Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate Summary

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a historical fiction novel that exposes the real-life Tennessee Children's Home Society scandal, where children were kidnapped and illegally sold for adoption in the 1920s–1950s. The dual-timeline narrative follows Rill Foss, a 12-year-old forcibly taken with her siblings to Georgia Tann’s orphanage in 1939, and Avery Stafford, a modern-day lawyer uncovering her family’s connection to the scandal. Through themes of identity, resilience, and family bonds, Wingate reveals a dark chapter in American history.

This book is ideal for historical fiction enthusiasts, book clubs, and readers interested in emotional family sagas or social justice. Its accessible prose and dual timelines appeal to those seeking immersive narratives, while its exploration of trauma and resilience resonates with fans of character-driven stories. Due to distressing themes of child exploitation, reader discretion is advised.

Yes—it spent over two years on the New York Times bestseller list, sold 3.5 million copies, and won the 2017 Goodreads Choice Award for historical fiction. Critics praise its meticulous research, evocative storytelling, and emotional depth, though scenes of abuse may be challenging for sensitive readers. Its nonfiction companion, Before and After, further validates the real-world impact.

The scandal involved Georgia Tann’s Memphis-based orphanage (1920s–1950), which kidnapped over 5,000 poor children, falsified records, and sold them to wealthy families. Tann profited illegally by $1 million (equivalent to $10 million today), shielded by political corruption. Wingate’s novel fictionalizes survivors’ accounts, highlighting the trauma of forced adoptions and systemic injustice.

The 1939 timeline follows Rill Foss’s fight to protect her siblings after their abduction, while the present-day storyline features Avery Stafford unraveling her grandmother’s secret ties to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The parallel narratives converge to reveal how historical trauma shapes generational identity, emphasizing themes of memory and familial bonds.

• Family resilience: Characters endure separation but cling to hope for reunion.
• Identity erosion: Victims’ names and histories are erased during illegal adoptions.
• Historical accountability: The novel critiques systemic corruption enabling child trafficking.
• Memory as healing: Avery’s investigation underscores confronting past truths for closure.

• Rill Foss (1939): A 12-year-old forced into the orphanage, renamed "May".
• Avery Stafford (present): A lawyer exposing her family’s link to the scandal.
• Georgia Tann: The real-life villain who orchestrated the illegal adoptions.

Yes. Wingate drew from survivor testimonies and archival research about Georgia Tann’s Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The novel’s fictional Foss family represents thousands of real victims, while the nonfiction companion Before and After documents actual survivors’ stories.

• 2017 Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction.
• Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize.
• Finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award and RT Booklovers Reviewer’s Choice Award.

Avery confirms her grandmother, Judy Stafford, was one of the abducted Foss children. Though Rill’s siblings are scattered, the finale implies reconciliation through newfound family connections, stressing that confronting painful history fosters healing.

Some readers find child abuse scenes emotionally overwhelming, though Wingate avoids explicit sexual violence. Critiques note the present-day plot feels less compelling than the historical thread. Despite this, the novel is lauded for its nuanced portrayal of survivor resilience and historical accuracy.

Like The Book of Lost Friends or Shelterwood (2024), Wingate’s works spotlight overlooked historical injustices. Before We Were Yours remains her most acclaimed, with unmatched commercial success (3.5M+ copies) and a direct nonfiction companion. Her signature themes—family secrets and social equity—pervade all her novels.