Before We Were Yours. Finished 1-10-18, rating 4.5/5, historical fiction, pub. 2017
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 that the truth is much darker. 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.
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—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. from Goodreads
This was the Goodreads Historical Fiction Winner and although I didn’t read any of the others I can see why this won. There once was an evil woman who stole children from poor, loving parents and sold them to the highest bidder. These children were forced to live in horrifying conditions and it’s completely heartbreaking. That is true. The book is the fictionalized account of the kids she abused.
Rill, Camellia, Lark, Fern and Gabian will stay with me for a while. These kids, aged from 2-12, all lived on a run down boat that their parents moved when needed. They were well loved. When the mother, Queenie, was forced to go to the hospital to deliver twins, 12 year old Rill was left in charge only to be overrun by what she thought were police. All five of the beautiful, blonde (but one) Foss children were taken to the Tennessee Children’s Home and exposed to adults who only viewed them as profit, or worse, play things. The story was gripping and hard to put down.
It alternated with a current day story that connected to 1939 and was rooted in the political arena. It reminded me a bit of the current John McCain story with a Senator suffering from cancer but in this one the family decides to groom one of their own to take over if needed.
We read this one for our book group and everyone liked or loved it, but one. The 1939 storyline was universally loved, but there were some dissenting views on the current storyline. A few saw it as wasted potential and too clunky, but the rest of us saw it as welcome relief from the harsh realities of the horrific Children’s Home.
I would highly recommend this one. If you are interested in the real Georgia Tann and her home of abomination Google her or start with this one.
After many years of hosting this meme The Broke and the Bookish has passed it on to one of their own, Jana at 
Ten Books We Meant To Read In 2017 But Didn’t Get To (and totallyyyy plan to get to in 2018!!) See what else bloggers are looking to read this year at the 
Every year Sheila hosts this fun event so that we can all show the book we’re starting the year reading. It was a no brainer for me. As soon as I saw the movie Wonder last month I knew that I wanted to read the book (it didn’t hurt that it was also sitting on my TBR stacks). I don’t know how much time will be devoted to reading today since hubby and kid are both home and that means family time, but I’ll see if I can carve out some time in bed this afternoon since I am still trying to conquer this bad cold that found it’s way into the house a week and a half ago. For the first time in I don’t know how many years I didn’t make it to midnight to bring in the New Year. I guess that means I’m well rested, right?
I fell in love with Ove and his collection of merry wo(men). For every trouble he caused those surrounding him, at least one blessing was given out. Ove was a man with a heart, who didn’t always play well with others. His pregnant neighbor picked him up and kept him moving until, finally, he embraced the loving circle that surrounded him.
There is history, romance, and a perfect sense of place in all Kearsley books. Julia was sure she’d found her house and she packed up and moved from London to a small English village without a second thought. She was a children’s book illustrator and was able to make a few friends right away just as she was being transported back in time. It’s tricky when you are going back and forth between time periods and characters. Inevitably, you are drawn more to one story than the other. This one did a great job of tying the two together so I was invested in both.
Abused by her father and then her husband, Celie relied on the love of her sister to get her through. When Nellie goes away and Celie doesn’t hear from her she begins writing letters to God. When her husband brings home his mistress to live with them, Celie finally starts to see herself in a new light. This is not an easy read. It’s emotional, sexually explicit and might wake you up in ways that you don’t like. Celie’s perseverance gives a voice to all the women who experience abuse and still manage to stay on their feet. It exceeded expectations and now I’m anxious to get my hands on the movie. Set in 1930’s Georgia it’s still relevant and addictingly readable.
Jane was a true survivor. This fictional book, spanning her 110 year life really comes full circle in the end and I would have been happy to spend another 110 with Jane. Jane was a little girl of 10 or 11 when Lincoln freed the slaves and she left her plantation with a small group hoping to walk their way north from Louisiana. When something bad happens Jane is left in charge of 3 year old Ned and she must rely on her wits to keep them safe and free. She eventually comes to raise him like her own son and find both happiness and heartache, never leaving her beloved Louisiana. Jane is a warrior, a realist, and a trailblazer.
Shaker Heights is a real place and I love it. Ng chose to show the Shaker that she grew up in and I think it’s fair, and even though it has changed over the years it does still remain a progressive hotspot with old mansions lining picturesque streets. The Richardson family embodies this perfectly. I understood and felt for every one of the characters and even when I didn’t like them I understood them. The story centers around not only the fight over a baby left at a fire station by a distraught mother but also the mysterious Mia. So many layers to this story and they were all connected by mothers. I loved this book because it is overflowing with gray area.
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