Before We Were Yours

By: Lisa Wingate

Narrated by: Catherine Taber, Emily Rankin

Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Memphis, 1939. Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family's Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge, until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents - but they quickly realize the dark truth....

Aiken, South Carolina, present day. Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption.

Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals, in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country, Before We Were Yours is a riveting, wrenching and ultimately uplifting tale.

©2017 Lisa Wingate (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Lisa Wingate takes an almost unthinkable chapter in our nation's history and weaves a tale of enduring power." (Paula McLain)

Lost lives.

A wonderful story of how the lives of helpless and defenseless people can unravel. One can never imagine what children remember or how it gets understood.

A Great Read

I was lost in this book, every time i played this, I did a time travel. I went from being Rail to Avery. I was certain this is not entirely fictional and the last chapter cleared my doubts.
I loved this book all the way.
The performance was Excellent.

A book that will stay with you for a lifetime!

Wingate describes this sinister narrative in such a way that it sets off an array of emotions. Absolutely brilliantly written!

A must read

One can barely believe stuff like this happened. A must read. A tough but beautiful read.

Before We Were Yours

Excellent performance and story, though there was too much telling rather than showing the emotions of the characters. In Avery's case, I couldn't understand or be sympathetic with her.

Riveting

Enjoyed every minute of this book! I could literally feel the character’s emotions. Highly recommended.

What an amazing story!

wow, what an amazing book!! It really touched my heart. I felt I got to know the characters so well. Their story becoming alive. One of my favourite books of all time.

Excellent story, excellent narration

This story felt real and realistic. great character development. Narration was absolute top of the game.

Heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one

I had no knowledge of the events surrounding Georgia Tann and her awful deeds. The narrative weaves the reality and the fiction together so well that it is not hard to believe that it could be completely true. I was riveted from the first word. I was breathless with fear when the little ones were left and ultimately, I was worried when dealing with the health issues in present day and felt sadness at Grandma Judy's losses. I felt Avery's anguish in her decisions about her future and I wanted to solve the mysteries of who was who in each time. I must congratulate the two narrator's as their characterizations were integral to my enjoyment of the story. I will learn more about the adoption scandal now as my interest has been piqued by this tale. I highly recommend this book as it is a truly rich story with lovable characters and a well developed storyline. Bravo to the author and the voice artist's. Magnificent job.

Made me wish I had read a real life account of this story.

The historical story was gripping. It was a pity that it was alternated with an up-to-date story.The contemporary chapters were a complete waste of time. A predictable story with an unlikable central character who learns nothing about her privilege. A boring love story that is Telegraph turn my alarm off.