles many still face today. Through personal failure and triumph, Raising Hel is a poignant and timely story of resilience, friendship, and awakening in a world on the brink of change.

“It’s amazing how much equality the government can encourage when it wants to. Amazing too, how quickly it reneged on all we women accomplished during the war.”

From a young age, Hel preferred dirt over dolls, books over boys, and science over skirts. Her parents disapprove of her dream to become a scientist, urging her to focus instead on becoming a wife and mother. As a compromise, they allow her to attend the local community college. Disillusioned, Hel drops out halfway through her second semester and runs away to Madison, Wisconsin, inspired by the city’s student protests against the Vietnam War.

“Weren’t we supposed to be opposing a war? Surely, that was a more important way to spend time than in a reading group.”

In Madison, Hel joins a group of anti-war activists and enrolls at the university. She becomes infatuated with Ed, a Vietnam War veteran turned anti-war activist. Mesmerized by his leadership and subconsciously eager to prove her worth to her parents, Hel marries Ed—only to discover his violent nature and heroin addiction. After enduring three years of abuse, her best friend Thorpe helps her break free, setting her on a path toward self-confidence, feminist activism, and genuine friendship.

“There were other wives suffering out there, feeling helpless and hopeless like me. I made no move to find any of them, though. What if they thought the best thing for me to do was leave?”

Through Bogard’s historical accuracy and exceptional character development, the novel portrays complex, imperfect characters grappling with dilemmas that remain relevant today. 

Initially, Hel joins the activist community for personal reasons: a rejection of her parents’ stifling values and expectations. At first, she doesn’t fully understand feminism or activism, but she is drawn to the movement nonetheless. Subconsciously, she still holds many of her parents’ values and remains dependent on Ed, even to her detriment. As she grows, Hel becomes deeply immersed in feminist activism, recognizing not only her own trauma but also the struggles of other women. Her character arc is not linear—she fails often but continues to push forward.

“But I’m not sure who I am without my act. I’m afraid that’s all I am—just the act to show to the world.”

The book also offers diverse representation of feminist groups from this period. Hel is mentored by strong women: a Russian scientist, a high priestess of a Wiccan coven, and a radical feminist nun. Bogard creates multidimensional, imperfect women who feel real. 

Throughout the novel, the characters collaborate on a feminist multi-media magazine called The Rag. They argue about the vision for the magazine and confront the flaws in their activism, often needing to unlearn patriarchal value systems and hierarchies. There are no perfect feminists here, and that’s what makes this writing so refreshing. While it’s often frustrating to see these women misunderstand each other due to a lack of communication or some even regress in their feminism, it is also invigorating to see that this story isn’t about individual perfection. It’s about the collective struggle for change.

“I would become Hel in this new place, to these new people. A name I hoped I could grow into, live up to.”

Raising Hel is a story about activism—but more specifically, it is a story about stories. Too often, women are silenced—either out of fear of not being believed or because they believe they are alone. Cynthia J. Bogard leads by example, showing readers the power in storytelling. By sharing their truths, women reclaim their voices, reminding us all that the courage to speak up has the power to change the world.

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