Short Summary
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a powerful and deeply emotional historical novel that intertwines two narratives: one of a family torn apart by a corrupt adoption agency in 1939 and another set in the present day, exploring the long-lasting impact of family secrets and resilience.
Book Information
Title: Before We Were Yours
Author: Lisa Wingate
ISBN: 978-0425284681
Genres: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Mystery
Published: 2017
In-Depth Summary of Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Introduction
Before We Were Yours is a compelling novel based on one of America’s most shocking true scandals—the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, which was responsible for the illegal adoptions and trafficking of children in the early 20th century. Lisa Wingate masterfully crafts a dual timeline narrative, bridging past and present, to illustrate the haunting effects of lost family histories and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel alternates between two protagonists: Rill Foss, a 12-year-old girl living in 1939 Memphis, and Avery Stafford, a modern-day South Carolina lawyer. Through their intertwined stories, Before We Were Yours explores themes of family, memory, and the devastating impact of a dark chapter in American history.
Plot Overview
1939 Narrative: The Foss Family’s Tragic Story
The story begins with 12-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings, who live with their parents on a shantyboat along the Mississippi River. Despite their poverty, the Foss children experience a free and joyful life, deeply connected to nature and to each other. Rill, being the eldest, is both a caretaker and a companion to her siblings, looking out for their well-being and nurturing them in her own way.
Their idyllic, if unconventional, life is shattered when their parents, Queenie and Briny, must rush to the hospital due to complications in Queenie’s pregnancy. While their parents are away, the children are forcibly taken from their home by the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, a corrupt adoption agency run by Georgia Tann, a real-life figure who exploited poor families by abducting and selling their children to wealthy, often unsuspecting, adoptive parents.
Life in the Orphanage
At the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are subjected to harsh and abusive conditions. Rill fights to keep her family together, but she faces relentless challenges. The children are stripped of their names, identities, and any sense of belonging. The orphanage is portrayed as a place of constant fear, abuse, and manipulation, where children are treated as commodities rather than human beings. Rill’s resilience is tested as she tries to protect her siblings and find a way back to their parents.
One by one, Rill’s siblings are adopted out to different families, despite her attempts to keep them together. These adoptions are fraught with deceit, as the adoptive parents are often unaware of the trauma and grief the children have endured. Rill is eventually adopted as well, severing her connection to her birth family and her former life.
Present-Day Narrative: Avery Stafford’s Discovery
In the present day, Avery Stafford is a successful lawyer from a prominent political family in South Carolina. Avery is poised to follow in her father’s footsteps, with her career carefully orchestrated to continue the family’s legacy. However, when she visits a nursing home on behalf of her family, she encounters an elderly woman named May Crandall, who unexpectedly recognizes a connection between herself and Avery. This encounter sparks Avery’s curiosity and sets her on a journey to uncover a long-buried family secret.
A Quest for the Truth
As Avery delves into her family’s history, she discovers clues that suggest her grandmother, Judy Stafford, might have a hidden past connected to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. Her investigation reveals shocking details about her family and their connection to the infamous adoption scandal, casting a new light on her family’s esteemed legacy. Avery faces an internal struggle as she grapples with her sense of identity and loyalty to her family, all while unearthing truths that challenge her perception of who they truly are.
Avery’s journey is more than just a search for answers—it’s also a quest for personal understanding. Through her research, she connects with people affected by the scandal and begins to empathize with their hardships, reshaping her own views on privilege, family, and compassion.
Key Characters
Rill Foss (May Crandall)
Rill is the anchor of the 1939 timeline. Her determination to protect her siblings and her struggle to adapt to life in the orphanage reveal her resilience and courage. As an adult, she becomes May Crandall, living with the trauma of her stolen past but ultimately finding ways to rebuild her life. Rill’s transformation from a carefree river child to a survivor haunted by her experiences encapsulates the resilience required to endure and overcome unimaginable hardships.Avery Stafford
Avery represents the present-day link to the past. Initially, she is focused on preserving her family’s reputation and maintaining the Stafford legacy. However, as she uncovers her family’s secrets, Avery’s character develops a sense of empathy and a deeper understanding of her heritage. Her journey from a dutiful daughter to an independent woman willing to confront uncomfortable truths showcases her growth and newfound strength.Georgia Tann
Georgia Tann, based on a historical figure, is the novel’s main antagonist. As the head of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, Tann exploited her power to abduct children and orchestrate illegal adoptions. Her presence is felt throughout the story as a looming figure of cruelty and corruption, embodying the real-life atrocities inflicted on countless families during this dark chapter of American history.Briny and Queenie Foss
Rill’s parents, Briny and Queenie, are devoted to their children, despite their impoverished circumstances. Their loss and helplessness when their children are taken away represent the pain felt by many parents who were victims of Tann’s schemes. Their love for their children is a constant thread in the novel, even though they are powerless to protect them.
Themes and Motifs
Family and Identity
One of the novel’s central themes is the importance of family and identity. The Foss children’s experience with the Tennessee Children’s Home Society demonstrates how family shapes one’s sense of self. Rill’s desire to keep her family together, even in the face of overwhelming odds, underscores the idea that family provides stability and belonging. Avery’s journey reveals that family heritage can shape identity, but it’s up to each individual to determine the meaning of that heritage.
Resilience and Survival
The theme of resilience is prevalent throughout Before We Were Yours. Rill’s struggle to adapt to life in the orphanage, coupled with her efforts to protect her siblings, highlights her strength and determination. This resilience extends into her adulthood as May Crandall, demonstrating how people can survive traumatic experiences and still find ways to heal and move forward.
Secrets and Truth
The novel explores how family secrets can shape and distort perceptions of the past. Avery’s journey of discovery forces her to confront hidden truths about her family and question long-held beliefs. The secrecy surrounding the Tennessee Children’s Home Society scandal represents how hidden histories can impact multiple generations, leaving a legacy of silence and pain.
Corruption and Exploitation
Through Georgia Tann’s character, Wingate addresses the corruption and exploitation that fueled the adoption scandal. Tann’s willingness to separate families for profit exemplifies the dark side of the adoption industry during that era. This motif serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the vulnerable and addressing systemic abuses of power.
Style and Structure
Lisa Wingate’s narrative style combines rich historical detail with emotionally charged storytelling. Her portrayal of the 1939 timeline is vivid, capturing both the beauty of the Foss family’s life on the river and the grim realities of the orphanage. The alternating timelines enhance the suspense, gradually revealing the connection between Rill’s story and Avery’s modern-day search. Wingate’s language is both lyrical and haunting, with passages that evoke the pain of loss and the resilience of the human spirit.
Memorable Quotes
On resilience:
“We live in the cracks, in the holes, in places where comfort can’t be taken for granted.”
On family bonds:
“I learned that the bond of family is not defined by blood, but by loyalty and love.”
On survival:
“It doesn’t matter what you’ve lost. What matters is what you do with what’s left.”
Conclusion
Before We Were Yours is a profoundly moving novel that sheds light on a dark chapter in American history while celebrating the resilience of the human spirit. Through Rill’s tragic story and Avery’s journey of discovery, Lisa Wingate illuminates the strength of family ties and the courage required to confront the past. This novel serves as both a tribute to the victims of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society and a reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding. Wingate’s storytelling captures the emotional complexity of family, love, and survival, making Before We Were Yours a compelling and unforgettable read.
One Sentence Takeaway: Before We Were Yours is a heart-wrenching exploration of family, resilience, and the long-hidden truths that shape our lives.