Sold on a Monday

Author: Kristina McMorris
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
First Published: August 28, 2018
First Line: "Outside the guarded entrance, reporters circled like a pack of wolves."

Book Description from GoodReads: 

2 CHILDREN FOR SALE

The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs, and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing 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 it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined.

At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family.

Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

My Review: Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph showing children sitting by a sign that reads Children For Sale, Sold On A Monday is a tragic, yet heartwarming, story set during the Depression. 

This is one of those books that you'll sink into and suddenly find yourself immersed in a compelling story, time and place.  McMorris brings her readers into the grim setting of 1930's America where people were desperate to ensure they had money in their pocket, a place to live and food on the table for their families. Many were not so lucky.

With an engaging story and well-developed characters, readers will be swept into the lives of Lily Palmer, a young woman who dreams of making it as a newspaper reporter,  Ellis Reed, a reporter who wants to find a story to get his first big break, and two young children who find their lives dramatically changed by one photo.

This is a story about how two decisions, one by a stranger and one by a parent, compounded by dire circumstances, changed the lives of two children. It's a story of love, heartbreaking loss, redemption and perseverance. Fans of Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train will enjoy this book.