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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press as an ARC. The following review is not related to the free copy that I very much appreciate.
This is the story of Ginny and her family. Husband, Ab. 6 year old Son, Peyton. 2 year old daughter, Lucy; who has Down Syndrome. This book is set in the late 60’s through 1971 and unfortunately tells us the story of how we treated children born with disabilities during that time period in addition to the very limited freedom of choices that women resigned themselves to.
Lucy could have been me with just a tiny change in my chromosomes - born during the same time in history. I don’t think my parents would have agreed to institutionalize me- many children were subjected to neglectful situations and raised without love or even basic health care.
Without giving too much of the story away, Ginny finds out about the poor treatment of some
Children at the “school” their daughter was admitted to when she was born and goes there to find out for herself. What she finds is worse than she imagined and a fugitive road trip ensues.
Lovely light and easy read just touching the surface on some heavy subjects. This story is very nicely wrapped up at the end.
4 stars for T. Greenwood
This is the story of Ginny and her family. Husband, Ab. 6 year old Son, Peyton. 2 year old daughter, Lucy; who has Down Syndrome. This book is set in the late 60’s through 1971 and unfortunately tells us the story of how we treated children born with disabilities during that time period in addition to the very limited freedom of choices that women resigned themselves to.
Lucy could have been me with just a tiny change in my chromosomes - born during the same time in history. I don’t think my parents would have agreed to institutionalize me- many children were subjected to neglectful situations and raised without love or even basic health care.
Without giving too much of the story away, Ginny finds out about the poor treatment of some
Children at the “school” their daughter was admitted to when she was born and goes there to find out for herself. What she finds is worse than she imagined and a fugitive road trip ensues.
Lovely light and easy read just touching the surface on some heavy subjects. This story is very nicely wrapped up at the end.
4 stars for T. Greenwood
https://acoveyofbooks.wordpress.com/2021/05/19/keeping-lucy-by-t-greenwood/
This book pulled all of the heartstrings!
This book pulled all of the heartstrings!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
After giving birth to her second child, Lucy, Funny is dismayed to find out that she has Down's syndrome. The doctors convince her and her husband, Ab, that the baby suffers from a heart condition that, combined with her disability, would be impossible for them to manage at home. The baby would be better off in a "school". Ab tells Ginny that it would be better for their family to treat it like a death and take time to grieve properly. Two years later, Ginny finds out the horrible truth of the institution where her daughter is imprisoned and neglected. A weekend visit with Lucy turns into a kidnapping across state lines when Ginny is determined not to return her child to her abusers.
I started out really disliking Ginny's character in this book. She is so intimidated by her husband and his parents. I can understand being convinced into thinking you're doing the best for your child when you don't know anything about her medical conditions, but she let her husband convince her not to even visit for two years! But by the end, she found her strength to do anything for her children.
After giving birth to her second child, Lucy, Funny is dismayed to find out that she has Down's syndrome. The doctors convince her and her husband, Ab, that the baby suffers from a heart condition that, combined with her disability, would be impossible for them to manage at home. The baby would be better off in a "school". Ab tells Ginny that it would be better for their family to treat it like a death and take time to grieve properly. Two years later, Ginny finds out the horrible truth of the institution where her daughter is imprisoned and neglected. A weekend visit with Lucy turns into a kidnapping across state lines when Ginny is determined not to return her child to her abusers.
I started out really disliking Ginny's character in this book. She is so intimidated by her husband and his parents. I can understand being convinced into thinking you're doing the best for your child when you don't know anything about her medical conditions, but she let her husband convince her not to even visit for two years! But by the end, she found her strength to do anything for her children.
A beautiful and heartwarming story about the bonds between a mother and child. T. Greenwood has written a story that illustrates what lengths a mother will go to protect her child. A child whom she has had no relationship with other than carrying her for nine months.
Ginny gives birth to her second child, Lucy. Lucy is born with Down Syndrome and doctors insist that she will not live long. Ginny’s husband and father-in-law sign away parental rights and institutionalize Lucy without Ginny having any knowledge. Despite having no connection with a daughter who was taken from her two years prior; Ginny learns of the appalling and disturbing ways in which children, including her own daughter, Lucy, are being treated at the Willowridge School. Immediately, Ginny seeks to find out for herself and to her disbelief, finds that the allegations against the school are credible. She removes her daughter from the school and ventures on a journey with her son and her friend to try and work out a plan to keep Lucy and regain full parental custody.
Greenwood illustrates the bonds that form so naturally between mother and child despite being apart for so long. She also sheds light on the gruesome horrors of institutions many years ago. The neglect and abuse that many children endured in these institutions are unfathomable but a part of our history. Greenwood did a great job in depicting these circumstances while minimizing any sensationalism.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ginny gives birth to her second child, Lucy. Lucy is born with Down Syndrome and doctors insist that she will not live long. Ginny’s husband and father-in-law sign away parental rights and institutionalize Lucy without Ginny having any knowledge. Despite having no connection with a daughter who was taken from her two years prior; Ginny learns of the appalling and disturbing ways in which children, including her own daughter, Lucy, are being treated at the Willowridge School. Immediately, Ginny seeks to find out for herself and to her disbelief, finds that the allegations against the school are credible. She removes her daughter from the school and ventures on a journey with her son and her friend to try and work out a plan to keep Lucy and regain full parental custody.
Greenwood illustrates the bonds that form so naturally between mother and child despite being apart for so long. She also sheds light on the gruesome horrors of institutions many years ago. The neglect and abuse that many children endured in these institutions are unfathomable but a part of our history. Greenwood did a great job in depicting these circumstances while minimizing any sensationalism.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Heartbreaking but a very quick and interesting read. The author sucked me in immediately. Definitely recommend
Though a work of fiction, this novel set in 1969 through 1972 reminded me of the real life Willowbrook "school" that many people of my generation will recall seeing Geraldo Rivera breach with a stolen key and a camera in tow, showing the world the horrors inside. If you are too young to know what I'm talking about you really should look it up, and I believe there is also a documentary available streaming on Prime.
When Ginny, a not so happy housewife gives birth to Lucy, a baby girl with Down Syndrome it becomes painfully clear that there are three people in her marriage, herself, her husband and his father. The baby is whisked away on her father-in-law's say so and her husband insists it's all for the best. At first her husband claims they can't visit their daughter for 30 days. Eventually it becomes apparent that they are not to visit at all. He even has the audacity to suggest they have another baby as if Lucy was just a pair of defective shoes they could so easily exchange. When Ginny discovers this so called school is really a dumping ground where the disabled are neglected abused and uncared for, she takes matters into her own hands, defying her husband who is too weak to stand up to his father and learning that she is much stronger than she ever knew.
I received an advance copy for review.
When Ginny, a not so happy housewife gives birth to Lucy, a baby girl with Down Syndrome it becomes painfully clear that there are three people in her marriage, herself, her husband and his father. The baby is whisked away on her father-in-law's say so and her husband insists it's all for the best. At first her husband claims they can't visit their daughter for 30 days. Eventually it becomes apparent that they are not to visit at all. He even has the audacity to suggest they have another baby as if Lucy was just a pair of defective shoes they could so easily exchange. When Ginny discovers this so called school is really a dumping ground where the disabled are neglected abused and uncared for, she takes matters into her own hands, defying her husband who is too weak to stand up to his father and learning that she is much stronger than she ever knew.
I received an advance copy for review.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I felt like something was lacking in this book. I don't know. I thought I was going to love it and for some parts I did, but mostly I was just sad, anxious and uncomfortable. I can't believe how far we've come in our thoughts toward disabled children. I would never have imagined that only 50 years ago, babies with down syndrome and other disabilities would have been viewed and treated so negatively. It was a sad book with a somewhat satisfying ending but I guess I was just hoping for more umph or something...which probably makes no sense to anyone but me. I just never felt that big emotion I was hoping for with this one.
In Dover, Massachusetts, 1969. Ginny Richardson gave birth to a baby girl with Down's Syndrome. Her Husband signed away her rights to the baby while she was drugged and unable to make the decision for herself. He said he sent her to a "school" for mentally handicapped children, and that it was best that they not see her for the first few months to let her settle in and get adjusted there. Two years later, Ginny still has not seen her daughter, when her best friend Marsha calls with some devastating news....there has been a week-long expose' in the local paper there about the school and the conditions are deplorable. Ginny gets Marsha to take her there to see for herself and immediately signs Lucy out for a weekend pass. Once she does, she realizes there is no way she can send her daughter back to that place and live in those conditions, even at the cost of her marriage.
This book was heart-wrenching. I had to put it down a couple of times and just cry. But I don't regret reading it. The story was so good, so compelling. I have to say, if this book doesn't tug at your heart-strings, then you have no heart.
This book was heart-wrenching. I had to put it down a couple of times and just cry. But I don't regret reading it. The story was so good, so compelling. I have to say, if this book doesn't tug at your heart-strings, then you have no heart.