3 Star
2 CHILDREN FOR SALE
The scrawled sign, peddling young siblings on a farmhouse porch, captures the desperation sweeping the country in 1931. It’s an era of breadlines, bank runs, and impossible choices.
For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family’s dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.
Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value.
Kathryn - 3 Star
I know this is likely to be an unpopular opinion but this was not my favourite Kristina McMorris book. I read another review that said she'd been expecting one sort of novel and got something quite different and that's the way I felt also.
From the title, cover image and Ellis' taking of the photo I was expecting the plot to follow the lives of the children and perhaps to follow the thread of the period and the great poverty endured by so many during the Great Depression. However, the novel followed Ellis through his career and the impact the photograph had on him. Though fascinating, I was expecting something different and I didn't really warm to Ellis.
I felt a little closer to Lillian and her situation. There was love apparent for her child and her parents that shone through. Lillian and Ellis' relationship was so stilted that they never really meshed well for me and it didn't add much to the plot. In the end I was satisfied with the wrap up between them as well as somewhat pleased with the outcome for the children.
I can't fault the writing and would not hesitate to read another book by the author as I've been engrossed by more than one of her other books.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
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