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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
In 1960s NC, Lorraine is a star student with dreams of being her class valedictorian and becoming an astronaut and going to the moon. This is derailed when her boyfriend, Clint, before heading to college, decides it is time to have sex with her. She doesn't push him away. Later, she realizes she is pregnant. Her parents are ashamed and send Lorraine to a maternity home, hiding her pregnancy from their friends.
Lorraine has to decide what is best for her moving forward. Will she be able to realize her dreams if she has a baby, or must she give up her baby to realize her dreams?
This book made me angry as I recalled the days when women, not men, were shamed for having babies out of wedlock. (Still happens). I clearly remember these times, so I was not surprised by the book's events.
This book made me angry as I recalled the days when women, not men, were shamed for having babies out of wedlock. (Still happens). I clearly remember these times, so I was not surprised by the book's events.
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very eye opening
I'm always interested in the facets of history that aren't usually talked about. Even though I was born in a later generation, I know that “girls in trouble” were sent away and came back very much changed. While I knew this book would be sad, I also wanted to read more about a so-called “good girl” who was in the extremely difficult situation of an unintended pregnancy in the 1960's. I feel that this book, while fiction, was pretty accurate to what I imagined really did happen in that era to these young women. I know their partners did not have to deal with the stigma at all and were free to live their lives as they had planned before their girlfriends became pregnant.
I think this story started out extremely well, as we put into a story that has a lot of foreshadowing. However, I don't feel that the story stayed as strong, but I don't think this is a reason for not continuing the book. I do wish we had learned more about what Lorraine's family dealt with while their daughter was away, ie if neighbors gossiped or they just believed the parents' story. I also would have liked more of a story of what Lorraine's life was like immediately after she returned home.
This was a very fast read for me, and if I had had uninterrupted time, it would have been a one sitting book. I never felt that the story dragged, only that the timeline didn't always make sense, but picking up and putting down the book repeatedly may have caused this. This book is definitely worth your time if you are interested in non-mainstream social history of the 1960's.
I received a free copy in exchange for a review.
I think this story started out extremely well, as we put into a story that has a lot of foreshadowing. However, I don't feel that the story stayed as strong, but I don't think this is a reason for not continuing the book. I do wish we had learned more about what Lorraine's family dealt with while their daughter was away, ie if neighbors gossiped or they just believed the parents' story. I also would have liked more of a story of what Lorraine's life was like immediately after she returned home.
This was a very fast read for me, and if I had had uninterrupted time, it would have been a one sitting book. I never felt that the story dragged, only that the timeline didn't always make sense, but picking up and putting down the book repeatedly may have caused this. This book is definitely worth your time if you are interested in non-mainstream social history of the 1960's.
I received a free copy in exchange for a review.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
I would like to preface this review by thanking sourcebooks landmark for sending this title to me in exchange for an honest review.
Lorraine has big dreams she wants to accomplish. She's the soon to be Valedictorian of her class, she has a supportive family, and an even more supportive boyfriend. But, when the summer before her senior year, Lorraine falls pregnant. Now, trying to navigate her life living in the 60's and a teen pregnancy, she is sent away to a maternity home for unmarried women.
Before I jump into this review, I highly suggest checking the trigger warnings for this one. This is a very heavy read but nonetheless, important.
This story brings to light the hardship many young women faced back in the 1950s-1960s. Women who are unwed and fall pregnant were forced to live in maternity homes until they give birth. Then, these women were forced to give up their child. They did this to prevent tarnishing their family's reputation. I did not know about this part of history so this was all new to me. When I read this, it completely broke my heart. Lorraine lost everything that was important to her. Her dreams were crushed but then to further the blow, she had to give up a child she wanted. For me, this story brought a lot of anger. I was angry for Lorraine and what her family and boyfriend did to her. I was angry for the women who lived through this.
This story is told from multiple point of views but it flowed naturally. This book is definitely a "slow burn" but I think everyone should read this book. We need to lift the voices of women who went through this and I think, although, Lorraine was a fictional character, she tells the story of reality for some. This was the easiest 5 star to give to me. Please, read this book.
Thank you again to sourcebooks landmark!
Lorraine has big dreams she wants to accomplish. She's the soon to be Valedictorian of her class, she has a supportive family, and an even more supportive boyfriend. But, when the summer before her senior year, Lorraine falls pregnant. Now, trying to navigate her life living in the 60's and a teen pregnancy, she is sent away to a maternity home for unmarried women.
Before I jump into this review, I highly suggest checking the trigger warnings for this one. This is a very heavy read but nonetheless, important.
This story brings to light the hardship many young women faced back in the 1950s-1960s. Women who are unwed and fall pregnant were forced to live in maternity homes until they give birth. Then, these women were forced to give up their child. They did this to prevent tarnishing their family's reputation. I did not know about this part of history so this was all new to me. When I read this, it completely broke my heart. Lorraine lost everything that was important to her. Her dreams were crushed but then to further the blow, she had to give up a child she wanted. For me, this story brought a lot of anger. I was angry for Lorraine and what her family and boyfriend did to her. I was angry for the women who lived through this.
This story is told from multiple point of views but it flowed naturally. This book is definitely a "slow burn" but I think everyone should read this book. We need to lift the voices of women who went through this and I think, although, Lorraine was a fictional character, she tells the story of reality for some. This was the easiest 5 star to give to me. Please, read this book.
Thank you again to sourcebooks landmark!
sad
fast-paced
emotional
informative
sad