Published by RB Media Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction
Format: ARC, Audiobook
The Girls We Sent Away is gripping, moving, shocking and thought provoking. I loved this audiobook. I could not stop listening and when life got in the way, I found myself thinking about the story. Another book which has me feeling for all the young women who experienced the loss, tragedy, pain, shame, and guilt that many suffered during the time of the Baby Scoop Era of 1960’s. It was a time that being an unwed mother/teenage mother brought not only shame on the young woman but on her family as well. It was a time when teens and young women were sent away to hide their “shame” and the young fathers walked free to live their lives.
Lorraine Delford had a bright future ahead of her. She came from a good family, was studious, well liked, had a picture-perfect home and a handsome boyfriend. She has dreams for her future. None of which entailed getting pregnant in high school. Her life is now changed forever. Her parents send her away to a pregnancy home for wayward girls. There, the harsh realities of life kick in.
I thought the narrator did a fabulous job bringing this book to life. My heart broke for Lorraine and the young women in the home. Sent away to save their family embarrassment, sent away without a choice and without support.
This book is not only about the young women who were sent away during the Baby Scoop Era of 1960’s (but let’s be real, women have been sent away for various reasons throughout time), it is about choices in all forms. There are forced choices, coerced choices, the choices parents make for their underage children, lack of choices and the power of the choices we make (or are forced to make). How choice has consequences both positive and negative. How choices can affect a person for the rest of their lives.
This would make a terrific book club selection as there is a lot to discuss in this book. This is a moving and powerful book which I could not put down. I was fully invested in the story, feeling for the characters and their plight.
This was my first book by Meagan Church, and I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
Gripping, powerful, moving, and hard to put down.