"Before We Were Yours" by Lisa Wingate is a heartbreaking and powerful novel that tells the story of the Tennessee Children's Home Society, a real-life orphanage that operated in Memphis in the 1930s and 1940s. The novel is based on true events and follows the lives of two sisters, Rill Foss and her siblings, who are taken from their family and placed in the orphanage.
The story alternates between the past and the present, as Rill recounts her time at the orphanage and the devastating impact it had on her family, and a present-day storyline following a woman named Avery Stafford who discovers a connection to the Foss family through her grandmother's hidden past.
Wingate's writing is beautifully crafted, drawing readers into the lives of these characters and the harsh realities they face. The novel sheds light on a dark chapter in American history, where children were stolen from their families and sold to wealthy families for profit.
"Before We Were Yours" is an emotional and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of family bonds. Highly recommend for fans of historical fiction and stories of survival and redemption.