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lisakerd's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting historical topic, storyline with potential, but I found Wingate’s writing to be lacking. Her plot direction was often transparent (such as the forced love story), and the dialogue and inner thoughts of the two narrators were unrealistic and overly naïve. The reader would get to the point much (frustratingly) faster than the characters with the same amount of information. It felt more like the storytelling of a novice college student than a veteran author.
saunteringvaguelydownward's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
elfbread's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book, really I did. The story of May and her siblings is what made this book somewhat enjoyable for me. If you cut out Avery and her family entirely, I would have probably have rated this much higher. I literally rolled my eyes every time Avery complained or worried about ridiculous things to do with her family and her/their reputation. Gag.
danireys's review against another edition
5.0
Quick read. Dual narratives from 1930s to the present where a family learns the dark secret of their past and sisterhood prevails. Heartwrenching and compelling reads. It also is partially a biographical fiction novel as the events of child trafficking by Georgia Tann was real and just as entirely disgusting. It’s a must read for any literary and historical fiction fans.
jencowhig's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
coleyannknits's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nickiep's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ndvdv's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
What a journey! First of all, I didn't realize this book was actually based off of real-life historical events around a Baby Market in the US that took place between 1930 - 1950, where a woman named Georgia Tann essentially abducted children from poor families and adopted them out to wealthy celebrities and people with political influence. The actual state these adoption houses were in, and specifically the Tennessee Children's Home Society, was atrocious: full of neglect, malnutrition, abuse (physical, mental and sexual), over-crowdedness, disease and in many cases child deaths. The fact that this book is based off of this horrible time in history makes the story that much more profound; where children were taken from their porches, yards, off the streets and even from hospital maternity wards.
"Blank slates just waiting to be filled. They can become anything you want them to be."
Before We Were Yours follows a girl through a past POV as her whole family is disrupted by the removal of her and her siblings from their houseboat in a shanty town on the river. As a reader you embark on her journey through the loss, fear, and devastation she goes through when they are placed in the Tennessee Children's Home Society and the atrocious events her, and her siblings have to endure. The author does a fantastic job in creating visceral reactions within the reader as you navigate this young child's life.
"I want a pain I understand instead of one that I don't. I want a pain that has a beginning and an end, not one that goes on forever and cuts all the way to the bone."
As her story continues, you learn about the grief her family goes through, and what the ramifications of the children being removed from their homes has on everyone. Heartache can lead to actions and decisions that can hurt those around you; and grief can be so gripping, there is no way out.
"I have learned that most people get along as best they can. They don't intend to hurt anyone. It is merely a terrible by-product of surviving."
The present-day timeline of this story slowly brings the reader towards the surrender of the life these characters once knew to the life they now live. The decades between the two points of views shows how their stories and lives diverge from one another and how for some, their paths find their way back to each other.
"What the mind don't 'member, the heart still know. Love, the strongest thang of all. Stronger than all the rest."
"But the love of sisters needs not words. It does not depend on memories, or mementos, or proof. It runs as deep as a heartbeat. It is as ever present as a pulse."
This book is about finding a way to let go while still acknowledging where you came from. It reminds the reader that your life is what you make of it, and not just the circumstances that are done to it. Sometimes one must surrender to the season their life is in, allowing them to move forward while still holding the past dear to them.
"Each scene has its own music, and the music is created for the scene, woven to it in ways we do not understand. No matter how much we love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn't suit the moment."
Before We Were Yours is about loss, love, heartache, growth, survival and acceptance. It's a bittersweet and memorable story about the power of love between family and friends and the depths in which people will go to for those they care about.
"His fingers close over mine, a warm, strong circle, and we walk up the hill away from the ruins of a life that was. And into a life that can be."
"Blank slates just waiting to be filled. They can become anything you want them to be."
Before We Were Yours follows a girl through a past POV as her whole family is disrupted by the removal of her and her siblings from their houseboat in a shanty town on the river. As a reader you embark on her journey through the loss, fear, and devastation she goes through when they are placed in the Tennessee Children's Home Society and the atrocious events her, and her siblings have to endure. The author does a fantastic job in creating visceral reactions within the reader as you navigate this young child's life.
"I want a pain I understand instead of one that I don't. I want a pain that has a beginning and an end, not one that goes on forever and cuts all the way to the bone."
As her story continues, you learn about the grief her family goes through, and what the ramifications of the children being removed from their homes has on everyone. Heartache can lead to actions and decisions that can hurt those around you; and grief can be so gripping, there is no way out.
"I have learned that most people get along as best they can. They don't intend to hurt anyone. It is merely a terrible by-product of surviving."
The present-day timeline of this story slowly brings the reader towards the surrender of the life these characters once knew to the life they now live. The decades between the two points of views shows how their stories and lives diverge from one another and how for some, their paths find their way back to each other.
"What the mind don't 'member, the heart still know. Love, the strongest thang of all. Stronger than all the rest."
"But the love of sisters needs not words. It does not depend on memories, or mementos, or proof. It runs as deep as a heartbeat. It is as ever present as a pulse."
This book is about finding a way to let go while still acknowledging where you came from. It reminds the reader that your life is what you make of it, and not just the circumstances that are done to it. Sometimes one must surrender to the season their life is in, allowing them to move forward while still holding the past dear to them.
"Each scene has its own music, and the music is created for the scene, woven to it in ways we do not understand. No matter how much we love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn't suit the moment."
Before We Were Yours is about loss, love, heartache, growth, survival and acceptance. It's a bittersweet and memorable story about the power of love between family and friends and the depths in which people will go to for those they care about.
"His fingers close over mine, a warm, strong circle, and we walk up the hill away from the ruins of a life that was. And into a life that can be."