Before We Were Yours

From the mid 19th century through the 1940's, Georgia Tann operated a malicious business called The Tennessee Children's Home Society Orphanage.  Tann stole babies from indigent mothers, tricked illiterate parents into signing rights to adopt papers, and in some cases, enticed children from their front porches or from playgrounds.

Before We Were Yours tells side by side stories - one contemporary, the other a memory. The women in question couldn't be more different, yet they are united by something that becomes the thread crafting this compelling story.

Rill, the river urchin and her siblings fight the daily battles of life in the orphanage while Avery, the advantaged, young lawyer struggles to learn truths about her family's past.  Of course, the stories intertwine, and early on the direction of the plot reveals itself. There are no twists and turns here, just a gradual unraveling of an upsetting, unbelievable representation of an ugly piece of American social and economic history.  If Radium Girls and Killers of the Flower Moon provoked you, you might like this book.  Not as well written - some quirky phrasing, along with alternating storyline chapters.  If you read it, I am sure you'll find yourself searching the Internet on Georgia Tann,  Believe me, there is plenty of information to be found.

LaDeDa chatter....

• Our book discussion group had a great visit with Bob Fey whose story of walking the Wisconsin Ice Age Trail is featured in Chapter 11 of  TheThousand Miler.   He's preparing a presentation for the Two Rivers Public Library.  Watch for it.
• Halloween books are in. Lots of good, spooky stuff.  More new books and games coming. We'll share info about that soon.
• Next up.. a couple play scripts for a small project I've been thinking about.

Thanks for stopping by.