Before We Were Yours A Novel by Lisa Wingate Before We Were Yours A Novel by Lisa Wingate Before We Were Yours A Novel

"Before We Were Yours" is a compelling and heart-wrenching novel written by Lisa Wingate. Set in two different time periods, it intricately weaves together the lives of two families and the painful legacy of a notorious real-life organization.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of two main characters. In the present day, we meet Avery Stafford, a successful young lawyer and daughter of a prominent politician. During a visit to her grandmother's nursing home, Avery stumbles upon a mysterious photograph that sparks her curiosity about her family's past. This discovery sets her on a journey of uncovering hidden secrets and confronting the dark truths that lie beneath her family's polished facade.

Interwoven with Avery's narrative is the heartbreaking tale of Rill Foss and her siblings. Set in the 1930s, the Foss children are living a simple and happy life on a Mississippi riverboat with their loving parents. However, their lives are abruptly shattered when they are cruelly taken from their home by the Tennessee Children's Home Society, an organization involved in the illegal trafficking of children. Rill, the eldest, is determined to protect her siblings and find a way back to their family, but they are thrown into a world of abuse, exploitation, and the struggle for survival.

As the story unfolds, the connections between Avery and Rill become increasingly apparent, revealing a tragic and haunting family history that spans generations. Through the alternating narratives, Wingate explores themes of identity, family bonds, love, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

"Before We Were Yours" is a meticulously researched and beautifully written novel that shines a light on a little-known chapter in American history. Lisa Wingate skillfully blends fact and fiction, drawing readers into the lives of her characters and leaving an indelible impression long after the final page. It is a poignant and powerful story of resilience, redemption, and the unbreakable ties that bind us together.