Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating (1-5): 5 Characters: Excellent Plot: Excellent For me, the books that I consider the best are the ones that evoke a multitude of emotions from me. The books that have me crying, smiling, or that have me becoming angry. This book was just that for me. Lisa Wingate provided a heart-wrenching story, that had my emotions all over the place. Part of what made it such an emotional read for me was the knowledge that this story is based off of actual events that happened. Sometimes with emotional books, you can feel better at the end because you know it didn't actually happen. That wasn't the case with this one, seeing as the Tennessee Children's Home Society was a real place, and that the events written about in this book are the stories of actual victims. Before We Were Yours jumps between two different stories in different time periods. Rill Foss is the oldest of the five Foss children, and growing up on a river shanty boat in the late 1930's, early 1940's, she has always looked out for her younger siblings. She will have to look out for them more than ever when they are all tricked and swept away by the wrong people. Jumping forward to present day, Avery Stafford is a federal prosecutor and daughter of a senator. A publicity visit with her father to a nursing home is what leads her to May Crandall, which has Avery questioning everything she thought she knew. Now she is wondering how her family could be connected to May Crandall and the Tennessee Children's Home Society. The innocence and confusion Rill feels throughout the events that transpire are what I'm sure a lot of the actual children that went through the home felt. Children have a hard time understanding that there are evil people out there that would want to tear families apart for their own gain. Rill had a blind innocence when the workers originally came and took them away, truly thinking they were going to take them to their parents like they said. The emotional turmoil Rill goes through as she realized more and more what was happening, was heart-wrenching and hard to read. Rill does her best to grasp at power in a situation designed to make her feel powerless, and the journey she and her siblings go on is astonishing. The best way to describe Avery, is that she is determined. Once a situation is thrown her way, it's just her personality to do all she can to find the answer. A general intrigue in a woman in a nursing home turns into an all out investigation into her grandmother's life and things. She is driven by the fact that she truly believes the truth should always be known and brought to life, but she may not be ready to realize what the truth actually is. As well as the characters, the plot of this book was excellent. It was a page turner, and the way Wingate weaved the two timelines together was great. The question of how the Stafford's were connected to the Tennessee Children's Home Society was never really clear until the end, and that mystery component is probably what made it such an exciting read. WOULD I RECOMMEND 1000 times yes. This is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time, and you should definitely add this to your must be read pile. You will not be disappointed!!! To read more about Before We Were Yours, head on over to Goodreads. If you are interested in purchasing this book, you can do so on Amazon here or at Barnes and Noble here. I really hope you read this book, and if you do, please reach out and let me know what you think!Happy Reading!
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AuthorHi, I'm Genny! You can always find me with a book in my hand. Dystopian, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction are among my favorite genres. I hope you enjoy the reviews I provide and can help you pick out your next book! Archives
October 2020
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