The Lost Girls of Willowbrook

By: Ellen Marie Wiseman

Narrated by: Morgan Hallett

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

In her most powerful novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Ellen Marie Wiseman masterfully viscerally evokes the real-life Willowbrook State School, the infamous Staten Island, New York, mental institution that shocked a nation when exposed in the 1970s as a dumping ground for unwanted children. Girl, Interrupted meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in this gripping narrative of social injustice, survival, and a young woman determined to find her sister.

Sage Winters always knew her sister was a little different even though they were identical twins. They loved the same things and shared a deep understanding, but Rosemary—awake to every emotion, easily moved to joy or tears—seemed to need more protection from the world.

Six years after Rosemary's death from pneumonia, Sage, now sixteen, still misses her deeply. Their mother perished in a car crash, and Sage's stepfather, Alan, resents being burdened by a responsibility he never wanted. Yet despite living as near strangers in their Staten Island apartment, Sage is stunned to discover that Alan has kept a shocking secret: Rosemary didn't die. She was committed to Willowbrook State School and has lingered there until just a few days ago, when she went missing.

Sage knows little about Willowbrook. It's always been a place shrouded by rumor and mystery. A place local parents threaten to send misbehaving kids. With no idea what to expect, Sage secretly sets out for Willowbrook, determined to find Rosemary. What she learns, once she steps through its doors and is mistakenly believed to be her sister, will change her life in ways she never could imagined...

©2022 Ellen Marie Wiseman (P)2022 Recorded Books

Intense

A very intense thriller that keeps you involved the whole story. I would
Definitely recommend!

Twisty but too long

This was good and twisty but every time a new twist was coming I'd guess it and then it would take a very long time to get there.

Well written and insightful

This story kept me coming back to hear more. Although it was disturbing at times knowing that the book was pulled from facts, I enjoyed the book.

Disappointing

Struggled to finish, you’ll be shaking your head and looking for an answer why you stuck with it until the end!

Boring start

This book started out so boring. This story is not in any of my genres. This is about absolute cruel and abomination of human rights.

Predictable, yet infuriating story

I wanted to enjoy this book, but there were many ways in which it fell short for me. Firstly, the story was often predictable, and sometimes so overt that it could hardly be suspenseful. I found the writing style difficult to enjoy. Lots of useless exposition. The main character isn’t even likeable. I couldn’t believe how pleasureless it was to finish. I kept looking back at how much time I had left thinking, “why can’t this be over? What else is left to say?” The characters were infuriatingly implausible and ridiculous. Unfortunately this was my first read from this author and I won’t be picking up another from her collection.

Incredible. Hard to not finish in one sitting!

Another amazing book by Ellen Marie Wiseman! The book makes you feel as though you can visually see all happenings. Great light shed on the horrible conditions at Willowbrook. Very well written with a thrill for crime junkies!

Too long

The book just went on and on and made the story boring after awhile
Should have been shorter

More of a YA book

While ideal in concept in line with other historical fiction novels, this one fell short. Most of the book felt like it was more in line with young adult reading. There was no mystery to the plot after the first quarter of the book and the main character became quite annoying and completely lacked social cues. I had high hopes, since this was a horrible institution, but the story dragged on and was not super interesting.

Good Read

This was an interesting HF book and so sad a true story …. Maybe a bit too much detail repeated about conditions at the school….. but an enlightened read