Before We Were Yours: A Novel

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate is a powerful historical novel inspired by a real-life adoption scandal. In 1939, twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her siblings are taken from their Mississippi River shantyboat and placed in a cruel Tennessee orphanage, fighting to stay together. In present-day South Carolina, Avery Stafford uncovers her family’s hidden past, leading to a journey of truth, loss, and redemption. The novel explores resilience, family bonds, and the enduring impact of history.