It's 1931, two years after the Stock Market crash and the country is in the middle of the Great Depression. Ellis Reed, a struggling young photographer snaps a picture of two young children playing in front of their farmhouse, but it is the sign on the front porch that captures his attention. "2 Children for Sale" Ellis doesn't intend to exploit their situation, but when a colleague submits the picture to the editor, it becomes Reed's big break. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Reed and his colleague Lillian Palmer, play a role in two other children being removed from their mother and their home. Who gets to decide what is better for a child, a Mother's love or someone financially able to care for them? Reed and Lillian struggle to do the right thing at the risk of losing their jobs and security.
Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph, it is a compelling tale. The extreme poverty, hopelessness, and desperation of that time in history is clearly evident in the premise of parents having to sell their children because they can't feed them. I enjoyed many aspects of this book which included romance, friendship, and redemption. Even in desperation, there is always hope. Like a Dorothea Lange photograph, the story haunts me. The Author's Note describes the original photograph and the subsequent research as background for the book. Definitely a worthwhile and enjoying read.
I received an ecopy for a review.
Kristina McMorris is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author published by Sourcebooks Landmark, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Kensington Books. Her novels have garnered more than two dozen prestigious awards and nominations, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA's RITA® Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. For more information on Kristina: http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/home
Book Club Guide: http://www.kristinamcmorris.com/pdf/sold-on-a-monday-book-club-guide-aug-2018-comp.pdf
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