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bronski's review against another edition
4.0
This gives one heck of an emotional wallop to the heart. I was completely ignorant of the Tennessee Child Home Society and the issues of child trafficking that went on for so long unchecked. Knowing the truth to the story added a whole other layer to the experience of this novel, and I’m so glad it was written.
staheri's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cassmccaff's review against another edition
4.0
Geez I did it. After years of seeing this book floating around and hearing that it was “too sad”. I finally gave it a go. And I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Set in the 1940’S (and based on actual events) 5 siblings are taken from their home on the river while their mother and father are in the hospital giving birth to twins. They are taken to a “children’s home” where they suffer terrible abuse. It goes back and forth to present day of a woman from South Carolina who discovers a mystery about her powerful political family. And does some digging.
The parts that were sad were definitely very sad. I found myself staying up late reading just to get to a happier part in the book. I was very invested in the children’s storyline. But didn’t care as much about the present day one. I normally don’t with books like this. But it was still good! Fast paced and captivating the whole way through. It is sad yes… but it’s not *too* sad. Books about slavery are what I would call “too sad” this one does have happy bits in the end as well. I hate to think that these things actually happened. But also it adds to the story.
Set in the 1940’S (and based on actual events) 5 siblings are taken from their home on the river while their mother and father are in the hospital giving birth to twins. They are taken to a “children’s home” where they suffer terrible abuse. It goes back and forth to present day of a woman from South Carolina who discovers a mystery about her powerful political family. And does some digging.
The parts that were sad were definitely very sad. I found myself staying up late reading just to get to a happier part in the book. I was very invested in the children’s storyline. But didn’t care as much about the present day one. I normally don’t with books like this. But it was still good! Fast paced and captivating the whole way through. It is sad yes… but it’s not *too* sad. Books about slavery are what I would call “too sad” this one does have happy bits in the end as well. I hate to think that these things actually happened. But also it adds to the story.
jmrprice's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful storytelling, just a very sad era in the 20th century. Apparently the Depression served as an initial cover for the nefarious child-brokering of Georgia Tann. While this may only be a novel, the research/sources are solid.
Sad to understand such things could happen - telling birth parents their babies died or kidnapping children from their yards so they could be adopted by ‘better parents’ for exceptional fees. How could people be complicit, for decades, in such underhanded endeavors? Sigh…
Sad to understand such things could happen - telling birth parents their babies died or kidnapping children from their yards so they could be adopted by ‘better parents’ for exceptional fees. How could people be complicit, for decades, in such underhanded endeavors? Sigh…
susiebee's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
the_escape_artist_'s review against another edition
2.0
I really didn’t like it. I can see how people can love it, because you do feel for the children, you would have to be a sociopath not to, so you get a strong emotional reaction, but it isn’t because of good writing or character development, it is because you are being presented with such an extreme tale of tragedy.
chloe16's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0