Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate intertwines the lives of Avery, a modern-day lawyer from a powerful family, and Rill, a young girl from the 1930s who is taken from her family and placed in an abusive orphanage. As Avery uncovers her grandmother's hidden past, she learns about Rill's struggle to protect her siblings and the harrowing experiences they endured. Sensitive topics such as familial separation and systemic abuse are explored.

Lisa Wingate's Before We Were Yours captivates with its compelling narrative based on real-life events. Readers laud its emotional depth, rich historical details, and engaging dual timelines. However, some critiques highlight occasional predictability and a slow start. Overall, it's an evocative tale of family and resilience that resonates strongly with readers.

Today's readers intrigued by historical family dramas and emotional narratives would relish Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. Fans of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah will find this tale of resilience and sacrifice particularly captivating.

Emotional / Mysterious / Bittersweet / Melancholic / Inspirational

- Before We Were Yours is inspired by real-life events surrounding the notorious Tennessee Children's Home Society and its director, Georgia Tann, who was involved in a child trafficking scandal.
- The novel stayed on the New York Times Best Seller list for over a year and won numerous awards, including the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction in 2017.
- Author Lisa Wingate was deeply moved by the survivor stories from the Tennessee Children's Home Society, leading her to incorporate these elements into the book to shed light on this dark chapter in American history.

**Avery**  
A respected attorney and daughter of a Southern Senator, engaged to a fellow attorney from a powerful family. Her journey begins with a focus on appearances and family reputation before pivoting towards discovering hidden truths about her grandmother's past.

**Rill**  
The eldest daughter of Briny and Queenie, Rill is nicknamed the “princess of Kingdom Arcadia.” She is renamed May after being abducted at 12, experiencing a life of struggle while holding onto her self-identity and memories of her siblings.

**Briny**  
Rill's father, known as a “river gypsy” who lives on the Mississippi, adored by his children, but struggles with alcoholism after losing them. He is connected to memories and music, reflecting the family's river life.

**Queenie**  
The Foss siblings' mother, a beautiful woman called Queenie, known for her nurturing nature. She embodies comfort and connection with her Polish roots amid river life.

**Camellia**  
The only brunette among the Foss siblings, known for her resistance during capture and tragic fate, remembered through the dragonfly bracelets worn by her sisters.

**Lark**  
A sibling recognized for her cherubic blond curls and adoption into a kind family. She maintains a connection with her sisters, symbolized by shared jewelry.

**Fern**  
The youngest blond sister, who experiences trauma following her abduction. Her intense bond with Rill leads to adoption into a stable home.

**Gabion**  
The youngest of the Foss siblings, renamed Robby and first to be adopted. His memory is kept alive by his siblings despite his separation from them.

**Zede**  
A doctor who assists Queenie during childbirth and bridges the world of river folk and land authorities, embodying support and compassion.

**Silas**  
A teenager who steps into the Foss family during a crisis, offering support and adventure stories. He creates an emotional bond with Rill during a critical moment in her life.

**Grandma Judy**  
Avery’s grandmother, placed in a nursing home, who holds a secretive and significant connection to her past, unveiled through familial discoveries.

**Senator Stafford**  
A prominent Southern politician and Avery's father, battling cancer while maintaining a stoic public image and revealing familial secrets towards the novel’s end.

**Honeybee**  
Avery's mother and a Southern belle, focused on family status and appearances, influencing Avery’s early outlook.

**Elliot**  
Avery's fiancé, a successful attorney whose relationship with Avery becomes complicated as she delves into her family history.

**Leslie**  
The Senator’s assistant responsible for managing the family's public image, often admonishing Avery for her choices that might affect appearances.

**Miss Tann**  
The villainous head of an orphanage, known for exploiting and selling children, presenting herself as a concerned community member.

**Miss Murphy**  
Miss Tann’s assistant, often inebriated and abusive towards the children, handling the daily operations of the orphanage.

**Mr. Riggs**  
Miss Tann’s cousin, presenting a friendly demeanor but known for predatory behavior towards the children, creating fear and mistrust.

**Trent Turner**  
A realtor intrigued by Avery’s exploration of family secrets, discovering his own ties to the story as it unfolds.

**Miss Dodd**  
A compassionate worker at the orphanage who becomes aware of the dark truths behind the children's circumstances, ultimately risking her position.

**Mrs. Sevier**  
The adoptive mother of Fern and Rill, initially bereaved by past losses but ultimately providing a nurturing home for the sisters.

**Mr. Sevier**  
Rill's adoptive father, perceived with suspicion initially, who proves to be caring and dedicated to familial happiness.

**Arney**  
A river gypsy child disguised in boyish attire, who becomes an ally to Rill and seeks her own freedom and future beyond the river.

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