Before We Were Yours is a novel by Lisa Wingate, published in 2017. It is based on the true story of the Tennessee Children's Home Society, an orphanage that kidnapped and sold children to wealthy families for decades.
The novel follows the story of two families: the Foss siblings, who are
taken to the orphanage in 1939, and Avery Stafford, a present-day lawyer who
discovers the truth about her own adoption.
Rill Foss and her four younger siblings are living a happy life on their
family's shantyboat when their parents are arrested by the Tennessee Children's
Home Society. Rill is determined to keep her siblings together, but they are
split up and sent to different orphanages.
At the orphanage, Rill and her siblings are subjected to abuse and
neglect. They are forced to work long hours and are often punished for minor
infractions. Rill also witnesses other children being mistreated and sold to
wealthy families.
Avery Stafford is a successful lawyer who has everything she could ever
want. But when she meets a mysterious woman who claims to be her birth mother,
Avery's world is turned upside down. She begins to investigate her own adoption
and uncovers a dark secret about the Tennessee Children's Home Society.
Before We Were Yours is a powerful and moving novel about the resilience
of the human spirit. It is a story about family, love, and the importance of
never giving up hope.
Here are some
of the key takeaways from the book:
- Family is important, both biological and chosen. The Foss siblings and Avery Stafford both find loving and
supportive families, even though their biological families are not able to
be there for them.
- Identity is important, but it is not defined by our birth
circumstances. Avery learns that she is loved and
accepted, even though she was adopted and her birth parents were not
involved in the kidnapping and sale of children.
- The human spirit is resilient. The
Foss siblings and Avery all overcome tremendous adversity in their lives.
They show that it is possible to heal from trauma and find happiness.
- It is important to stand up for what is right. Avery uses her platform as a lawyer to advocate for children who
have been victims of abuse and neglect. She shows that it is possible to
make a difference in the world.
In addition to these key takeaways, the novel also offers important
insights into the dark side of the adoption industry. Wingate writes about how
the Tennessee Children's Home Society kidnapped and sold thousands of children
over the course of several decades. She also writes about the secrecy and
corruption that existed within the orphanage.
The novel explores number of themes, including:
- Family: The novel explores the importance of
family, both biological and chosen. It also shows how families can be
formed in many different ways.
- Identity: The novel explores the importance of
identity and the challenges that can arise when a person's identity is
built on a lie.
- Resilience: The novel shows the resilience of the
human spirit in the face of adversity. It shows how people can overcome
even the most difficult challenges.
- Justice: The novel explores the theme of justice and the importance of holding those responsible for their actions accountable.
Chapter-Wise Summary
Chapter 1
The novel opens in 1939, with Rill Foss and her four younger siblings
living a happy life on their family's shantyboat on the Mississippi River. One
night, their parents are arrested by the Tennessee Children's Home Society, a
notorious orphanage that kidnapped and sold children to wealthy families.
Rill is determined to keep her siblings together, but they are split up
and sent to different orphanages. Rill is sent to the Tennessee Children's Home
Society's main orphanage in Memphis, where she is subjected to abuse and
neglect. She is forced to work long hours and is often punished for minor
infractions.
Chapter 2
Avery Stafford is a successful lawyer in Memphis in 2013. She has
everything she could ever want: a loving husband, a beautiful home, and a
successful career. But when she meets a mysterious woman who claims to be her
birth mother, Avery's world is turned upside down.
Avery begins to investigate her own adoption and uncovers a dark secret
about the Tennessee Children's Home Society. She learns that the orphanage was
responsible for kidnapping and selling thousands of children over the course of
several decades.
Avery also learns that her own adoption may have been illegal. She
decides to track down her birth parents and learn the truth about her past.
Chapter 3
Rill and her siblings are subjected to physical and emotional abuse at
the Tennessee Children's Home Society. They are also forced to work long hours
and are often punished for minor infractions.
Rill witnesses other children being mistreated and sold to wealthy
families. She is determined to escape the orphanage and find her siblings
again.
Chapter 4
Avery continues to investigate her own adoption. She discovers that the
Tennessee Children's Home Society is still in operation, and that it has a
history of secrecy and corruption.
Avery also learns that her birth parents may have been involved in the
kidnapping and sale of children. She is determined to find them and hold them
accountable for their actions.
Chapter 5
Rill finally escapes from the Tennessee Children's Home Society. She
sets out to find her siblings, but she has no idea where to start.
Rill travels from orphanage to orphanage, searching for her brothers and
sisters. She faces many challenges along the way, but she never gives up hope.
Chapter 6
Avery confronts the Tennessee Children's Home Society with her findings.
She demands that they release their records and help her find her birth
parents.
The Tennessee Children's Home Society is reluctant to cooperate, but
Avery eventually convinces them to release their records. She learns that her
birth mother was a young woman who was forced to give her up for adoption.
Avery also learns that her birth father is still alive.
Chapter 7
Rill finally finds her siblings. They are all overjoyed to be reunited,
but they know that they are not safe. The Tennessee Children's Home Society is
still looking for them.
The Foss siblings decide to go on the run. They travel across the
country, trying to stay one step ahead of the orphanage.
Chapter 8
Avery finds her birth father. He is a wealthy businessman who is ashamed
of his past. He is reluctant to help Avery find her birth mother, but he
eventually agrees.
Avery and her birth father travel to a small town in Georgia, where they
find Avery's birth mother. She is an elderly woman who is suffering from
dementia.
Chapter 9
The Foss siblings are finally caught by the Tennessee Children's Home
Society. They are returned to the orphanage, where they are punished for
escaping.
But the Foss siblings are not giving up hope. They know that they will
one day be free.
Chapter 10
Avery visits her birth mother regularly. She learns about her mother's
past and the circumstances that led to her adoption.
Avery also learns the truth about her own adoption. She discovers that
her birth parents were not involved in the kidnapping and sale of children.
They were simply two young people who were in love and wanted to start a
family.
Chapter 11
The Foss siblings are adopted by a kind and loving family. They are
finally safe and happy.
Avery continues to visit her birth mother regularly. She also becomes a
advocate for children who have been victims of abuse and neglect.
Conclusion
Before We Were Yours is a well-written and powerful novel that is sure
to stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a story that needs to
be told, and Wingate does it beautifully.
In the end, the Foss siblings and Avery Stafford all find their way to
healing and happiness. The Foss siblings are adopted by a loving family, and
Avery finds her birth mother and learns the truth about her adoption. She also
uses her platform as a lawyer to advocate for children who have been victims of
abuse and neglect. Before We Were Yours is a powerful and moving novel that
shows the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of standing up for
what is right.
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