Pick a book you have read and answer
the following questions:
1. Why did you pick the book? This has been my favorite book that I have
read this summer. It came out last summer, but it was always checked out
and I could not get my hands on it. I was able to be patient during the Covid
thing and I was able to check it out online and read it. I actually listened to it
as an audio book.
2. What did you think about the book? This book is historical fiction based
on Georgia Tann and her adoption ring that occurred from 1924 to her
death in 1950. She would have kids kidnapped from their families...poor
children mostly and mostly blonde hair and blue eyes. This story is fiction,
but Georgia Tann and her organization The Tennessee Children's Home Society
was very real. She was said to have adopted to the very rich such as
Joan Crawford, June Allyson and many more. She stole over 5,000 children
and sold them. This book made me cry thinking of all of the children that
were stolen and hurt. Not only that, but many were sat out in the sun to die as
babies if they were not deemed good enough for adoption. It shocked me. I was not
aware of this story. This is why I love to read historical fiction.
Here is Georgia Tann
3. What do you know about the author? I knew nothing. I have since read
about her. This book really touched me. The author is Lisa Wingate.
4. What’s the most memorable scene? This book really stayed with me.
The whole thing is memorable. I think the fact that the main character lost
her siblings throughout the book. She was old enough to remember at age 12.
She finds some of the them in the end.
5. How did the book make you feel? It made me mad and sad and I learned so
much about this crazy Georgia Tann person...who I am sure thought she was
doing the world a favor by selling the poor kids to rich families.
6. How do you feel about the way the story was told? It was perfect. It elicits
strong emotions, it is very descriptive. It is a wonderful story for awareness
of this topic. I was able to see the action happening as I was reading. It was
good. It is told in two separate perspectives. Rill 12 years old in 1939 and
present day Avery Stafford. Rill is the oldest sibling of the Foss children
that were stolen and Avery is a lawyer and well she turns out to have a connection
but you need to read it to know how.
7. Which parts of the book stood out to you? The parts at the Children's Home
when they would get punished and sometimes raped. This book tears at your
heartstrings.
8. Which specific parts of the protagonist can you relate to? I am adopted,
so this book was especially upsetting to me...not in a bad way, but an
empathetic way. I was not stolen, but my heart hurt for the families that
this happened to.
9. Which character did you relate to the most? Rill...the main character
and oldest sibling.
10. Share a line or passage from the book.
11. What did you think about the ending? I think after the ride the reader is
put through during the book it was a good ending.
12. Is the story plot driven or character driven? It is character driven...it is about
the Foss children that are stolen from their riverboat as their mom was having
a baby at the hospital. It follows their lives and what happens to them at the
Tennessee Children's Home. This is the read Tennessee Children's Home.
13. If the book was made into a movie, what changes or decisions would you hope for?
I always hope they do not make changes from the book, but they always do.
This would make a fantastic movie if they did it right.
14. How did the book change you? I am not sure that is changed me, but it sure
did make me more aware and I did so much research on this topic and
Georgia Tann. It educated me.
15. If the book is part of a series, how does it stand on its own?
It is a stand alone and if you haven't read it. I highly recommend it.
This is a real picture of one of the kids Georgia Tann stole.
