When Authors Do Their Research—The Reader Benefits

Reading a book is like taking a journey—and that journey is especially illuminating and meaningful when it is based on actual events or real programs. Two new books are excellent examples. “Before We were Yours” by Lisa Wingate was inspired by the sad story of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, which operated from 1920 to 1950 under Georgia Tann. Wingate makes you ask yourself what would another path have yielded as she connects the past to the present. You will definitely shake your head when you learn how vividly she has portrayed what happened to the children in this orphanage and what harm was done to their birth families.

In “Look For Me” by Lisa Gardner you are taken into the world of kidnapping and assault survivors, the violence of girl gangs and the real-world impact of foster care placement. Gardner is a prolific author and like her other books, this one is fast-paced and covers several parallel issues as it centers around a missing teenager. In the zigs and zags of the plot, you will be challenged to figure out who is on the side of good and who is really evil.

Add ORPHAN TRAIN to this listing by Julianne. Another eye opener for me.