Before We Were Yours - Lisa Wingate - 4 Stars

[Jason]

Before We Were Yours is two stories. One is about 5 children, 4 girls and 1 baby boy, that were kidnapped while their parents were away and put in an orphanage. Along with this story, is the story of a woman in a strong political family that begins to unearth a secret kept by her grandmother. Of course, these stories intertwine in the end.

I thought the execution of this book was just okay. The writing seemed simplistic at time and I felt the author sometimes grabs your hand walks you to conclusions instead of letting you realize it on your own.

However, this is a very sad story and the saddest part, it is based on true events.

Georgia Tann ran the Tennessee Children's Home Society. Though Georgia changed the view of orphans and did put bad off children with good families, The society was involved in illegal kidnapping of children, telling parents their newborn babies were dead when they were not, getting confused parents to sign over their children to the orphanages, adopted out children that were left with the for short times due to parents illness and many other horrible acts of procuring children. Georgia Tann was very well liked and powerful and had powerful friends that helped her to cover up her actions and prevent parents from reclaiming there children for close to 30 years. She would then adopt the children as slave labor or to high society.
Notable personalities who used Tann's services (but were not aware of the tactics used by Tann to acquire many of the children processed through the Tennessee Children's Home Society) included actress Joan Crawford (daughters Christina Crawford, and twins Cathy and Cynthia were adopted through the agency). June Allyson and husband Dick Powell also used the Memphis-based home for adopting a child, as did the adoptive parents of professional wrestler Ric Flair. New York Governor Herbert Lehman, who signed a law sealing birth certificates from New York adoptees in 1935, also adopted a child through the agency.

Once put in the orphanages, the children were treated horribly. They were sexually abused, physically abused, starved and more. Many children were thought to have died before ever being adopted. Finding children and legal parents is difficult because almost all files were destroyed, children's names and ages were changed, and adoptive parents were not put through rigorous background checks.

What a sad and horrible story, and the fact that this could go on for decades. Georgia died of cancer before being brought to justice.

I would have never known about this even in history without this book so I bumped up the rating to a 4.

I don't necessarily recommend this book, it was a decent read but I recommend looking up, watching a documentary, or trying to find a non fiction book about these events.

[Nicole R]

I do want to read this even though I know it is a hard topic and I typically have a really, really, really hard time with child abuse, especially sexual abuse. But, it seems like an important story so I may give it a whirl. I can always stop reading if it is too much for me.

I won't get to it for a while though. I have the audio on hold at my library and I am something ridiculous like #86 on 2 copies!

[Jason]

Nicole R wrote: "I do want to read this even though I know it is a hard topic and I typically have a really, really, really hard time with child abuse, especially sexual abuse. But, it seems like an important story..."

I had to wait forever for the audiobook version on Overdrive. Honestly, I forgot I ever put this on hold.

[Amy]

You know, I was never drawn to this book. Something about it put me off. I’m with Nicole, that it’s very hard to read difficult content. Sometimes I think an advantage to Goodreads is that you don’t necessarily have to read a book because others have reviewed and summed it up so incredibly well. Jason, I thought your review was fantastic, and probably better than picking up the book itself. He looks like you are spicing up your early century reading with some other more contemporary things. I appreciate the diversity and your choices so very much. And I think it’s kind of neat when something pops up at the library that you have forgot you even ordered. And thanks for the review.

[Ladyslott]

This has been on my wish list for a while. Looks like I’m going to have to break down and buy it.

[Jason]

I don't view it as a must read but I think learning about those events is very important.

[Jason]

Amy. My interests are so diverse and I love learning new things that I have to mix it up. 12 months in the year, plenty of time to read many different topics.