Before We Were Yours

I tried to finish this book, but I just couldn't do it. When it got to the point where I found it far more annoying than anything, I had to call it quits, and for what it's worth, that was around the halfway point.

First of all, I am positive this would have been a better book if the author had stuck to the past and written a more traditional piece of historical fiction. The history this book is loosely inspired by is as fascinating as it is heartbreaking, and I imagine I really would have enjoyed the book if it had kept more to the past, or even simply been a history book about that past. Instead, the jumps into the present ruined it for me, and to be honest, it's hard for me to understand why so many people have praised the book as show more they have. Perhaps if the book had chosen a genre--historical fiction Or romance Or women's fiction Or drama Or mystery--it would have been better, but as is, I just find that I'm rather disgusted with it.

The book goes back and forth between a child's past in 1939 and an adult woman's present in the present day, and I can't tell you what a problem that is. The present-day sections are so trite, so ridiculously over-the-top in what the author is trying to do, and the characters so flat and stereotypical, it's a little bit infuriating. The present-day sections do nothing less than cheapen the history and the sections told in the past. And here's the thing: I grew up in the south. I've spent a fair amount of time in the towns that this author chooses to use as her setting for the present day... and this book feels like it makes a mockery of them, offering some odd ideal of what an upper-class woman must be in that world. Much of what comes across practically bleeds not just sentimentalism and casual racism, but a stereotype of the south which is the very stereotype most Southerners recognize only as Hollywood stereotype. Add in the casual higher-than-thou attitude and the over-the-top focus on thoughts of feminism vs. tradition alongside self-absorbed righteousness, and it's all just too much to take.

Halfway through the book, I didn't want the narrator of the present-day sections to find a way out of her loveless, society-approved relationship and find closure about her family and her grandmother. I wanted her to walk into the ocean and disappear from the book so that I could just enjoy the chapters written from the child's voice in 1939. I imagine you'll ask why I didn't just keep reading those chapters, and skip the others--and the truth is I thought about it. But in all reality, I wasn't enjoying them so much as I wasn't annoyed by them, and I'd much rather read a history book to get any insight into the history touched on here--and, for me, that's not normal.

So, no, I wouldn't recommend this book. I couldn't finish it, and I'll be sure to never pick up another book by Wingate. Regardless of the awards--which I can only guess were awarded by people who had a very particular idea of the South that was mostly driven by wishful nostalgia or stereotype--I don't think much of anything of this book, and I'm sorry to have spent money on it. show less

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a 2017 Ballantine Books publication.

This is an amazing, heart wrenching story centered around the true events involving the Tennessee Children’s Home Society.

When Avery Stafford, the daughter of a prominent Senator stumbles upon the possibility her grandmother is harboring a dark family secret, she nearly becomes obsessed with her mission to uncover the truth.

The story flashes back to 1939, when Rill Foss and her siblings are snatched from their poor Mississippi Shanty boat, after their parents had to leave them behind in an emergency medical situation. They are taken to a children’s home, but before they were 'adopted' out, they endured cruel conditions and abuse.

The narrative switches show more back and forth between Rill and Avery, but I must confess my heart was with Rill from start to finish.

This novel pulls on the heartstrings, stirs outrage and horror, but at the end of the day the story was about familial bonds, and a spiritual connection that can not be broken, no matter what.

Wingate did a magnificent job of pulling the reader back in time, creating a realistic atmosphere, and building a fictional story around one of the most shocking black-market adoption operations in American history.

But, the real magic is creating characters we care for, cheer for, and want to champion. It may have taken a lifetime, but the truth has a way of freeing itself, exposing crimes and scandal, but it also brought out an incredible family saga that is both inspirational and heartwarming.

Avery is a central character, but she can’t compete with Rill, so the author wisely fattens up her part of the story with a little romance, which kept her character from simply becoming a means to an end. I did enjoy how the mystery unfolded, which made Avery into a bit of an amateur sleuth.

I loved the conclusion of the story, which was about a perfect as could be expected under the circumstances. It is all very bittersweet, with a lot of sadness, but there were blessed times, as well, and those are the reflections and moments that will stay with me.

There are some difficult passages in this novel, which you should be prepared for, but this is such a great story! Everyone kept telling me I needed to read this book and they were right- so I feel I should pass that advice on to you- Read this book!! You’ll be glad you did!

*For those who are unfamiliar with Georgia Tann, a Google search will give you a clear picture of her dirty deeds and how she was eventually exposed, although it was too little, too late. Shockingly, the children’s home was used by famous actresses Joan Crawford and June Allyson which is a little bit of trivia I was totally unaware of before reading the author’s notes. show less

This was so well-written, the story of the Tennessee Children’s Home and how in the 1920’s-1050’s, children were stolen from families that were poor or unwed mothers, and sold to affluent families. The details, with accounts taken from children who survived the horrific conditions, have been fictionalized to form the story of May and her sisters and brother, but the details are very visceral and at times almost impossible to keep reading without taking a break.

Told in dual timelines, we see what happened to a family of five siblings who are taken off a riverboat shanty when their father cannot pay their mother’s medical bills, and also see the mystery uncovered decades later by Avery, who may or may not have a connection to show more TCH. Since the names of all the children were all changed to prevent their parents from locating them. This becomes part detective story as we try to determine who we’re dealing with in the present-day timeline, and what their connection is. Wonderfully told.

Trigger Warnings: sexual abuse

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader. show less

Before We Were Yours is a story about family, loss, letting go, and moving on. It revolves around a fictional family in the 1930s. The children fall into the hands of Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage. There is suffering and heartache but there is also an abundance of fiery love and determination. Woven between the chapters is a second story. It centers on a modern day woman struggling with her place in life and who she is. She too is protective of her family and very determined. The two stories wind around each other and tie together at the end.

The characters in this story are very relatable and thoroughly developed. Not only is the storytelling fantastic, but the suspense and the descriptions are very show more well crafted. This story evokes emotions from it's readers. (I know my I had an emotional response to it.) Especially helpful is the author's notes at the end clarifying fact from fiction and why she created the story the way she did.

Even though it hurt my heart, I enjoyed this book immensely. Because I am an adoptive mom, this story strikes deep in my soul. Adoptions like this used to be an legal - and that is heartbreaking. I love my son more than anything, but I cannot imagine the guilt I'd feel if his birthmother had not willingly participated in the adoption. Of course, Georgia Tann fabricates a web of lies to alleviate that guilt; mainly that the kids are so much better off.

The effect the adoptions have on the parents is glossed over. Undoubtedly there are many emotions on that side of the story as well. Adopting is not an easy choice and often, parents are lead to adopting due to lousy circumstances, not because it's their first choice for growing their family. Regardless, this is a story that needs to be told so we do not repeat our mistakes.

If you enjoy historical fiction, adoption stories, themes of relationship and perseverance, then Before We Were Yours is a book you will likely enjoy. I recommend it because it's so well written and it's not just a fanciful fun story - there's much to be learned from it. Be aware though - you likely won't be able to help the tears as you read. Although it was the first, this will definitely not be the last book I read by Lisa Wingate. I look forward to exploring more if her writing. show less

In the present day, Avery Stafford is being groomed to take her father’s place as Senator, since he has recently fallen ill. She takes the responsibility seriously but at a photo-op taking place at a nursing home, a resident approaches Avery and leaves her with so many questions. Decades ago, Rill Foss lived on a houseboat on the Mississippi River near Memphis, TN. When her mother went ashore to hospital for a rough delivery of twins, Rill and her siblings were left alone and then kidnapped and sent to an orphanage. How do these two women’s stories intertwine?
This is based roughly on the true story of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society which frequently abducted children from poor families and sold them off to rich families. show more Georgia Tann made sure the paperwork involved was as labyrinthine as possible so that birth parents would not be able to trace their children, even after the records became available in 1995. It’s a horrific story, and so many children disappeared within this system and the conspiracy to keep it quiet.
I liked the book, though I found the romance plot to be a little obvious. As she learns more and more about her heritage, Avery has to confront the possibility that her family may have been involved in this terrible plot, and she examines her privilege a bit, but not enough to really be satisfying. Mostly it’s the horror of what the Tennessee Children’s Home Society wrought that sticks with me. Rill’s story is compelling and exposes a dark part of American history. show less

Of the 30-some books I’ve read so far this year, this book has broken my heart the most…I’m the kind of person that never cries, but phew! This one brought me pretty close a few times. Over the years, I’ve heard a few things about the history this book covers, so that part wasn’t too much of a surprise to me. The depth of the atrocities committed, though, was new to me, and, presented through the lens of characters I quickly grew to love, this made for an unforgettable read in more than one way.

Lisa Wingate crafts a deep, engaging story in these pages. I was amazed, all the way through, just how much I felt like I was “there”. Some books take me a good few chapters to get into; with this one, I was “in” right away. I show more felt like I was a river girl alongside Rill on her shantyboat; I was one of the spectators sitting beside Avery in the nursing home. The atmosphere and description were spot-on in this book; not enough to weigh it down, but the perfect amount to pull you into the scenes. And then there are the characters…each of the main characters was dynamic, the kind of people you could easily become friends with. I think I related to Rill more than Avery, but only slightly more. Both were well-drawn, and both carried my full sympathies throughout the book!

The family element was one of my favorites. I loved how Rill fought for her siblings, and did her best to protect them, even though she was just a young girl herself. I also loved how Avery did her best to support her family, even though it wasn’t what she really wanted to do.

This isn’t an easy story; because of the history, there are some very evil things alluded to at times. But each instance is handled with a lot of tact and care, which I appreciated.

If you enjoy well-written historical fiction, check this book out. It’s powerful, it’ll bring you to tears, but it’s worth it. show less

Holy God, what a heart breaking read.

I picked this one up knowing almost nothing about it. I found myself being instantly pulled into the river life of the Foss children; the writing allowing me to picture the sights and sounds of the water flowing, the tall grasses, to hear the crickets and the laughter as the kids and their parents played around on the boat. It seemed like such a nice life to have.

Once Queenie's labor started, I knew things were going to take a bad turn. My heart absolutely shattered when I found out how right I was. There were just so many parts during this story that had me actually crying and my heart thudding.

The author's note at the end just made things so much worse. Finding out that the nightmare organization show more present in the book was a real thing and that what happened to the Foss children actually happened to countless children in real life was horrifying.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, though I do suggest that going into it knowing as little as possible would be best. show less