THE BLOCKBUSTER HIT—Over two million copies sold! A New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller“Poignant, engrossing.”—People • “Lisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nation’s history and weaves a tale of enduring power.”—Paula McLain Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their … Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge—until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents—but they quickly realize the dark truth. At the mercy of the facility’s cruel director, Rill fights to keep her sisters and brother together in a world of danger and uncertainty.
Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.
Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals—in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country—Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.
Publishers Weekly’s #3 Longest-Running Bestseller of 2017 • Winner of the Southern Book Prize • If All Arkansas Read the Same Book Selection
“Sure to be one of the most compelling books you pick up this year. . . . Wingate is a master-storyteller, and you’ll find yourself pulled along as she reveals the wake of terror and heartache that is Georgia Tann’s legacy.”—Parade
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Who would believe this was based on a true story? Could it happen again!
A moving and eye opening fictionalized story. A fiction, yes, but these things REALLY happened. Hopefully, never again!
It is always amazing to me that such greedy, twisted people are allowed to not only exist but flourish.
Learned so much about the period. It was an eye opener about how at risk poor families were, how lives could be shattered, how power and greed can ruin lives.
Great read.
What a great book about sad but true events in our history. Really makes you think.
What a story! And it was true! One you will never forget. Must read.
I had no idea this horrible practice of taking children existed. Disappointed in how corrupt law enforcement has been through time.
Who knew such things really happened?
Simply a great great story based on real events … Hard to put down
Amazing story based on true story.
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a story that tells two stories, one from the past, and one from the present and connects the two. It is a historical fiction story.
The historical story line is set in 1939 United States. It tells the fictional story of a family that lives in a shantyboat on the Mississippi River. It’s a sad and tragic tale that, sadly, many people experienced in reality–their children wrenched from their homes and families and thrown into a Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, where they must face many cruelties. I was completely unaware of this orphanage and the cruel woman, Georgia Tann, who was behind it all. It is a heart-wrenching story, and I was appalled at how cruel Georgia Tann could be and how long she got away with destroying the lives of so many innocent children.
The modern day story line was set in Aiken, South Carolina and centered around a well-to-do family involved in politics. The main character in this story line was Avery Stafford, who was set to be married until she meets an elderly lady in a care facility who awakens uncomfortable questions in Avery’s mind and sets her on a journey to uncover her family’s long-hidden past.
The story of the Foss children living in the shantyboat captured my attention right from the start and the children captured my heart. Never having lived near water, learning about their life on the river and the river community was interesting and enjoyable. Ms. Wingate painted pictures in my mind of the Foss family, their neighbors, and their life. The story line of Rill, her parents, and siblings held me captive throughout the book as my heart ached for a happy ending for them.
Avery’s story, on the other hand, took me a while to get caught up in. At first I considered skipping the chapters about Avery to remain immersed in the story of Rill and her siblings, but I didn’t want to miss out on any of the connections between the two stories, so I continued to read about Avery as well. After about the third chapter about Avery, I finally began to be more interested in Avery’s life as well, and so continued to read, both to find out what would happen to Rill and her siblings, as well as how they were connected to Avery’s family.
Before We Were Yours was a slower read for me because it was very different than what I normally read, but it was written in a way that, even though it was slower, I didn’t want to abandon it. I was both appalled and fascinated by the true history of the story and so thankful that orphanages like the Tennessee Children’s Home Society are no longer allowed to function in the United States today. As someone who loves history and loves to learn, I found this book definitely worth reading.
If you are interested in history and enjoy learning about different time periods and the lives of people in those times, I recommend Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, and if you are like me, it will make you laugh and cry, and Rill and her siblings will find a permanent place in your heart.o
I wasn’t as enthralled with this book as others. I thought that there should have been two stories/books written and separate a lot out because of the unanswered questions. And I don’t think that it qualifies as Christian fiction. 2.5 stars.
Having been based on a real orphanage that existed in the South, I found it hard to believe that people would actually do this to acquire perfect children for some of the privileged people in our country. You can’t stop at the end of the book. The Author’s Notes go into detail about the reality of it and who may have taken advantage of these unfortunate children whose live were supposedly “make better”.
Sad commentary on greed regarding innocent children. Well written and worth reading. An eye ooener!
Very touching book!
Heart wrenching, but yet I learned so much!
It was wery touching, based on true stories…
A fictional story situated in real history, this book is a reminder of our culture’s prejudice against the poor. A story of tragedy and triumph, I was kept on edge throughout. I vowed to read something more relaxing next time.
Based on a real story of an evil woman and her business of stealing children from the poor and selling them off to the rich.
If you like a good page-turner, I highly recommend this book
What a tragic story based on the horrors of true history. Though the Foss children are fiction, I shudder to think of the real children and families impacted by organizations like the one described in such detail in this book. Wingate’s storytelling had me equal parts heartbroken and hopeful.