A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A USA TODAY BESTSELLER A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER A NATIONAL INDIEBOUND BESTSELLER An unforgettable novel by Kristina McMorris, inspired by a stunning piece of history. 2 CHILDREN FOR SALEThe sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by … era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices.
For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.
For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.
Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home.
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My Review of “Sold on a Monday” by Kristina McMorris. Sourcebooks Landmark, August, 2018
Kudos to Kristina McMorris, Author of “Sold on a Monday” for writing such an amazing, emotionally charged, riveting, captivating, intriguing and enthralling novel. The Genres for this story are Historical Fiction, Fiction, with a dash of Romance and Suspense. The timeline for this story is around the Great Depression. The author vividly describes the times and her colorful cast of characters. The Great Depression was a tragic and devastating part of history, and the challenges to survive were difficult. Can you imagine people having to sell their children, in order to live? What happened to these children?
The author describes her characters as complex and complicated possibly due to the dire circumstances and poverty and depression. People would read Newspapers, and for those journalists, there was competition. Men and women didn’t have equal roles. Ellis Reed, is a struggling reporter, that tries to replace a lost photograph, by staging a new one with children that are for sale. Never could he possibly dream, of the consequences of this act. Ellis has a dysfunctional relationship with his father, and does want to the the right thing.
Lillian Palmer also works at the Newspaper, and as a single mom, with loving support of her parents, she empathized with children that have been unwanted.
This story is based on such a photograph that was in the newspaper and opened the eyes of the nation. I appreciate that the author writes about family, emotional support, second chances, love, and hope. I would highly recommend this novel to those readers that love Historical Fiction. Kristina McMorris is a very talented author bringing her words to tug at our heartstrings. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
Never underestimate the power of a photo…
A sign in a yard – 2 children for sale – caught the attention of struggling reporter Ellis Reed. It’s the Great Depression and people take desperate measures to survive. Ellis snapped an innocent enough photo of the sign and the children, never intending that the photo be published.
In 1931 many people lost everything – their jobs, their houses, and means of making a living. People are living with breadlines, rationing, and hard decisions each day. Every day children are being sold or dropped off at churches and orphanages. Too many mouths to feed.
But the sight of these children is a gut-punch to Ellis, who has a father he can never please and has lived with the belief that when his brother died very young it should have been him instead.
Lily Palmer is a secretary at the same newsroom where Ellis works. She guards her own secret, a secret that she believes could cost her the job and her rooming accommodations if revealed. It is Lily that recognizes the power of Ellis’ photo. Unknown to Ellis, Lily includes the photo with the other photos Ellis took on his assignment that day. Thus is sparked a chain of events that changes several lives – his and Lily’s included.
This compassionate story reveals the heartache of a mother who is forced to give up her children. A mother who tried to ensure her children would have a better life than she could them, but was sorely betrayed. Ellis and Lily set out to right a wrong but find that it may cost them their lives.
The story was inspired by the sight of a photo the author came across online in a 1948 Indiana newspaper. The photo showed four children huddled together by a sign that read 4 CHILDREN FOR SALE. Also in the photo is the mother shielding her face from the camera. The characters in SOLD ON A MONDAY are memorable. They are flawed, but you still love them. They make mistakes, but they own up to them. They hurt, they cry, they love. These are people you can relate to.
The blurb drew me to this book and the words on the pages within it kept me hooked to the story from the very beginning. This novel resonated with me as a mother, as a woman, and as a human being. The author’s compassionate, historical storytelling laced with mystery, romance, ambition, and love will stick with me far after this book. It’s one of hardship and misfortune. A story of misconceptions and perception. It’s about life from the Depression era of our history told in a unique and fresh way that pains your heart as well as opens your mind to understanding in a variety of ways. Exquisitely written to keep you on the edge of your seat yet comfortable for the long haul, McMorris took a snapshot in time and gave us a beautiful story.
Told from the third person points of view, readers journey with two characters eager to be formidable, honest, pavement pounding journalists. Ellis Reed and Lily Palmer are both in vastly different circumstances yet vying for the same things. The unlikely pair become kind of friends in their quests to right wrongs of they’re own doing. One single image struck Ellis as powerful. The same single image resonated with Lily on a personal level. And the beautifully brilliant words of Kristina McMorris brought that picture to life for readers providing a voice to those once, and still, effected all the while empowering us with visions of hope and love.
I was enamored with this story. It’s not an easy, light read. The truths of it are hard to fathom, dark, and desperate. Based off this authors reaction to a historical photo she once came across highlights the history of our country but also echoes troubling times in our current and on going history as a nation. Children as our future and how our decisions affect them. McMorris brought the characters of this story together for a common goal through human decency, regret, compassion, and a depth of understanding. She showed readers how one single moment in time can change lives forever. And it was quite moving.
Kristina McMorris writes her books with so much heart and warmth. The story pulls the reader in from the beginning, pulls at the heartstrings, challenges your thoughts, and then ties it all up perfectly at the end.
Sold on a Monday start with a mother selling her two children, pulling right on my heart. I cannot ever imagine being in this situation and was worried about where the story would go. The story does not continue with the tale of these children but of the newspaper writer who wrote the story and how it changes his life. Ellis Reed takes the picture, writes the story, and then has regrets at how it all ends up. He pulls in Lillian, a fellow newspaper employee, and the two of them take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of what happened to those children. Together they struggle with what is right and what is wrong, and their own guilt as to what their story has caused to happen to this family.
Kristina McMorris wrote this book as if she actually lived through the 1930’s. I could imagine living through the depression, what prohibition was like, and life with mobsters running businesses. This is a historical fiction book that takes the reader right back in time and lets them feel as if they are living their lives within the pages of the books alongside the characters.
A very well-written story with a great cast of characters, some flawed but that made it so much more interesting. I didn’t realize, or perhaps did not remember, that because of such hard times during the Great Depression, families sold their children not only to make ends meet but also wishing for a better life for their children. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. Here, a picture taken by a newspaper reporter and published leads to devastating results. I was drawn in right away and fully engrossed in this story. Some interesting information as well in the Author’s Note about how this story came about and the author’s research for the book. This is wonderful historical fiction. Highly recommended.
Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris
A photograph tells a story…but…is that story always the same for every person who sees it? Can the perception impact reality and if so…will it impact for the betterment of others or do the opposite?
Ellis Reed has worked his way up at the newspaper from menial jobs to writing for the society pages. These stories are merely a stepping stone to the future pieces he hopes will one day be FrontPage news. His photographs are used to accompany and enhance his writing but he also manages to take a few that call to him and are for his personal use. One day a photo he takes for himself makes its way onto the front page with a story that is picked up by other newspapers across the USA. That photo and story make a huge difference in not only his life but create a ripple effect that impacts many more.
Set in 1931 during the depression the lives of many hung by a thread. Money was tight, food was scarce, people were jumping from roofs to end it all and sometimes desperate measures were taken to survive. Sometimes one sold their children or sold orphans from an orphanage or became involved with bootleggers or mafia or gangs or sold their souls to the devil to stay alive or climb the rungs of the ladder of success BUT what is the price on pays for that deal with the devil?
Characters of Note:
Ellis: intrepid reporter with a goal and mission…for a short time lost his vision
Lily: Secretary, single mother, Nellie Bly wannabe – dedicated and delightful with a will of steal
Clayton: Lily’s suitor who is out for the story, loves Lily but may love pursuit of the story more
Ruby & Calvin: Children of Geraldine, pawns in the story that may or may not end up with a happily ever home
The Millstones: A man and his wife wanting to adopt – but what lies underneath?
This book gave me the feeling of an O’Henry story but also reminded me of Michael O’Halloran by Gene Stratton Porter…
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourceboks for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Are not we to be drawn to the book with this beautiful cover and full of meaning? I did not resist and I took it even knowing that it is a style that I read little and usually does not attract me . I have to admit that I did not regret at any moment.
The whole story begins with a photo and an article in the newspaper where Ellis works and wishes to write more intriguing articles rather than write in the social column.
He took this picture without big intentions just because it reminded him of a person from the past, but the picture attracted the attention of Lily, the chief’s secretary, who ends up helping Ellis write the article.
But this small act will generate turns in the lives of all involved and it was there that the plot gained new dynamics and focus, leaving me distressed about how everything would end up.
I really liked the author’s writing especially about the creative idea she used to start the book with a first person prologue and then the whole book in third person. It was fantastic.
Even with a background romance, what I liked the most was the moments of tension and mystery, the revelations and how she managed to portray the United States of the 1930s very well.
This was a really good book with really good characters (especially the two main characters- Ellis and Lily) and a great plot. It all started with a photo…seems so simple and innocent, and yet it unraveled a whole series of events that were the basis for the story. The book kept my attention throughout – both because of the action-packed events that occurred as well as the evolution of Ellis and Lily and how they came together and trusted one another to right a wrong. Throughout the book, I was reminded of how far we’ve come with technology and medical advancements. Every time Ellis was trying to make a quick getaway I held my breath because he had to crank the engine and, occasionally, it wouldn’t start (and now we can push a button to start our cars!). I thought this book was very well-written. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy historical fiction!
While the premise here was promising, the writing did not manage to hold my attention for long periods. I felt that it dragged in places, and at times I simply didn’t have much interest in continuing on. While fiction, it was based loosely on a newspaper story from 1948. That story was even more appalling as it involved a mother actually selling her 5 children for apparently even less reasons than this story. This story focuses on how people’s perceptions can be mistaken and how that can lead to dire consequences. Luckily this one ended well. But in the end I found it a bit overly drawn out, with some over-the-top melodramatic moments.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC for review.
Interesting story line but a little too predictable.
What a great look into an era of American history. I loved the characters and story they told.
Unfortunately it was a book I could put down but then again I am so glad I read it. Good story with heart.
Interesting premise set in a fascinating slice of time. Unfortunately, I got bogged down in the middle and skipped to the end. Would have been 5 stars but I lost interest in the characters.
journalism principles and ethics major theme. Prose average, plot intensified in the last 1/3 of book.
Sad to see how children of poor families were treated
Struggling reporter Ellis Reed needs a break. While out one day, he sees two boys sitting with a sign that said “Children for Sale”. He snaps a picture of them never imagining it would take him anywhere. When the picture is discovered it leads to his big break, and devestating consequences that take him somewhere he never thought he would be.
This was an okay book. With 9000+ reviews on Amazon, I expected it to be spectacular. The first part of the book is slow and disjointed from the picture and story of children who were sold in the early part of this century. It spent a lot of time with the story of Ellis Reed, which would be fine, but that isn’t what I thought the book was going to be about. I thought it would be more of a historical reflection of children who were sold because families were too poor to care for them.
The second half of the book did pick up, but it still was a bit frustrating. I didn’t love any of the characters. Some of the interactions seemed over the top and disjointed. The story choppy. This could have been so much better, in my opinion.
I would say skip it and maybe find a non fiction or a more focused historical fiction on children who were sold.
“It started with a picture.”
Sold on a Monday is a very emotional, powerful story set during the Great Depression. On a quest to right a wrong, the two main characters work together while battling their own, independent shame and guilt. Developed characters, good writing flow, layers of emotions, and well described scenes that give you a sense of the desperation of the time. I was engrossed in this revealing, powerful, and heartbreaking story that was inspired by an actual newspaper photo. This is a read that has stayed with me. While set in 1931, you can see similarities of current days economic struggles of single parents and/or immigrants that have been separated from their families. A very impactful story that is one of my favorite reads of the year.
Interesting to read; captivates the reader with details of the time and human interactions.
The young man who found the little boy for sale must have been heartbroken. Even though it was a step up for him in his career he couldn’t let it go. The story of him and his friend trying to find them again is haunting. What a book to hold your interest and make you think about the world we have lived in.
Good but a little slow