A review by lacisrambo
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

“I want a pain I understand instead of the one I don’t.” 

 

I know I’m going to be put through an emotional roller coaster reading this book. The dedication alone was enough to warrant that. The prologue solidified it.  This is a Historical Fiction novel based on the real life, Tennessee Children’s Home Society, and the child trafficker who ran it, named Georgia Tann. This is a powerful, dual POV that switches between a girl named Rill (in the past) and a woman named Avery (present day). I also learned that Ric Flair (the wrestler) was a victim of Georgia Tann and was adopted out of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. That tidbit is completely unrelated to the book. Historical Fiction books like this aren’t binge reads for me, simply because the topic is too deep and I need to pause and process a lot. It’s challenging to say the least. This was such a great read though. It was emotional for sure, and a few tears were shed, but nonetheless, a read that everyone needs to absorb every now and then. I never would have known about the Tennessee Children’s Home Society if it weren’t for this book.