
Member Reviews

Another intriguing, enjoyable, fast paced read by Kristina McMorris!
Newspaper Reporter Ellis Reed takes a picture on a hot summer afternoon of 2 young boys next to a sign, 2 Children for Sale. Lilly Palmer, the secretary for the newspaper notices the photo and shows it to their boss for a story. Set during the Great Depression, the novel unravels a story of tough times, deceit and the human spirit. This story is vividly and beautifully told. I highly recommend this book!
- this is an honest review.

While broken down on a rural country road, Ellis Reed, a reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper, takes a photo of two children with a sign in front of them reading "For Sale". Lillian Palmer, a secretary at the same paper, sees more in the photo than just a story and submits it to their boss. So begins a tale of secrets and lies against the backdrop of the desperate times of 1931 America. Kristina McMorris once again creates a spellbinding tale that drew me in from the very beginning. The perilous environment of the Great Depression where your livelihood balances on a fine edge between survival and the breadlines, the sacrifices made in the name of family are vividly brought to life in this heartbreaking novel. Inspired by an actual photo, this book sheds the light on a desolate period in our country's history. I highly recommend this book!

I was familiar with the original photograph and the story behind it so I was interested in seeing how this story would play out. Much research went into the writing of this book. I felt that it was very historically accurate. It was very interesting to see the long reaching affects of a decision made in haste. At times I thought it was a bit long and drawn out, often telling things that really didn’t help the story line. Overall, it was a good interesting book and I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

I've seen the famous photograph before, and often wondered about the family's story, so was excited to see this book tackle just that. One of my favorite parts was actually the author's note...where the idea for the story is discussed, along with the follow-up to that (in)famous family photo, and the author's goal in writing this story. It feels very period...with the descriptions and vernacular matching up to the era. There's a bit of a love triangle, and some personal dramas that unfold as the characters work through their own issues. It's amazing to see the butterfly effect, however, of one small mistake (at the beginning)...and how that affects so many other people. It really makes you stop and think.

Though an interesting topic/concept, i found the plot predictable and the characters flat. I was put off by the stereotypical/predictable romance element as well.
However, fans of period pieces will enjoy the historical contexts.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.