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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood is an engaging plot that may cause you to loose sleep, delay housework or simply skip other normal life activities. And while this intro is tongue-and-cheek, the core of Greenwood’s subject is anything but – the very real history that many of the institutions that were home to special-needs citizens were human warehouses with wretched conditions, treating horribly the wards they were meant to care for.
Inspired by real events, Keeping Lucy is the story of one mother’s near impossible choice between her institutionalized child and the family who put her daughter there.
Having just given birth, Ginny wakes to find that her special-needs daughter has already been swept away to be cared for in a more suitable environment – a “school” better equipped to handle children with Lucy’s type of health conditions. Never having the chance to say good-bye, Ginny is counseled by her husband (and her in-laws) that it will be better for everyone if they treat Lucy as if she never existed.
But Ginny can’t forget, especially when, two years later, a newspaper’s exposé of the facility reveals that the children are living in deplorable conditions. The circumstances have caused a legal battle between parents and the institution – a legal battle that, for Ginny, places her squarely on the side of the parents until she learns her husband’s law firm – owned by her father-in-law – is representing the facility.
Knowing she must see what’s happening for herself, Ginny plans a weekend visit to see Lucy and finds herself with an unimaginable decision – leave her daughter in horrifying conditions or go on the run with a minor for whom she doesn’t even have custody.
Keeping Lucy is a quick read, made all the more so by its enthralling plot. Told in alternating time periods eight years apart, the story moves between 1963 when Ginny and her husband meet in college and 1971 when Lucy is two years old. I recommend this to anyone who likes an easy to read, good plot driven narrative.
Inspired by real events, Keeping Lucy is the story of one mother’s near impossible choice between her institutionalized child and the family who put her daughter there.
Having just given birth, Ginny wakes to find that her special-needs daughter has already been swept away to be cared for in a more suitable environment – a “school” better equipped to handle children with Lucy’s type of health conditions. Never having the chance to say good-bye, Ginny is counseled by her husband (and her in-laws) that it will be better for everyone if they treat Lucy as if she never existed.
But Ginny can’t forget, especially when, two years later, a newspaper’s exposé of the facility reveals that the children are living in deplorable conditions. The circumstances have caused a legal battle between parents and the institution – a legal battle that, for Ginny, places her squarely on the side of the parents until she learns her husband’s law firm – owned by her father-in-law – is representing the facility.
Knowing she must see what’s happening for herself, Ginny plans a weekend visit to see Lucy and finds herself with an unimaginable decision – leave her daughter in horrifying conditions or go on the run with a minor for whom she doesn’t even have custody.
Keeping Lucy is a quick read, made all the more so by its enthralling plot. Told in alternating time periods eight years apart, the story moves between 1963 when Ginny and her husband meet in college and 1971 when Lucy is two years old. I recommend this to anyone who likes an easy to read, good plot driven narrative.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I flew through this book could not put it down when I started reading it.
This book was heart - breaking and I know there were probably schools like this somewhere and it breaks my heart.
I loved the ending of this book though, she finally got everything she dreamed of, and everything she deserved.
I will be looking into more of her books.
This book was heart - warming and shows how far a mother should go for their child that they love and care for.
This book was heart - breaking and I know there were probably schools like this somewhere and it breaks my heart.
I loved the ending of this book though, she finally got everything she dreamed of, and everything she deserved.
I will be looking into more of her books.
This book was heart - warming and shows how far a mother should go for their child that they love and care for.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book, but didn’t love it. It gave me a special appreciation for children with special needs, and brought to light some of the maltreatment these individuals faced during the late 1960 to early 1970s. I would recommend this book to mothers.
Drugs: no drugs there is a scene with alcohol
Sex: mild descriptions and one scene or implied sexual assault
Language: moderate use or swear words
Violence: implied sexual assault
R and R: discusses and describes abuse and neglect of special needs child
Drugs: no drugs there is a scene with alcohol
Sex: mild descriptions and one scene or implied sexual assault
Language: moderate use or swear words
Violence: implied sexual assault
R and R: discusses and describes abuse and neglect of special needs child
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was a quick book for me, once ginny found lucy, I needed to finish as fast as i could to make sure nothing tore them apart. I was worried for lucy, for ginny, even peyton and hoping he wouldn’t act out against lucy. I wasn’t sure how this would end when I grabbed this book, but overall i’m happy with the ending!
This heart-warming tale of motherhood, families, and the female voice is so beautiful–it captured my heart!
About the Book
This past week I finished reading T. Greenwood’s novel Keeping Lucy, which tells the story of a mother who is learning to rediscover her voice and follow her instincts. Set in the 1970s, Ginny is advised to send her second child Lucy to a home for children born with downs syndrome. She’ll need special care, particularly because of a heart defect that likely means Lucy won’t live out of childhood.
Two years later, Ginny reads a shocking news story about the home they sent Lucy to, speaking of unclean living conditions and poor care of the children there. Ginny checks Lucy out for a weekend trip, and the more she discovers about Lucy’s mistreatment, the more certain she is that she can’t bring her daughter back. But Ginny’s husband Ab isn’t exactly on the same page. Ginny follows her instincts as a mother, crossing state lines and falling in love with the daughter that she once allowed to be taken from he, and who now may no longer be hers to keep…
Reflection
This book was such a beautiful story! Ginny’s life and struggles really spoke to the feminist in me. What I loved most about her story was that Ab wasn’t a bad guy or even a bad father. It would be easy to take the story there, to make it how Ginny realizes who Ab truly is. But the fact remains that Ab is filled with love for Ginny and his family. And like her, Ab is doing his best to make good decisions for the family.
I loved learning about Lucy through Ginny’s eyes. It was easy to fall in love with Lucy! Despite her illness, Lucy is filled with love, curiosity, and light. Ginny herself is questioning her path in life. Did she make the right decision to marry and stay at home with the kids? Despite how much she loves Ab, Ginny is on the cusp of the women’s movement, and she’s questioning whether she slipped into the traditional gender role that she admittedly was happy with. But in doing so, maybe she lost her voice a bit.
This book is the type of story that is good for my heart. Beautiful!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy. This book is on sale now!
About the Book
This past week I finished reading T. Greenwood’s novel Keeping Lucy, which tells the story of a mother who is learning to rediscover her voice and follow her instincts. Set in the 1970s, Ginny is advised to send her second child Lucy to a home for children born with downs syndrome. She’ll need special care, particularly because of a heart defect that likely means Lucy won’t live out of childhood.
Two years later, Ginny reads a shocking news story about the home they sent Lucy to, speaking of unclean living conditions and poor care of the children there. Ginny checks Lucy out for a weekend trip, and the more she discovers about Lucy’s mistreatment, the more certain she is that she can’t bring her daughter back. But Ginny’s husband Ab isn’t exactly on the same page. Ginny follows her instincts as a mother, crossing state lines and falling in love with the daughter that she once allowed to be taken from he, and who now may no longer be hers to keep…
Reflection
This book was such a beautiful story! Ginny’s life and struggles really spoke to the feminist in me. What I loved most about her story was that Ab wasn’t a bad guy or even a bad father. It would be easy to take the story there, to make it how Ginny realizes who Ab truly is. But the fact remains that Ab is filled with love for Ginny and his family. And like her, Ab is doing his best to make good decisions for the family.
I loved learning about Lucy through Ginny’s eyes. It was easy to fall in love with Lucy! Despite her illness, Lucy is filled with love, curiosity, and light. Ginny herself is questioning her path in life. Did she make the right decision to marry and stay at home with the kids? Despite how much she loves Ab, Ginny is on the cusp of the women’s movement, and she’s questioning whether she slipped into the traditional gender role that she admittedly was happy with. But in doing so, maybe she lost her voice a bit.
This book is the type of story that is good for my heart. Beautiful!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy. This book is on sale now!