The Lies They Told

De: Ellen Marie Wiseman

Narrado por: Elisabeth Rodgers

In rural 1930s Virginia, a young immigrant mother fights for her dignity and those she loves against America’s rising eugenics movement—when widespread support for policies of prejudice drove imprisonment and forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin—in this tragic and uplifting novel of social injustice, survival, and hope for listeners of Susan Meissner, Kristin Hannah, and Christina Baker Kline.

When Lena Conti—a young, unwed mother—sees immigrant families being forcibly separated on Ellis Island, she vows not to let the officers take her two-year-old daughter. But the inspection process is more rigorous than she imagined, and she is separated from her mother and teenage brother, who are labeled burdens to society, denied entry, and deported back to Germany. Now, alone but determined to give her daughter a better life after years of living in poverty and near starvation, she finds herself facing a future unlike anything she had envisioned.

Silas Wolfe, a widowed family relative, reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter to his weathered cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his home and children. Though the hills around Wolfe Hollow remind Lena of her homeland, she struggles to adjust. Worse, she is stunned to learn the children in her care have been taught to hide when the sheriff comes around. As Lena meets their neighbors, she realizes the community is vibrant and tight knit, but also senses growing unease. The State of Virginia is scheming to paint them as ignorant, immoral, and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.”

After a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, her own worst fears come true. Sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, Lena face impossible choices in hopes of reuniting with her daughter—and protecting the people, and the land, she has grown to love.

©2025 Ellen Marie Wiseman (P)2025 Recorded Books

Excellent narration

It was a very good story highlighting a dark period of American history. The narration was so good including the singing !

Horrible part of our history

I can't decide which exclamation to use to start my review! I had absolutely no idea that this was such a huge part of American history. I've heard various references to eugenics, but never considered how widely it was spread across the US. Beginning with Ellis Island and extending into communities across the country. it was used by politicians as a tool for control of people and confiscation of land. Forced sterilization of children and destruction of entire families was rampant and widely accepted as necessary for the greater good of our country. This novel is fiction, but contains true events, real people, and the atrocities described did actually happen to many people. Definitely worth reading, even if just for the knowledge of this dark, sad part of our history.

Family means everything - so does history

I loved everything about this book. I learned so much! This book should be read by all.

The narrators awesome variations

The story started slow but ended do be patient. The narrator did a great job of defining each character.

The horrors of injustice to Americans by Americans

I loved the character’s courage and capacity to inspire and keep going. I learned so much.

Embarrassing I didn’t know

Our history classes in this country never told this story. Growing up we should have been aware of what happened to the people of the hills of Virginia and other Appalachia states. The horrific treatment I listened to in this story made me very angry and sad that this had happened to innocent people. I’m embarrassed I didn’t know. This story was well researched and narrated. As the author suggested I immediately researched the history when I finished the book.

Fantastic story

I finished this book in two days, couldn’t stop listening! My heart breaks for the characters, and yes, I know the story is fiction, but it is written in a way that makes you believe you are listening to a biography! I love Ellen Marie Wiseman books, and this one did not disappoint. I can only imagine the things that happened in this story, happening in life. Keep up the great writing!

The severity of times in Blue Ridge no right for these people hurt my heart.

Loved that Lena was reunited with her daughter and brother. Disliked the colony part very scary.

So good

Wow. This book was so good. I have never read a book about the eugenics movement nor have I really learned too much about this.

This book opened my eyes to it and what people went through during this time. I’ve always heard about stuff like this happening in other countries but never knew about it in America.

This book was so memorable and emotional. I loved the characters in the book as well.

In this particular book the author talks about the process immigrants went through when coming to Ellis Island. This is something I also have never really explored. And also very saddened by.

The research that went into this book was outstanding and I’m so intrigued to learn more and read more by her.

It blows my mind about sterilization based on disability race education and more. And the authors note is a must!

Love her books!

Easy to listen to, catches your attention right off the bat, and keeps your attention until the last word. Looking forward to the next book!