Sold on a Monday by Kristina Morris is the story of reporter Ellis, secretary to the Chief of a newspaper Lily, and the mother and children that Ellis takes a photo of and places in the newspaper for a story, not exactly on purpose. The title says "2 Children for Sale". He didn't intend it to happen like that but it has.

As a result two children are sold, a mother disappears and Ellis and Lily are left wondering.  Lily has a secret of her own, and a desire to be a writer if only she can break through the male barrier to that. And she is the persevering kind.

Ellis does make good from the story that goes with the photo, but... he is a man of conscience and so begins a journey that he and Lily undertake to ensure that the sold children are safe and thriving. What they find out disturbs them enough to have them undertake a sometimes quite dangerous mission to recover the children.

The story is one that kept me engaged the whole way through. It was both sad and heartwarming and I really liked both the setting and the characters. Very satisfying.

Ellis Reed is a struggling journalist and keen photographer. He writes the standard stories you usually see in a newspaper but nothing you would deem as ‘disruptive writing.’ He is out and about one day when he spots a sign outside a family home with two small children that says ‘2 children for sale.’ He takes a photo and wonders how the parents of these children got to this point. He also feels profoundly sad about what has happened to this community.

When the editor of the newspaper sees the photo he immediately wants to publish it and Ellis has an opportunity to do something to shed light on the poverty in his community and just how desperate people are becoming in an effort just to make ends meet.

Ellis has no idea just how much the image in the newspaper would set off a chain of events that will affect many lives. In an effort to do something good he unknowlingly orchestrates the destruction of a family. When Ellis eventually discovers the outcome of what he started, he sets out to make amends.

So this was a really interesting story and so different from anything else I have recently read, which is really refreshing. This is a fictional story but the beginnings of it are sort of true. The author saw an old photograph of children for sale and the adult in the photo was hiding their face. She is not sure if it was a staged or true photo but thought it would be an interesting plot to base a story around. This also has a love story simmering in the background and it is also a story of redemption. I really enjoyed this.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. I am not sure if it was the subject matter our the way it was written that made it difficult to read, but I will confine to read it until I finish. I can't wait to see if my prediction came true.

During the Depression, Reporter Ellis' staged photo of kids for sale affects a family forever. Inspired by a real photograph, Sold on a Monday follow Ellis and his coworker, Lily, as they try to right their wrongs. The story also begs the question, is a child always better off with their biological parents, or can money buy happiness?

The premise of this book was so intriguing, but unfortunately, I just never connected with the characters or the story. If only it had focused more on the children like I'd expected and the title implies, then I think I would have loved it.

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Location: 1931 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City

Most of us studied it in school. Some of us listened to stories from our grandparents. Luckily, the Great Depression is something that none of us ever had to live through. We heard the stories of extreme poverty, vacant lots of cardboard boxes used for shelter, soup kitchens, worn out clothing, despair and dejection.
Calvin Coolidge in 1932 said “in other periods of depression, it has always been possible to see some things which were solid and upon which you could base hope, but as I look about, I now see nothing to give ground to hope - nothing of man.”
None of us could fathom the idea of what it must’ve been like for a parent to “sell” their children because they didn’t have the money to feed them or even themselves.
Kristina McNorris’ novel, sold on a Monday, is the fictional story of Ellis and Lily. It is the story that puts us the reader smack dab in 1931 during The great depression and the struggle of two individuals whose lives are forever in twined by one photo.
Struggling for that one great story, reporter Ellis read heads out to the outskirts of Philly and sees it. The sign in front of a house that 2 children are for sale. This photo is the start of something big for society fill-in reporter, Ellis, as he writes a heart wrenching piece about the photo.
Newspaper secretary, Lily Palmer, is the one that sees the photo and gives Ellis the soulful inspiration to write his career making story. She is moved by the photo because her own story she has to tell.
McNorris’s novel reminds me of watching my grandmother crochet. I used to watch her take the yarn and ever so gently move It around her needle and then weave it Up and over until a beautiful blanket appeared.
Sold on a Monday was mesmerizing to me that McNorris’s book Was subtle in the way she wove the story. It started out with the photo and Ellis’s story but in the end was so much bigger than that.
I won’t forget this journey that Kristina McNorris took me on in Sold on a Monday. I will think of it years from now, when as I get older and reminisce about all of the great books I was lucky enough to read, her book will be one that will bring a tear to my eye and a wistful smile to my face.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. #netgalley #soldonamonday

Thx to Net galley, sourcebooks, and Kristina McMorris for this ARC. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the title of this book, but I’m glad I gave it a read. The title was very captivating and the cover of the book was one that I would pick up in a bookstore as it would capture my attention. . I found the storyline to be fascinating and never realize that things like this actually did happen in that time period. I’m glad it was brought to my attention in such a way with this book.
The story of someone that would have to sell her children for both of their survival was a sacrifice no mother should ever have to make. I did find this book interesting, and enjoyable. The characters are very caring and the intertwining of stories was fascinating. This is one book I think our fiction book club will be anxious to read.

*3-3.5 stars.

"It started with a picture."

It was a hot August day in Laurel Township, PA, in 1931, during the depths of the Great Depression, when Ellis Reed, an aspiring young reporter for the Philadelphia Examiner, spotted two young boys, maybe six and eight, barefooted with no shirts, sitting on a weathered front porch next to a sign reading '2 children For Sale.' But it was their blue eyes that really grabbed hold of Ellis and he couldn't help but snap their photo. Maybe this photo and its accompanying news article would catapult him from reporting for the society pages to some real hard news.

But that original photo becomes damaged and Ellis has to go back to get another shot for his article, only to find that family has gone, leaving the 'for sale' sign behind. What to do now? In desperation, Ellis spots a neighbor's child and ends up offering the mother money if she allows her two children, a boy and a girl, to pose for a photo.

The article garners much more interest from the public than Ellis would have ever dreamed, but he harbors a sense of guilt at the deception. How can he make this right? The only other person who knows the truth is another employee of the paper, Lily Palmer, and the two try to find out what happened to the Dillard family.

This is a very heart-warming story that immerses the reader in what it was like to work for newspapers back in the 30s. The author also touches on the stigma of being of an unwed mother in that era. I thought the story would have been stronger though if McMorris could have told some of the story through the children's eyes. The harshness of the Depression didn't come across as well as it could have either as everyone seemed to be eating either good meals at home or in restaurants! I remember tales in my own family of mustard sandwiches or bread smeared with chicken fat.

I received an arc of this interesting work of historical fiction from the publisher via Netgalley for my honest opinion. Many thanks!

Great writing happens when a book is capable of evoking strong emotions, even if they are quiet, strong emotions. Kristina McMorris has proven her genius in creating an interesting story about troubled people and times which packs a powerful punch.

As McMorris states in the Author’s Notes, the premise of the book begs a question; “Specifically, what if a reporter’s seemingly harmless choice to stage a photo led to unintended consequences for everyone involved?” But is staging a photo or stretching the truth ever an excuse for honesty? The characters in “Sold On A Monday” have to grapple with these issues and come to terms with faulty judgments, decisions and actions.

The story starts in August, 1931, in a small town in Pennsylvania. It was a time when men wore starched collars, suits and fedoras, women wore skirts and dresses and always gloves. The effects of the Market crash of 1929 were still being felt. It was a hard time for so many, the breadlines were long, people were always hungry, not many jobs to be had. Newspapers ruled the world of communication.

I loved the characters. Ellis Reed who can’t stop stumbling as he strives for the newspaper career he has always wanted. Lillian Palmer, bright, strong, secretary to the Editor of the Philadelphia Examiner, holds her secrets close. Both of their families are integral to the story and the importance of family strife and support is subtlety evident throughout. The parts attributed to Geraldine Dillard and her children Ruby and Calvin may just rip out your heart with sorrow and anger. This story has so many moving parts but they all coalesce to make a well constructed story. Heart wrenching and uplifting. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a copy

What a heart-wrenching book! Sold on a Monday is the whole package; offering gut-wrenching sadness, drama, a bit of suspense and the power of love and compassion. Written in the depression era, the descriptions practically take you right into the midst of it.

Overall this was an interesting and easy read that I think would appeal to book clubs.The cover is beautiful and the subject matter is very intriguing. I liked the way the author gave us some of the family drama of the two main characters, particularly the tension between Ellis and his dad (I always like a good story line about conflict between father and son). The difference between a 3 and 4 star rating here is simply personal preference. I like historical fiction that is a bit denser and this story is written with a lighter touch. However I think this book will be very easy to recommend as it is very readable.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is an engaging story about life during the Great Depression with an interesting premise: a mother is forced to sell the children to improve the whole family’s chances for economic survival, thus destroying the family in the process. Geraldine, the widowed mother, later finds her health circumstance was not so dire, and regrets what she has done. With the aid of the two main characters Ellis and Lily (a reporter and newspaper secretary involved in the original reporting of such dire circumstance) readers are taken on a wild ride in their efforts to reunite Geraldine with daughter Ruby and son Clayton. The reunion possibility and associated search is full of action, twists, and turns that kept my engagement throughout. This, in and of itself, is enough to make Sold on a Monday a worthwhile read.
Nonetheless, I felt the book did not live up to the potential of its premise. Two key shortcomings for me were in the areas of historical reference and character development. For historical fiction, I was disappointed with the lack of historical context. The story would have benefitted from more exploration of examples of hardship and desperation that occurred during the period. Instead, we only get minimal reference to prohibition, the Mob, and the Lindbergh kidnapping. Coverage of the time period and backdrop is almost non-existent and disappointing. I would have enjoyed descriptions of and references to the Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey during that era to build out the settings in the story.
On character development, author McMorris does an excellent job detailing the difficult relationship with between Ellis and his father. Her writing shines here. On the other hand, the eventual romantic relationship between Ellis and Lily is poorly developed...enough to appear haphazard and coincidental. Their emotional connection is left to the imagination save for their shared desire to make the Geraldine’s family whole again.
In sum, the premise and the pace make this book a worthwhile read, but one that did not live up to its potential. For me, better historical context and more depth to the Lily/Ellis romantic relationship would have taken it over the top.

This was a very good book, especially if you like Historical Fictions. It is haunting to see what lengths people went to in times of the depression. I was drawn in by the cover of the book and wanted to know more about what happened to the children.

It is a sad tail about a reporter who takes a photo of two children with the sign "For Sale". How something innocent can turn people's lives around for the worse instead of the better. The story dragged a little but I wanted to find out what happened.

The story does have a happy ending which was nice but when you read the end of the book and find out what really happened to 5 children the ending is very sad.

It all started with a photograph - two little boys next to a sign saying '2 children for sale' during the depression of the 1930s. The photographer, Ellis Reed, a young journalist who liked to take photos, hadn't thought to make a story out of it until Lily, a secretary in the newsroom saw it in the darkroom and showed it to his editor. When the photograph is accidently damaged, Ellis makes the choice to stage a replacement with two other children, rather than to lose the article that he knows could make his reputation as a journalist. However, when the story lead to unexpected consequences Ellis feels he must put things even if it means losing his job.

Based on a real photograph taken in the 1940s and seen by the author, its heartbreaking to think that people could have been driven to sell their children. However, rather than focusing on the plight of poor farmers and those out of work, this story is centred around the newsroom and life for an aspiring journalist. The hustle and bustle of a large newspaper office filled with young journalists, copy boys, editors and type setters has an authentic feel. The lack of roles for women in the media is depicted by Lily, who is a capable writer wants to be a journalist but as a unaknowledged single mother knows she is lucky to have a job. Lily and Ellis' developing relationship added an extra dimension to the novel, but overall the story lacked the depth I was expecting given the topic and I felt a little disappointed not to learn more of the depression and life and times of the people so affected by it that they would consider selling their children.

Lillian Palmer is an ambitious young woman who dreams of a career in journalism but due to the sign of the times in the early 1930’s, is relegated to a secretarial role at a local newspaper.

Ellis Reed is a struggling rookie reporter covering social events at the same newspaper and an amateur photographer who dreams of becoming a respected journalist. His chance photograph of two poor children holding a ‘for sale’ sign gains national attention and is the catalyst for changing his life. Fast forward as Ellis is now the type of journalist he has always wanted to be yet he cannot forget the two children staged in his famous photograph. He is driven to find out what has happened to these children. Lillian commits to help Ellis as she feels responsible; she was the one who first brought the haunting photograph to the boss’s desk.

After Ellis discovers the children’s family gone from the ramshackle house where his picture was taken, the story becomes a fantastic roller coaster ride. I was so hooked on Ellis and Lillian’s journey, their determination, their quick-thinking and smooth-talking negotiations in the face of potential roadblocks. Brilliant. Their relationship is pure magic and I loved these characters.

Another compelling side story worth noting relates to the relationship of Ellis and his father. My heart broke for Ellis as he tried to earn the respect of his father. It was a great inclusion by the author and one that really touched my heart.
* will post in additional online venues upon publication.

Though this story is set in the 1930s, it could almost easily have been set in current times. The overarching themes of mothers' love, desperation, shame, guilt, ambition, and difficult choices to be made in difficult times ring true today. Most of the plot is driven by the two main characters' drive to right the wrongs they feel they have caused, and they succeed, for the most part. The story was fast-paced (though a bit rushed at the end) and held my interest throughout. I am saddened by how far we haven't come in how our society cares for the most vulnerable among us, and I hope we can improve.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Landmark, for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Expected Publication August 28th!

Sold on a Monday is a historical fiction set in the 1930s during the Great Depression era. It tells the story of Ellis, a news reporter, looking for his big break. When Ellis snaps a photo of two young books on the side of the road beside a sign that reads "2 children for sale," he has no idea the chain of events that he has set in motion. What follows is a roller coaster ride of a story that will have you considering how one small choice can change everything in the course of your life.

I very much enjoyed Kristina McMorris's writing and felt like the book was similar in content to Before We Were Yours (another fabulous book if you have not read it). She had a way of transporting the reader directly into the pages of the book and connecting with the various characters along the way. There is also an underlying love story beyond the main plot that I particularly enjoyed.

I did feel like the beginning of the book was a little bit slow as the characters and the story line developed, and therefore took some time for me to get into it. But the second half of the book was very fast paced and definitely kept me wanting more.

I will say that I felt the book ended sort of abruptly, particularly given the time and attention the author gave to developing the rest of the book. I found it odd that it was so swift to wrap up. And there were some pieces of the story that I didn't feel added a ton of value. For those who have read it, I was kind of disengaged from the mobster angle and didn't feel like it ultimately led anywhere. But, let's be honest, that's just be being extremely knit picky. Overall, it was a fantastic concept and a great book. It's your next great historical fiction.

Loved the story! Hated that it was rather close to true, but it is clearly even more important because of that. The characters were a delight. The only detraction for me was that the pace of the book was very different in spots. The ending seemed rushed and the middle dragged a bit. This book would also make a great movie.

It made me wonder about kids without homes today. I know orphanages aren’t the answer the foster system is not perfect either. How far have we come?

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Sold On A Monday is a pretty good book. I enjoyed the characters and it was interesting to read about the time period. The concept is heartbreaking and tragic, and plays out well. Fans of historical fiction will definitely enjoy!

Sold On A Monday begins with a depression era photo of a mother shielding her face on a porch while her two children clutch each other on the steps. In the foreground is a hand lettered sign declaring the two children are for sale. Ellis is a local reporter who receives much acclaim as the widely circulated article and photo garner national attention and donations. Ellis soon learns that he will not be able to move on without knowing what happens to the children in his famous photo. Moved to investigate more, he enlists the help of the newspaper chief’s secretary, Lily. Soon Ellis and Lily will discover that everyone’s lives are changed because of the picture, and maybe not for the better. Will they be able to set things right? Sold On A Monday is a historical fiction account of depression era prejudices and struggles of single mothers and their children. It is well researched and reading it you can feel the story Kristina McMorris had envisioned as it comes to life. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC, but all opinions are my own.

Was't what I thought it would be about.
More a romance with drama,action.
More about the man writing the story then the story.