2018 Beyond the Classics discussion

Before We Were Yours By Lisa Wingate, is a New York Bestseller and has every right to be. This story highlights the horrors of orphans and the secrets behind family members. This book opens to a longer decidation than normal, to the people who have been forgotten, to the orphan's of today and to their caregivers. Next there are two quotes one from the article The Baby Market, written in the Saturday Evening Post in 1930 and one from The Baby Thief. These quotes capture the power babies and what they can become. This book is split between past and present. Avery Stafford represents present and Rill Foss represents past.

Avery’s life and family has always been politics . She was born and raised in them. And she wants to continue her life in them. But was it all a distraction from the truth behind her family? With her father’s health failing before her eyes, it's time for things to change. It's time to truly appreciate family. After a strange encounter with an old woman at a nursing home, Avery slowly finds the pieces to solve her family’s puzzle. However that old woman has stories of her own and needs Avery’s help to find her lost siblings. One by one, May Crandall’s life is revealed and so is Avery’s family secrets. The bond between the two brings the family closer and sheds light on the horrors of orphanages. Despite that, time sometimes never changes the bond between families.

I really enjoyed this book, as it was recommended to me by my mother and all her friends. The two narrations flow perfectly with each other. My favorite narrator was done by Rill/May, they all held a great storyline and tons of detail. I wish there was more plot to Avery, who was the main character. I felt like I didn’t really know her. Other than that this is a strong book, that talks about everyday problems. I didn't know families can get split up at orphanages, I also didn’t know about the abuse they may face. This book taught me how lucky I am that I have my sisters. This book also has me questions the lost relatives of my family. Though, family secrets can be easily find with the love and support of others.