Too Brown to Keep

A Search for Love, Forgiveness, and Healing

By: Judy Fambrough-Billingsley

Narrated by: Jennifer Groberg

Length: 4 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Judy Fambrough-Billingsley was born Ute Schaab in Friedberg, Germany, shortly after World War II. As the daughter of a white German woman and a black American soldier, she became one of the many unwanted “brown babies” whose mixed-race led to their abandonment by her mother. Her powerful and riveting memoir describes the historical time period of World War II and the transformation she experienced in her quest to find both birth parents.

From a childhood in Germany shortly after the war to adulthood in America, Too Brown to Keep: A Search for Love, Forgiveness, and Healing recounts the author’s inspirational odyssey, as the search for her birth parents leads to the discovery of the good, the bad, and the ugly family secrets she struggled to unearth for decades. She gives a captivating, true account of the emotional and psychological effects of being biracial, abandoned, an internationally adopted baby, and the heart-wrenching, very public rejection she suffered at the hands of some members of her newly discovered family.

Her remarkable journey of the trials and triumph she endured on her journey of self-discovery results in a thought-provoking chapter on forgiveness and healing. This easy-to-follow book concludes with a guide to researching your own ancestry or finding and reconnecting with a person who has been missing from your life. Too Brown to Keep is gripping, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.

©2018 Judy Fambrough-Billingsley (P)2020 Judy Fambrough-Billingsley

Sweet, painful, and beautiful story!

An honest and thorough story of an adopted woman’s journey to discover “who am I”. Laced with historical context, a revealing analysis of race and culture. A fascinating story that is hard to put down.

Loving, Revealing and Heartfelt!

Love the open and honest and yes painful life experiences shared in this book. The author reveals a roller coaster of emotions throughout this journey, however, she uses life lessons from her parents (those who love, teach and take care of you) to learn and grow, heal and forgive so that you can have a positive impact on your loved ones and others. Great resources and references Included!

A Moving Story that will bring tears to your eyes

This is a well-crafted memoir of a woman who was abandoned by her parents during WW II in Germany. Born biracial, her mother could not be bothered to endure any inconvenience in order to raise her and her sister. Her father, a member of the US military during WWII abandoned them as well. However, it is her mother’s abandonment that haunts her the most. Judy sets off on a journey to find her biological parents and answers. It is this search that places her on the path to healing and the ability to forgive.
This memoir will linger with the listener long after it is over. What overcomes abandonment? The author, Judy Fambrough-Billingsley, tells us it is love, forgiveness and healing. The pain Judy faced each day should be heard and appreciated. Although she did not dwell upon it, Judy’s adoptive parents were mixed about her search. Out of love and respect, Judy took care not to upset the woman who loved her as her own and raised her with the love and passion of a biological parent. The result of her search is complete and as satisfying as one might expect or hope.
The narrator, Jennifer Groberg was sensitive to the topic and delivered the performance with the right amount of passion and tenderness. Her cadence was smooth and well-timed. The voice of Judy was exactly as I expected – tender and loving yet pained and longing.
Although I do not listen to many memoirs, this is one that hits close to home and one that I find powerful.
The production quality of this audiobook was well done and clear. There were no issues.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.

Amazing and beautiful story

I absolutely LOVED this book! I could not put it down, wanting to know how Judy’s - Ute’s - story ends. It is so beautifully written, and such an amazing story. I laughed, I cried, I saw so much humanity, and so much of myself. I highly recommend this book!

Happy Ending with Advice

Thanks for sharing this story and journey🫶🏾.
The lessons at the end are sure to help many!