I started sold on a Monday in the afternoon and had it finished by the evening I couldn’t put it down! It’s one of those books you find yourself thinking about even after I turned my kindle off! I found myself going into the book asking what would lead a mother to give up her children or sell them?? Sold on a Monday contains that theme but also a reporter investigating it as well. Sold on a Monday is set during an economic downfall in 1931 in Pennsylvania , where Ellis a reporter discovers and snaps a photo of a sign stating 2 children for sale. Snapping the picture sets in motion results Ellis had no idea would happen. During this time period orphans were sold to become forced workers, mobs control parts of cities. lily is the kind secretary that helps Ellis investigate his story after the children that he snapped a picture of are sold. He wants to know they are ok since he had a different set of kids hold the sign after his first picture was ruined and the second set of children were the ones sold and there mother is gone. The one quote that really stood out to me from the book goes like this. “Even when life’s downright lousy, most kids are still so resilient because..well I guess cause they don’t know any different. It’s like they only realize how unfair their lives are if you tell them. And even then, all they need is the smallest amount of hope and they could do just about about anything they set their minds to”.

A Goodreads friend had introduced me to Kristina McMorris’s works awhile back ago and I even added a few of her books to my TBR at the time, but unfortunately never got around to reading them – so when I found out that McMorris would have a new book out in August, I immediately requested an ARC (and happily got approved right away). Even without that though, taking one look at the cover made me already want to read this book. Honestly, who wouldn’t be moved even a little bit seeing a little boy on the cover, seated on the grassy floor, his head down, arms over his knees, waiting all by himself with a lone suitcase by his side, the title Sold on a Monday written right above him? As the saying goes, pictures speak a thousand words, and that cover picture, along with the ones described in the book (as well as the original picture in the Author’s Note which McMorris explains actually inspired this story), are ones I can’t stop thinking about. I don’t have any kids of my own, but I have an 8-year-old nephew whom I adore and absolutely can’t imagine living without, so it is unfathomable to me to think that a parent (or parents) could sell their children so willingly, regardless of the situation. Looking at those pictures, I was curious and wanted to know more – yes, I wanted to know the story behind the pictures, but beyond that, I wanted an explanation, one that would help me understand the heartbreaking scene in the photographs. Going into this book with these pre-conceived thoughts, I was expecting the story to be deeply emotional, despite the fact that I already knew this wouldn’t be the “real” story behind the original photograph, but rather a fictionalized version based on McMorris’s own research and interpretation.

Set in the early 1930s in Pennsylvania and later New York, against the backdrop of the Great Depression and its after effects, we follow society reporter Ellis Reed as he tries to scope out a satisfying story to earn his keep at the local newspaper he works for. While on assignment, he snaps a photo of two boys next to a slightly rundown house and only later notices the sign in front that says ‘2 children for sale’. It is this photograph that becomes the catalyst for the entire story, putting Ellis on a path of events that unfold in the most unexpected of ways. By his side is Lily Palmer, a young mother working as a secretary to the chief at the same noticeably male-dominated newspaper – she befriends Ellis and eventually becomes involved in his story after the haunting image of the children being put up for sale in the photograph triggers memories of her own past.

I was captivated with this story from the start. Compelling and well-written, this story is not simply about Ellis getting his big break in the cutthroat world of a fast-paced and often unforgiving newspaper outlet, nor is it simply about Lily’s struggle as an unwed mother who is trying to rise above society conventions and make a life for herself as well as her child. The story is more complex and through the fate of the children, leads us to an exploration of morality and ethics in journalism, but more importantly, pushes us to think about our own perceptions and biases as well as our natural tendency to judge others and at times formulate a quick opinion based on limited knowledge. McMorris did a really great job with the historical aspects of this story, with establishing time and place and relaying with vivid detail various aspects of the newsroom environment, as well as what was going on in society as a whole during that era. I also liked that McMorris tried to incorporate an element of suspense by ending each chapter with a cliffhanger of sorts, which kept me as a reader engaged and continuously turning the pages in an effort to find out what happens next and the eventual fates of the children at the center of the story – Calvin and Ruby – both of whom captured my heart from the beginning. Character-wise, both Ellis and Lily were well-drawn and were characters that I liked as well as rooted for – however for some reason, I found it difficult to connect with either character on an emotional level, which bothered me a bit. Perhaps I was just never convinced about Ellis and Lily’s relationship from the getgo, plus my focus from the beginning was on the story of the children, so the romantic element that was added, though not overwhelming, did become a little bit of a distraction. Therefore, while I enjoyed this book overall and it was a good as well as necessary read for me, I didn’t “love” it the way I thought I would.

Regardless though, I still highly recommend this one, as it is well worth the time – the insights into society as well as the newsroom politics during that era were wonderfully captured and the story itself also left me with some interesting food for thought. At the back of the book, there is a section entitled “A Conversation with the Author” where McMorris details some of the things that she considered while writing this book and one of things she said about truth in journalism that really resonated with me, but also makes this a very timely read given what we are going through currently in our society: “[I] think it’s really important to remember in today’s world of viral post and images and sound bites that we all bring our own perceptions to the table. And that inevitably these are skewed by our past experiences or even an unconscious desire to see what we want to see. More than ever, quick judgments based on those snippets, and certainly pushing the moral line in reporting, too often can have devastating consequences to others – as Ellis learned the hard way.”

Though this was my first time reading Kristina McMorris’s work, it certainly won’t be my last. I am definitely looking forward to reading the rest of her books at some point down the line, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Received ARC from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley and Edelweiss.

Overall this was an interesting story. The characters were engaging and had their struggles.

It was just a bit slow for me. I was reading it on ebook and was surprised when I was only 10% through. I felt like more should have happened and I should be further along.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book - partly for the glimpses it gave into the depression, but mostly for the characters. They were not perfect, and sometimes made bad decisions, and I related to them. The side characters were also good - I initially thought some were stereotypes - the driven journalist, the crusty boss, the rich banker - but all of them surprised me and had some unexpected depth.

I was thinking the book would be about destitute children of the depression while it was about a journalist. With this in mind I was disappointed. The cover and title caught my interest. In other words I need to read reviews more that look at covers and titles.

Really enjoyed this book! A really fascinating pretext. The feel of this book is fairly sanitised and polite - it’s that genre of historical fiction that’s safe to take on a holiday and not end up in tears or feeling like you should hide it from prying eyes.

I'll be talking about it more during an upcoming episode of the new Story Addict podcast: http://www.storyaddict.com.au.

If I could give more than five stars, I definitely would. This novel has so much heart and soul I can’t even explain the feelings I have. I just read the last word and my mind and heart are so touched. This is the first novel in a very long time that I felt my heart race and my palms sweat ( while reading and anticipating the next word!) I feel honored to have been chosen to get a NetGalley copy. Thank you NetGalley.
This novel just confirms my love for reading.

Sold on a Monday shows us how things may not always be as they seem. Even though the novel takes place in the 1930s, it is has untimely parallels to our modern day "fake news" and the idea that the journalist can twist the story to represent what they want it to. The story is centered around a photograph that a reporter stages and then realizes there are great consequences for the people involved. He and a fellow reporter work to right untangle the truth and set things right. The story is easy to get lost in and a unique look at how pictures can be deceiving. Well worth the read.

Sold on a Monday

by Kristina McMorris

Sold on a Monday is one of those books that keeps returning to your thoughts—sad and soul crushing, but at the same time hopeful. Even the book’s title has a haunting echo: Sold on a Monday. What would it take for a mother to give up her children or further to sell them? Just how precious is a child to a mother and how can she survive when her child is gone? Sold on a Monday contains this theme within the story of a reporter’s drive for success, a secretary’s desire for secrecy, and families’ difficult relationships.

Sold on a Monday is set in the financial desolation of 1931 in Pennsylvania where Ellis, a reporter, snaps a photo of a sign “2 children for sale.” This one picture sets in motion the events contained in Kristina McMorris’ work of historical fiction that incorporates many elements of the Depression. It shows a poverty that brings out the best and the worst in people. Orphans are “adopted” to become forced workers. Mobs control cities, and Prohibition is for those without connections. Neighbors help neighbors, and shopkeepers set aside unsold goods for for the hungry, helpless, and homeless.

I was a little troubled by the romantic triangle in Sold on a Monday. At some points I felt the secretary with reporter aspirations, Lily, is being unfair to the two men interested in her. In fairness to her, however, although she has a four year old son, she is very young. At a time when being an unwed mother is a disgrace, she is attempting to make a living, take care of her child, and help her parents without whose support she would be in desperate straits. The author works out the triangle satisfactorily, if perhaps a bit too tidily, in the end.

I do recommend Sold on a Monday. It would be especially good for book clubs as it lends itself well to discussion. In fact, the author includes a section of questions for that purpose at the end of the book.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Sourcebooks Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Historical Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)


Publication: August 28, 2018—Sourcebooks Landmark

Memorable Lines:

“Even when life’s downright lousy, most kids are still so resilient because…well, I guess ‘cause they don’t know any different. It’s like they only realize how unfair their lives are if you tell them. And even then, all they need is the smallest amount of hope and they could do just about anything they set their minds to…”

He dared to ask for a repeat of a point and instantly saw his mistake in the man’s hardened face. Everything about him—his eyes and nose, his build and demeanor resembled a watchful owl. Just biding his time until he swooped in for the kill.

Then she heard. “Can you tell me how it all started?” It was a standard question that blended the reporter in Lily’s head with the detective before her, and she wasn’t entirely certain which of them had asked.

Never underestimate the power of a photo…

A sign in a yard – 2 children for sale – caught the attention of struggling reporter Ellis Reed. It’s the Great Depression and people take desperate measures to survive. Ellis snapped an innocent enough photo of the sign and the children, never intending that the photo be published.

In 1931 many people lost everything - their jobs, their houses, and means of making a living. People are living with breadlines, rationing, and hard decisions each day. Every day children are being sold or dropped off at churches and orphanages. Too many mouths to feed.

But the sight of these children is a gut-punch to Ellis, who has a father he can never please and has lived with the belief that when his brother died very young it should have been him instead.

Lily Palmer is a secretary at the same newsroom where Ellis works. She guards her own secret, a secret that she believes could cost her the job and her rooming accommodations if revealed. It is Lily that recognizes the power of Ellis’ photo. Unknown to Ellis, Lily includes the photo with the other photos Ellis took on his assignment that day. Thus is sparked a chain of events that changes several lives – his and Lily’s included.

This compassionate story reveals the heartache of a mother who is forced to give up her children. A mother who tried to ensure her children would have a better life than she could them, but was sorely betrayed. Ellis and Lily set out to right a wrong but find that it may cost them their lives.
The story was inspired by the sight of a photo the author came across online in a 1948 Indiana newspaper. The photo showed four children huddled together by a sign that read 4 CHILDREN FOR SALE. Also in the photo is the mother shielding her face from the camera. The characters in SOLD ON A MONDAY are memorable. They are flawed, but you still love them. They make mistakes, but they own up to them. They hurt, they cry, they love. These are people you can relate to.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Also reviewed on LibraryThing, BookBrowse, BookReporter, Facebook (facebook.com/groups/ReadingisMyPassion), Twitter (@bettylovesbooks), Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Instagram (#bettylovestoread), LinkedIn, and BookBub

Brilliant!

Against the background of the 1931 Philadelphia, during the Prohibition and the depths of the Great Depression, hardship is but a moment away. That moment is captured by newspaper man Ellis Reed. Accidentally really. Ellis had taken the photograph of two young children huddled under a sign "2 children" for sale whilst covering a a quilting exhibition.
Newspaper secretary, Lily Palmer, had seen the photo and shown it to her boss. Ellis' career was launched. The accidental destruction of the photo just prior to publication called for a hurried intervention. The picture was reconstructed using a different family, and from this comes a story that spans counties and opens the door on medical misdiagnosis, the separation of families, the "selling" of children, the complicity of children's homes and related social issues that persist even today. The question of what lengths parents are willing to go to in the hope of ensuring a better life for them, over against those who really do only care for themselves.
Sensitively told, this story of how two children came to be separated from their mother, and of the two newspaper people who made choices that opened up a veritable pandora's box, blends fact and fiction into an overwhelmingly brilliant story with heart!
Powerful reading!

A NetGalley ARC

Powerhouse of a book, Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris will change the way you judge people, question the harsh realities of life and want to go out to do something that will make a difference in someone’s life.

Opening description – “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.”

Just reading this line made me want to know more, about the sign, the children, the mother and the photographer. To learn more I certainly did, thanks to the astounding storytelling ability of the author. I was spellbound, transform back to the time of scarcity in this country. My mother would speak of life as a depression era child, but this story brought those days to vivid, heartbreaking life.

It is one of the most memorable books that I have read this year. Highly recommend.

Bait and switch?

This is a good story based on a photograph taken in the Depression era showing children with a sign saying "Children for sale". I know that happened when parents felt they could no longer care for their children during the Depression, but I wouldn't classify this book as historical fiction. To me, historical fiction makes you feel as if you are actually living in the time and setting it's based on. This book doesn't do that. It merely uses the photograph as a starting point.

The book actually focuses on Ellis Reed, a newspaper reporter who set up the photograph, and Lily Palmer, a secretary in the newsroom and wanna-be reporter, and the lengths they go to to rectify the horrible outcome of Ellis's recreated photograph and accompanying story.

There's drama, ethical quandaries, family secrets and even romance. It's an enjoyable read about a horrible time in our nation's history when selling children did occur. But it's not historical fiction. I feel the marketing is misleading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me the opportunity to read Sold on a Monday in exchange for an honest review.

Lately when I read historical fiction, I realize I don’t know that much history. Sure, I know the basics—the wars, dates, etc—but I don’t know the details or the stories. And I didn’t know this heartbreaking reality—that during the depression, some families sold their children.

This book tells one such story from the viewpoint of two aspiring reporters and how one—what seems like innocuous decision—spirals out of control until only their united teamwork can repair it. Family in all its variations are explored in this wonderful read.

This is the kind of book that makes you wish you’d asked your grandparents more questions about their lives or if they’re still alive, inspire you to ask those questions.

I received an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.

The blurb drew me to this book and the words on the pages within it kept me hooked to the story from the very beginning. This novel resonated with me as a mother, as a woman, and as a human being. The author's compassionate, historical storytelling laced with mystery, romance, ambition, and love will stick with me far after this book. It's one of hardship and misfortune. A story of misconceptions and perception. It's about life from the Depression era of our history told in a unique and fresh way that pains your heart as well as opens your mind to understanding in a variety of ways. Exquisitely written to keep you on the edge of your seat yet comfortable for the long haul, McMorris took a snapshot in time and gave us a beautiful story.

Told from the third person points of view, readers journey with two characters eager to be formidable, honest, pavement pounding journalists. Ellis Reed and Lily Palmer are both in vastly different circumstances yet vying for the same things. The unlikely pair become kind of friends in their quests to right wrongs of they're own doing. One single image struck Ellis as powerful. The same single image resonated with Lily on a personal level. And the beautifully brilliant words of Kristina McMorris brought that picture to life for readers providing a voice to those once, and still, effected all the while empowering us with visions of hope and love.

I was enamored with this story. It's not an easy, light read. The truths of it are hard to fathom, dark, and desperate. Based off this authors reaction to a historical photo she once came across highlights the history of our country but also echoes troubling times in our current and on going history as a nation. Children as our future and how our decisions affect them. McMorris brought the characters of this story together for a common goal through human decency, regret, compassion, and a depth of understanding. She showed readers how one single moment in time can change lives forever. And it was quite moving.

Based on an iconic photo from 1948 with a disreputable reputation, Sold on a Monday takes the photo and the controversy behind it and creates an entire world for the family pictured, the journalist who took the photo, and everyone who gets embroiled in the affair, from mafiosos, orphanages, returns from the dead, and some light kidnapping.

Sold on a Monday tells its story through the eyes of two reporters:

Ellis Reed, a struggling writer who stumbles upon a family attempting to sell their children. After the picture he takes of that family is ruined, he tries to recreate it for his story. Unfortunately, this means staging it with an entirely different family, a choice which leads to unforeseen consequences for far more people than he initially thinks.

Lillian Palmer is a single mother working as a secretary at the paper, struggling to gain recognition for her writing and keep everyone in the dark as to her child's existence. She quickly becomes embroiled in the intrigue surrounding the children in Ellis' now infamous picture.



While you might expect Sold on a Monday to ignore the controversy behind the original photo, which did indeed exist, Kristina McMorris leans into it instead, providing fictional context for the staging of the photo and creating a fun and exciting mystery while juggling historical elements and varying characters as each follows their own leads individually.


Sold on a Monday is available everywhere books are sold.

This is wonderful and amazing book ripped out my heart and dropped it at my feet shattering it into a million pieces. One of the best books that I have read this year. It's emotional and moody. It's heart wrenching and I still couldn't stop reading because I just had to know what happened. Absolutely pick up this gem of book and prepared to be dazzled. Happy reading!

Kristina McMorris writes her books with so much heart and warmth. The story pulls the reader in from the beginning, pulls at the heartstrings, challenges your thoughts, and then ties it all up perfectly at the end.

Sold on a Monday start with a mother selling her two children, pulling right on my heart. I cannot ever imagine being in this situation and was worried about where the story would go. The story does not continue with the tale of these children but of the newspaper writer who wrote the story and how it changes his life. Ellis Reed takes the picture, writes the story, and then has regrets at how it all ends up. He pulls in Lillian, a fellow newspaper employee, and the two of them take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of what happened to those children. Together they struggle with what is right and what is wrong, and their own guilt as to what their story has caused to happen to this family.

Kristina McMorris wrote this book as if she actually lived through the 1930’s. I could imagine living through the depression, what prohibition was like, and life with mobsters running businesses. This is a historical fiction book that takes the reader right back in time and lets them feel as if they are living their lives within the pages of the books alongside the characters.

Reporter, Ellis Reed happens upon a couple of kids sitting behind a sign that proclaims "2 Children for Sale." His co-worker, Lily persuades him to write an article based on the photo which their boss thinks is a great idea. When the photo is inadvertantly destroyed and Ellis has to stage another, the life of an innocent family is torn apart, and it is up to Ellis and Lily to set everything right again before its too late. This heartwrenching story grips you from the very beginning and doesn't let go. The story is fast paced and fascinating. The characters are all really welll drawn and multifacted. If you are a parent, you will be especially affected by the touching saga of the Dillard family, but even if you are not a parent you will still be moved by this touching book.

It starts with a picture. Two ragged boys, standing next to a sign that reads “Two Children for Sale”. Photojournalist Ellis Reed is haunted after photographing the boys, wondering what happened to them. When the photo is accidently destroyed and another is needed for a newspaper feature, Ellis stages a photo with two different children when he can’t track down the original brothers. It’s a decision made in a desperate bid to advanced his career, and one that leads to unforeseen and devastating consequences.

Set in the 30s after the stock market crash of 1929, Sold on a Monday is an emotional, dark look at the desperation and hopelessness of the Great Depression. It focuses closely on a mother’s love for her children, and the selfless, or terrible, actions that can spring from that. As the main characters Ellis and Lily work for a newspaper, it also provides insight into 1930’s journalism and the critical importance (and persuasive power) of the press. It was very suspenseful, as the narrative has many twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. Ellis and Lily were great and nuanced characters, but they could have used more emotional depth to fully immerse you in their stories. Overall I really enjoyed this story, and give it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.