From the Bookshelf of The Challenge Factory…

Before We Were Yours

Lisa Wingate

Start date: March 1, 2023

Finish date: March 31, 2023

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Oct 17, 2018 Melike rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, southern-lit

I was really drawn to the story of stolen children in Memphis during the first half of the 20th century. It is hard to fathom how evil some people are and can hurt innocent children without a second thought. Lisa Wingate tells the story of the Foss children from two different perspectives: Rill's story takes us back in history and Avery's recounts the present day. I didn't care about the chapters with Avery as much, Stafford family bored me and Avery's love life was not interesting at all. Despi ...more

38 likes · Like · see review

Oct 12, 2018 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: library, social-commentary, concierge, strong-women, orphans, southern-lit, book-club, tennessee, historical-fiction, audio

Digital audio performed by Emily Rankin and Catherine Taber.
3.5***

A chance encounter with an elderly woman in a nursing home leads Avery Stafford to investigate her family’s history. What she uncovers is a shock to her. This historical novel is based on a shameful episode in Tennessee history, when babies were sold for profit and powerful people looked the other way.

Told with a dual time line – Rill’s story told in Depression-era Memphis, and Avery’s search for her family history in contempora ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Aug 23, 2017 Michele rated it really liked it

Hard for me to read, it was such a tragic story.

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2018 Traci rated it it was amazing

Wow heart breaking but suspenseful at the same time. Hard to believe this is based on a real story. I really enjoy how the story switched between past and present. As well the use of different voices telling the story was well done once I became familiar with the different characters

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