Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

149 reviews

sjanke2's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

abbyynormal's review against another edition

I am not emotionally prepared to finish this book, but I will be some day. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

avialia's review against another edition

dark emotional informative slow-paced

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

3.5

The book draws from the real-life horrors of the Tennessee Children's Home Society, where children were kidnapped and sold to wealthy families in the 1930s and 1940s. The story is told through two parallel timelines: one following Rill Foss, a young girl whose life is torn apart when she and her siblings are taken from their riverboat home, and the other centred on Avery Stafford, a present-day lawyer who begins to uncover her family’s long-buried secrets.

Wingate excels in creating a haunting atmosphere that captures the reader's attention from the very first page. The portrayal of Rill's ordeal is heart-wrenching and emotionally charged, making it impossible not to sympathise with her plight. The historical aspect of the novel is well-researched, providing a grim reminder of a dark chapter in American history that is not widely known.

However, while the historical narrative is compelling, the contemporary storyline is less engaging. Avery’s character feels somewhat underdeveloped, and her personal struggles seem trivial compared to the harrowing experiences of Rill and her siblings. This disparity between the two timelines weakens the overall impact of the novel, as the modern-day narrative often feels like an unnecessary distraction from the more gripping historical plot.

Another point of contention is the pacing. The novel starts strong, but the momentum begins to wane as it progresses, particularly in the middle sections. Some parts of the story feel repetitive, and the resolution, while satisfying, is somewhat predictable.

Despite these flaws, "Before We Were Yours" is a powerful read that sheds light on a disturbing piece of history. Wingate’s writing is vivid and evocative, and the novel's emotional depth will resonate with readers who enjoy historical fiction. However, the uneven pacing and the less compelling contemporary storyline prevent it from being a truly outstanding work.

In conclusion, "Before We Were Yours" is a solid read, particularly for those interested in historical fiction, but it falls short of being a masterpiece. It's a book that lingers in your thoughts, but the imbalance between the two narratives keeps it from reaching its full potential. Hence, a 3.5-star rating feels appropriate for this emotional yet uneven novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

drexrode's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping

vulco1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This book was great.  But a ton of trigger warnings... I was being punched in the heart by all sides, lol.  Super touching, the main characters had different stories and writing styles and were written differently.  A+ work.  Loved it but will not read again, lol.

The mystery was so/so.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Trafficking

Moderate: Sexual assault

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Abandonment

jkpheart21's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Sexual assault and Murder

jmiles758's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism

alexklinect's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

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

3.5

3.5 stars rounded up… An important story that needs to be told! Dual timeline: the historical storyline was heartbreaking, but the present-day storyline was pretty predictable. Some key plot elements were wrapped up too quickly at the end.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Death of parent

angievansprang's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

This book does a great job with story telling and making the characters come alive off the pages. It was an incredibly sad read, especially due to the aspects of the book that are not fictional. Knowing that these things really happened to live children for years, unchecked, is a horrible thought. I’m glad this book is out there and was even able to bring clarity to some survivors.

The parts I did not love were how the author & the characters spoke about most of the Black characters. I understand that much of this book was set in 1930s Tennessee, but I found certain descriptors unnecessary and racist.

Fuck Georgia Tann and her conspirators, may they forever rot in hell!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Dementia, Grief, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Death of parent

nikkilerae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder