Before We Were Yours
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 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
This edition includes a new essay by the author about shantyboat life.
Reviews
I loved the story of May/Rill. I loved the character development. It was hard not to give it 5 stars, but I thought the back and forth was too much and confusing in the beginning. I also didn’t love Avery Stafford’s story. It felt forced. I could have read about Kingdom Arcadia forever though!
By CarlyM15
The back and forth was good, not confusing, but there were soooo many names. I needed a chart to remember the names. I was disappointed with the lack of character development of Tann and her partner.. there was nothing, just evil? Then I had to read the prologue to tell me about the “spotters”… they would have been helpful in reading, I was wondering what drove the police to take the kids in the first place… There was no follow up on the siblings, even tho the Sisters never found out, it could have been written for the reader… over all good read, not one I will recommend tho.
By Kendyl-Anne
This was a book knowing that this was actually happening
By Ava baby88
I loved this book.
By lolijames
This book is well written and tells a heartbreaking story of loss and fear it does have parts of child abuse and I felt just sad and sickened while reading
By Gordycakez