Two Timelines:
 
1939, Memphis, TN – Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her younger siblings live a carefree life aboard their family’s Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their parents are suddenly forced to leave during a stormy night, strangers arrive and tragically separate the family. Rill and her four siblings are taken to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage, where they’re told their parents will soon return. However, they quickly realize the dark truth, and Rill fights to protect her siblings from the cruelty of the facility’s director.
 
Present-day Aiken, SC – Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career as a federal prosecutor, a wealthy family, and a handsome fiancé. But when a chance encounter leads her to uncover shocking truths about her family’s hidden past, Avery embarks on a journey that will reveal a dark chapter in American history – based on the real-life scandal of Georgia Tann, who kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families.
 
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Range: 16+
Before We Were Yours is best suited for older readers due to its mature themes, family trauma, emotional depth, and historical injustices.