Before We Were Yours

The book draws from the real-life horrors of the Tennessee Children's Home Society, where children were kidnapped and sold to wealthy families in the 1930s and 1940s. The story is told through two parallel timelines: one following Rill Foss, a young girl whose life is torn apart when she and her siblings are taken from their riverboat home, and the other centred on Avery Stafford, a present-day lawyer who begins to uncover her family's long-buried secrets.
Wingate excels in creating a haunting atmosphere that captures the reader's attention from the very first page. The portrayal of Rill's ordeal is heart-wrenching and emotionally charged, making it impossible not to sympathise with her plight. The historical aspect of the novel is well-researched, providing a grim reminder of a dark chapter in American history that is not widely known.
However, while the historical narrative is compelling, the contemporary storyline is less engaging. Avery's character feels somewhat underdeveloped, and her personal struggles seem trivial compared to the harrowing experiences of Rill and her siblings. This disparity between the two timelines weakens the overall impact of the novel, as the modern-day narrative often feels like an unnecessary distraction from the more gripping historical plot.
Another point of contention is the pacing. The novel starts strong, but the momentum begins to wane as it progresses, particularly in the middle sections. Some parts of the story feel repetitive, and the resolution, while satisfying, is somewhat predictable.
Despite these flaws, “Before We Were Yours” is a powerful read that sheds light on a disturbing piece of history. Wingate's writing is vivid and evocative, and the novel's emotional depth will resonate with readers who enjoy historical fiction. However, the uneven pacing and the less compelling contemporary storyline prevent it from being a truly outstanding work.
In conclusion, “Before We Were Yours” is a solid read, particularly for those interested in historical fiction, but it falls short of being a masterpiece. It's a book that lingers in your thoughts, but the imbalance between the two narratives keeps it from reaching its full potential. Hence, a 3.5-star rating feels appropriate for this emotional yet uneven novel. 

Life is not unlike cinema. Each scene has its own music, and the music is created for the scene, woven to it in ways we do not understand. No matter how much we may love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn???t suit the moment.

Overall, I loved the primary story line, and I was fascinated by the non-fiction aspect inside of the fiction – that there was a time when children were taken in large numbers away from their birth families and sold to rich adopters, and that much of this was public knowledge. I was drawn in to the story of the Foss family, although they were fictional, and wanted to read their story and discover what happened next.

What proved to be less successful for me was the modern day story line, with a wealthy, privileged woman finding out the truth her grandmother had been hiding. Although this meshed with the story I cared about, I really had less of a passion for what felt more like a romance novel that barely brushed against the plot I cared about.

I have no issue with romance novels, having reading literally thousands, but it wasn't the book I wanted to read at that moment. Avery's wealthy family and the people who swirled around them were also unappealing – shallow people concerned about reputation and comfort. We are told Avery's parents are good people, but little of that is shown.

And I get the irony there – that I didn't care much about this aspect while saying there should have been more of it so that I could grow to care. But this book is simply too short to do right by all the characters and plot lines.

I am asked to care about Avery, and I do, just not as much as I do the Foss family, but the things I've been asked to be concerned about are then settled off the page. To say much more would be a spoiler, but 20 more pages given to the modern story line to add some depth and tie up a few loose ends would have probably done a world of good for my enjoyment. I certainly would have enjoyed even more time on the timeline I really enjoyed.

I do want to thank the author for making me aware of a fascinating and tragic detail of American history.

Anyhow, I borrowed this from the library through my Kindle, and had a pretty long wait. I just looked, and my library system had 8 copies of the ebook to lend, and SEVEN people waiting per copy. This is a really popular read, and so many people do love the story in it's entirety, so my issues don't add up to much. I will return my copy in a minute, and the next person will receive an email to tell her (am assuming it will be a her) that the book she's been looking forward to is ready.

Happy reading!

3.5 stars

Rill's chapters were painfully captivating. I couldn't put the book down during those sections. It was sad, but also ultimately hopeful and informative.

Unfortunately I didn't find Avery's chapters nearly as compelling. The characters seemed too one dimensional.

Still, the historical awareness this book brings makes it a worthwhile read.