Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

50 reviews

pferdina's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Based on true horrors of the abduction and sale of children in Memphis Tennessee between 1920 and 1950, the novel alternates back and forth in time. One story follows the Depression era story of Rill Foss and her siblings, taken from their family houseboat and then adopted by various people. Only three of them find each other again. The other story is Avery Stafford, daughter of a senator and the one who discovers her grandmother’s true history while struggling to figure out who she wants to be.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Classism

way2sweet2's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, and Kidnapping

beckcatbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional

4.5

God, this story. This shines a light on an important but also devastating piece of history, and I’m equal parts heartbroken and incensed by the lives that were affected by this. Rill Foss has my heart and her story will stick with me for a long time. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Trafficking, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault and Dementia

Minor: Death of parent

ldavis519's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

LOVED this book! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Dementia, and Abandonment

sarah_amy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This book both had and broke my heart. I cared so much about Rill/May, her siblings and all the other children, and Avery's investigation among it all. I went in completely blind with this book, so was floored to know this is based on real events and that Georgia Tann was the person behind all the horror. I was less interested in the political side of it all and the romance felt a bit forced (not a bad match, just unnecessary). It would have been a 5 star on the investigation and flashbacks to Rill/May's past alone, but the politics/romance almost felt like I was being interrupted by a side story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Grief

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Based on the child trafficking/illegal adoption agency of Georgia Tann. Lots of details of abuse and allusions to death that went on in the foster homes involved. Many of these children were adopted out illegally and without the consent of the birth parents - some were outright stolen like in this story.

mari_fish's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Definitely a hard but worthy read. May be difficult for parents who have lost children.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Dementia, and Classism

goodin10tions's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Sexual assault, Dementia, and Grief

freya163's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Gut-wrenching but incredibly insightful

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Classism

Moderate: Dementia

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

zumpers's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Grief

jacquibear's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Dementia, and Classism

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury