Bestselling author Diane Chamberlain delivers a breakout book about a small southern town fifty years ago, and the darkest—and most hopeful—places in the human heartAfter losing her parents, fifteen-year-old Ivy Hart is left to care for her grandmother, older sister and nephew as tenants on a small tobacco farm. As she struggles with her grandmother’s aging, her sister’s mental illness and her … illness and her own epilepsy, she realizes they might need more than she can give.
When Jane Forrester takes a position as Grace County’s newest social worker, she doesn’t realize just how much her help is needed. She quickly becomes emotionally invested in her clients’ lives, causing tension with her boss and her new husband. But as Jane is drawn in by the Hart women, she begins to discover the secrets of the small farm—secrets much darker than she would have guessed. Soon, she must decide whether to take drastic action to help them, or risk losing the battle against everything she believes is wrong.
Set in rural Grace County, North Carolina in a time of state-mandated sterilizations and racial tension, Necessary Lies tells the story of these two young women, seemingly worlds apart, but both haunted by tragedy. Jane and Ivy are thrown together and must ask themselves: how can you know what you believe is right, when everyone is telling you it’s wrong?
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My favorite of this author’s books, so far. And that says a lot as they’ve all been great, heartfelt reads!
another part of history of which I was never aware
“Ivy and Mary was here.”
Those words are the beginning, the ending, and the basis of NECESSARY LIES. Those five words go full circle in this incredible, haunting book.
You will be transported to another world as you read NECESSARY LIES. A world of poverty and illiteracy as well as pity for the way the families had to live.
Jane, a physician’s …
The characters stayed with me long after I finished the book.
This was the first book that my book club read. I found the book to be very thought provoking. Growing up in that time period and being a special education teacher, I felt the topic of the book was resonant. I have & will continue to recommend this book to any who will listen to my suggestions.
The story of a young social workers who questions the morality of the Eugenics Program in North Carolina.
This book highlighted a little known period in our history in regard to eugenics. It was an interesting, compelling read and I recommend it highly.
Enjoyed this book. Brought to light a part of history that most don’t know about and the human side to it. Love the drama.
Well written and the kind of book that puts you in places and times you have never experienced.
Eugenics is something I have heard of but never fully knew it’s history in the US. This is a novel, not a true story but it gave me a good idea about how the program was run and the viewpoints of different sides of the issue at that time. I appreciated that Ms. Chamberlain did not make this an overly dramatic and excessively sensational story …
I love historical fiction. I could not put this book down. Loved the characters and story so much, though sad and historically tragic at times I felt. Highly recommend.
Fictional story based on historical facts, sure to draw you in and keep you captivated throughout.
One of the best books I’ve ever read! So good, great story