Before We Were Yours
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Before We Were Yours
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Narrated by:
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Catherine Taber
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Emily Rankin
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By:
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Lisa Wingate
About this listen
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 AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Before We Were Yours
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amy
- 22-01-18
thoroughly enjoyed it
Little bit slow to start but once it got going I was hooked.
I really enjoyed this story but it wasn't without it's faults. Rill's narration was far more interesting than Avery's, and I found Avery to be a little dense for such a smart woman.
The narration was great.
I think what I found most interesting was it was based on true events and since reading this book I've looked up a lot to do with the orphanage.
I would recommend this listen.
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23 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Georgey49
- 05-12-20
Brings to life the unthinkable grief inflicted on families by Georgia Tann
Having lived all my life in the UK this child stealing period in Tennessee was a 20th century scandal I was unaware of. It is sensitively brought to life in this tale of two fictional families, one of which was torn apart by the events of the time.
I liked how the story flips between the experiences of the children in the 1940s and the gradual uncovering of these experiences by the character Avery Stafford in the 21st century, blowing apart the nonsense of class distinctions.
Having looked up the real account of Georgia Tann and the power she wielded at the time I like how the writer appears to have been true to the accounts of the real individuals whose lives were so greatly affected directly and indirectly by that woman and her self serving policies.
This book would be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in 20th century social history combined with a gripping storyline. It had me gripped from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kay
- 01-04-21
Loved this book, unfortunately based on truth.
I loved this book, although a harrowing and uncomfortable listen at times, based around real life events, this story had me hooked. Similar to ‘Where the Crawdads sing’.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rhiannon
- 03-12-18
Epic amazing well written and researched story .Di
Epic amazing well written and researched story.Didnt want it to end.Tragic how this happened .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- L R W
- 14-09-18
A brilliant, informative listen
This story is well-crafted, well written and gripping. The fact that it is based on shockingly true circumstances makes it even more worthwhile listening to.
There is an interesting author's note at the end.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jozie
- 31-10-18
Most thought provoking and sad book but excellent!
I was in bits most of the time whilst listening to this book. The characters were amazing and at times could not hold back the tears ... this was even on packed train journeys to work. I am glad I have finished it as I was getting obsessed with the story but also already miss the characters! thank you for writing such a lovely book with such a powerful underpin.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- My Views
- 28-08-18
Kept me up at night!!
I loved this book, I don’t usually listen to stories like this, but I found it so absorbing, I gathered some true info on the children’s home featured in the book first so I had a inkling of the story behind the book, what those poor children & parents went through Is unbelievable. I recommend this book not only for its semi fictional story but it’s so well written and the 2 narrators give it a special feel and you bond with them, certainly kept me on the edge of my seat, well done!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- V_Nerdbooks
- 10-09-18
before we were yours
Great story .Cannot believe how they got away with it for so long .Loved the story and the narrator
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ann
- 10-02-24
Interesting history
I enjoyed the unravelling of this appalling story based on true histories. Read well and kept me gripped.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Crochet nanny
- 03-10-24
A sad yet lovely story
A beautiful story well written and well read kept me listening very sad times would recommend this book
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