I fell in love with T. Greenwood last year when I read Rust and Stardust. So I was very excited to read her newest book Keeping Lucy. While I don't think it was quite as good, I still did enjoy it.

Let's rewind several decades. Now imagine you give birth to a child with Down Syndrome and your husband sends the baby to an institution for the mentally impaired against your wishes. Now imagine you have an opportunity to reunite with your child but you see that the conditions at the institution are more atrocious than you could imagine. What would you do?

I enjoyed this story and felt like I could relate to the mother. This is a pretty heartbreaking story. But that being said, there were pieces that were perhaps a tad over the top or unbelievable which is why I ended up giving it 4 stars instead of 5. Overall, really enjoyable read.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, T. Greenwood, and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review.-

This book follows a mother, Virginia, on her quest to find out the truth about what happened with her two year old daughter, Lucy, during a time period at an institution.
The story takes place in the late 1960's, although there are many flashbacks to earlier time periods in Virginia's life. Virginia is pregnant with her 2nd child, and it turns out she gives birth to a child with Down Syndrome. The baby is whisked away at birth, and she is heavily sedated to get through the pain of loosing her baby girl. At that time, children with any handicap were normally signed away to an institution so as not to inconvenience/embarrass the family in any way. Normally a doctor would come in to advise this was the best thing to do for the child and the family, and the children would be signed over to the state.
Virginia dealt with the loss of her child until 2 years later when a newspaper reporter published articles dealing with abuse at these institutions, and how the children/people were treated so poorly. Armed with this article, and with help from her best friend Marsha, Virginia decides to go check on her daughter Lucy. It turns out the information in the articles is true, and Virginia will not rest until Lucy is safe.
I really enjoyed this book, but it's sad to think about how this book is accurate in how handicapped people were treated, and sometimes still are.

A beautiful story that is based on a true story and that fact will tug at your heart the entire read. Greenwood's story will stay with me for a long time.

Ginny has given birth to a down syndrome little girl, Lucy. Her father-in-law makes sure Lucy is sent away. Then a series of articles come out about the neglect at the facility Lucy has been placed. Ginny makes a decision! This decision changes everyone’s life.

Ginny is a mother struggling to understand and remedy a situation she had no part in. All of the decisions were made before she was in her right mind after the birth of her daughter. Her husband is basically ruled by his father. And Ginny just follows along. There are many times in this story which I question Ginny’s decision making skills. It was a different time and she had another child to take care of, BUT….to not even check on your daughter for 2 years…..hmmm. There are other places I question her ability as well…but this is the BIG one. I should not judge because who knows what one will do in this situation. But, I think I would check and not just follow my husbands decisions blindly.

This book is hard to read in places. I had to take a break or two. I could not read it straight through. When it talked about the mistreatment of the children, my heart just broke. This is an emotional, rip your heart out story and everyone needs to read it.

Keeping Lucy was another example of my not having to like the main characters in a book to think the book is good. I truly disliked Ginny. I rarely enjoy reading about weak women, but my son once told me “not all women are as strong as you are”. I try to keep that in mind when I’m reading about women making bad choices or going along with whoever. Not to mention 1969 was a different era so I left my judgement at the door and just went along for the ride. I’m glad I did.
Keeping Lucy may not be as good as Rust and Stardust but it was still a good read.

Lucy had a way of softening people. She took away their sharp edges and she made people better.

Ginny had the perfect life or so it seemed. A tentative husband Ab, a delightful little boy Peyton and a daughter on the way. Her perfect world shattered when they took her baby away after giving birth. During the 1960's having a baby with down syndrome was hopeless and Ginny was told by her husband Ab that there was nothing to be done but for their daughter to be sent away to be institutionalized. Her arms ached for her daughter and she felt helpless to do anything until....

Her best friend Marsha showed her an expose where her daughter had been taken. An abuse that has been going on for two years in young Lucy's life. The abuse and neglect that was reported was to much for her that she went against the powers against her. Her father in law who had convinced his son the necessity of having Lucy institutionalized. Abbot Sr. was a driven man and he had great plans for his son Ab. They did not include a granddaughter with down Syndrome. With the help of her best friend and with her young son in tow, going across state line she discovers the woman she is, the daughter she loves and how love over comes all obstacles. Marsha and Ginny become a Thelma and Louise doing all that they can to bring Lucy homes where she belongs. A mother's love is a powerful force and one to be reckon with. It also demonstrates how someone has little as Lucy is worth keeping at all costs.

A Special Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Warning: have plenty of tissues nearby!!


It's 1969 and Ginny Richardson has just had an emergency C-section but doesn't get to hold or see her newborn daughter, Lucy. The doctor explains that the baby has severe disabilities and should be institutionalized, which her father-in-law has already committed the baby to Willowridge School for both the baby's and family's sake.

But 2 years later, Ginny's best friend informs her that the school has been the subject of an exposé that it the residents are treated poorly, is horrifically filthy and that the caretakers are less than desirable. Ginny, at this point, decides to visit the school and her daughter against the controlling and arrogant father-in-law's decision. What she finds is unbearable. She decides to take Lucy, and with her BFF Marsha, go on the run for a week, hoping that her husband and his father, change their minds that Lucy needs to be part of their family and in their home. Only to find out, her father-in-law's firm is representing the school.


This story touched me to my core as I have been involved in similar instances and the author nailed it!!!!

I mention similar events. When my sister was born with Cerebral Palsy, 9 1/2 years prior to my birth, my parents were told to institutionalize her as she would not live past 16, have severe disabilities and to just forget about her. As told to me by several relatives, my father cold-cocked the doctor and took my sister home. She will be 73 this year living in assisted living for the past 8 years, with a more active social life than me.

While in High School, we went to a similar school for my psychology course. It was horrific with the same problems as Willowridge in the story. To this day, I can remember Joey, the 5 year old boy with big brown eyes that clung to me. I often wonder what happened to him and thankfully, that "school" also closed.

The narrative, characters, and emotions are raw, straight from the heart and soul. The reader will feel every emotion that Ginny was feeling, love, fear, guilt, betrayal and self doubt!!

KEEPING LUCY will tug at your heartstrings. And as a mother, understand the love a mother has for her child. A compelling and profound read that I highly recommend!

Posted to GR 08/20/19: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2595077843
Will post to blog 08/27/19: http://cmashlovestoread.com/?p=21013

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood is a very thought provoking novel about a couple who give birth to a child with Downs Syndrome, As the novel progresses the author takes us on a dangerous journey involving the child and her mother . Without giving away any details of the plot I found myself questioning my values and was trying to decide what I would do under similar circumstances. I believe that a novel that makes one explore your own values and judgement is well worth reading . Although I thought that some parts of the novel were a bit contrived, overall I would absolutely recommend reading Keeping Lucy. I believe that you will become as invested in these characters as I did.

I have tried many times to finish this book and unfortunately this one is just not for me. I appreciate the publisher granting me access to this EARC but it's just not for me. I know that this book has already gained a large audience and I'm happy for the author.

The descriptions of the horribly neglected children in the care home was just more than my heart could take, it was much worse than what I thought existed and hopefully things are in a better place now.

Highly, highly recommended. This book grabs you on page 1 and doesn’t let go. It makes you feel and think about how we treat children with disabilities. It does not preach; it makes you feel.

Ginny delivers a baby and is told that it is mongoloid. The doctor only lets her touch the baby briefly and then it is taken away. She is told that her daughter will be placed in a school that can assist with her medical needs for a heart issue. The nurse chastises her for looking at the blood moon. She tells Ginny that she caused this defect in her child.

Two years later, her friend, Marsha, calls to tell Ginny that Willowridge is the subject of an expose’. It said that the hospital where her baby is held was found to be filthy and the children neglected. Ginny and Marsha go to the hospital for the first time to see Lucy and find out how she is being cared for. Without spoilers, they ultimately take Lucy from Willowridge and against her husband’s wishes travel to Florida.

This book is intense and fascinating. It reads like a documentary but is, in fact, fictional. I think that is the ultimate goal when writing a book such as this. To allow the reader to see and hear everything that is happening. That is exactly what the author did here. I was so involved in story, it was as if I was next to Ginny that whole time. I could not stop reading and finished it in one day.



I received an ARC from through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

"Dover, Massachusetts, 1969. Ginny Richardson's heart was torn open when her baby girl, Lucy, born with Down Syndrome, was taken from her. Under pressure from his powerful family, her husband, Ab, sent Lucy away to Willowridge, a special school for the “feeble-minded." Ab tried to convince Ginny it was for the best. That they should grieve for their daughter as though she were dead. That they should try to move on.

But two years later, when Ginny's best friend, Marsha, shows her a series of articles exposing Willowridge as a hell-on-earth--its squalid hallways filled with neglected children--she knows she can't leave her daughter there. With Ginny's six-year-old son in tow, Ginny and Marsha drive to the school to see Lucy for themselves. What they find sets their course on a heart-racing journey across state lines—turning Ginny into a fugitive."

Inspired by true events, T. Greenwood writes a powerful fast pace read, with well-developed characters that will break your heart. Keeping Lucy is a story about family, guilt, friendship and the unconditional love of a mother. Very sad to know what happened at Willowbrook State School and to all of those kids living in that awful conditions.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts an opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I went into this novel with low expectations and no real idea what I was getting into, and was shocked by how riveting I found the story. The era is painted very vividly, and the characters are all more complicated than they seem at first. It's a novel that deals with not only how we handle (and have handled) babies who are different than the norm, but more importantly it's about how family dynamics and how important it is to be true to ourselves and to grow. I found the writing to be clear and polished and tore through it in a day or two because I had to know what happened to Lucy and her family. It brings up a lot of painful history, but advocates love and understanding, and compassion for not only those most obviously in need but also those who we assume we understand but really, can not possibly know their stories.

I was eager to read "Keeping Lucy" because I really enjoyed "Rust and Stardust" by the same author. While I didn't love this story quite as much as her previous book, I still found it to be a very compelling and worthwhile read.

"Keeping Lucy" follows Ginny as she is forced to give up her daughter, Lucy, when she is born with Down's syndrome. Everyone tells her Lucy is better off in a "school" where she can be properly cared for, but Ginny is never convinced this is the best option. When Ginny discovers that Lucy's school may be neglecting and even harming the children there, she vows to do everything she can to protect her daughter.

Perhaps because I previously read "Rust and Stardust", I mistakenly thought this story was also based on true events. In fact it wasn't until I was about halfway through the book that I realized this is in fact purely fictional. It certainly reads like it could have happened; the characters and events feel true-to-life. I imagine that the way the author depicts the treatment of children with special needs was quite realistic for that time period.

The best things for me about the story were the way Ginny's love for her children was depicted, and the frank way the author shows the treatment of Lucy. Most people who meet Lucy in the story refer to her as "retarded" and see only what appears to be "wrong" with her. Ginny, however, sees her with a mother's fierce love and compassion. Ginny is fighting against the way society views those who are "different", and also against what is seen as the traditional role of a woman and mother.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I think it would be a great choice for discussion among readers in a book club.

A lovely but emotional story about a women who gives birth to a daughter with down-syndrome, only to be taken away within hours from her and placed in an institution disguised as a “school”. She is convinced by her father-in-law that it is the best place for her due to the child’s health issues and potential strain on the family. Ginny, the mother, is heartbroken and empty. For two years she is told to pretend her daughter died, never to speak of her again, however Ginny can’t forget, and the sadness over missing her daughter she barely held consumes her.

Then something happens, a newspaper article about the “Willowridge School” where her daughter, Lucy, was sent to, is under investigation for filthy living conditions, neglect, and abuse. Ginny tried to convince her husband to rescue Lucy from there, and he immediately dismisses the idea. Ginny takes the situation in her own control and decides to visit her daughter for a weekend. After seeing the horrible conditions with her own eyes, she takes Lucy and flees.

The majority of the book is Ginny’s trip across the states with Lucy, and the stress of what would transpire was fairly suspenseful. Ginny essentially becomes a fugitive, and the chapters are filled with inner-dialogue from Ginny as she grapples with her own fears and emotions, not only from her irrational behavior but her ability to care for this child that she loves so much. I was heartbroken at the situation unfolding and found myself with lots of emotions... how could someone ever give up they’re child? What would I do in this situation? Would I be willing to sacrifice the same things, even putting my freedom at risk?

It’s important to consider the time in history the book takes place. I can imagine that events like this one did occur, which makes this an even tougher read.

This book reminded me of a Hallmark Channel domestic drama.

Spoiler alert:

The ending was happy and practically wrapped up neatly in a bow. I am glad it was a happy close to the book, but it felt slightly sugarcoated.

Thank you to #netgalley and #StMartinsPress for my e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Greenwood does it again with such masterful, emotional prose. Greenwood's novels are controversial and make you feel something and do everything literature should. I hope everyone picks up one of her novels today.

How far will a parent go to protect their child ? This is an incredible true story of a mother's love and just what she is capable of doing to protect her child. Heartbreaking. And yet uplifting as well. An amazing story

Doesn’t the description of this sound so amazing? When I picked this one up I was expecting a super emotional and heartfelt story of a mother fighting for her child. I definitely expected to experience a wide variety of emotions, I mean the thought of a special needs little girl being institutionalized makes me a little weepy. I’m so disappointed to say that this totally missed the mark for me and I didn’t really like it at all.

Let me be clear, the writing was fine, the story itself was even fine but I wanted more than just fine. Did I connect to Ginny as a mother as I expected myself to? Nope, which was a real shame because this one had so much potential but I was looking for so much more than what I got. This sounds pretty weird, but I really wanted it to be sadder in a way. I wanted to feel Ginny’s pain and I wanted more information about the institution itself. I guess I just found this book lacking on all levels, I don’t really have much more to say except if I had to pinpoint exactly what I wanted the most was more depth in all areas.

What an eye opening book about how people handled babies born with Down’s syndrome. This book had me wanting to read more right from the beginning

Told between two narratives by our protagonist Ginny, present day 1971 and Ginny of the mid-late 60's. We are taken along as Ginny gives birth to her second child Lucy born with Down Syndrome, the choice made by her husband Ab to sign their daughter over to the state and send her off to an institution all before Ginny had recovered from childbirth without any knowledge of Ab's life changing decision. We also look back to when Ginny met Ab, how startling different their plans had been in comparison to what their life slowly became and how Ginny's life changed before her very eyes. We watch as Ginny regains her sense of self and becomes tenacious as she fights to regain custody of her daughter despite the disapproval of her Father-in-Law.

This was a wonderfully riveting book; I raced through it! Whilst the writing was simplistic, the basis of the story was captivating and I felt compelled to keep reading. A heartbreaking but also heartwarming story about the infinite love a mother has for her child.

Keeping Lucy by T. Greenwood

Rating: 4/5
Pub date: August 2019
Publisher: St Martin Press
Genre: fiction, historical fiction

Update: I had originally rated this 3/5 but upon reflection I realized it was due to my emotional response to the story rather than the book itself.

I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and St Martin Press in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a very heart wrenching and disturbing story which appears to based on a true event.

https://timeline.com/willowbrook-the-institution-that-shocked-a-nation-into-changing-its-laws-c847acb44e0d

Virginia “Ginny” and Abbott “Ab” Richardson live a comfortable life in a toney neighborhood of Dover, Massachusetts when Lucy is born in October 1969. The couple met in 1963 while she worked in the library of Amherst College where Ab was an undergraduate. They bonded quickly after attending the JFK Convocation at the Frost Library when their lives were uncomplicated by his influential family.

Ginny and Ab were married soon after discovering she was pregnant with their son Peyton. This accelerated their original future plans. Consequently, Ab follows in his father’s footsteps by graduating Harvard Law School and eventually working for his father’s demanding firm. As the years passed there always seemed to be another reason to postpone their desire to live a “simple” life.

I am quickly transported back to an era of ignorance and prejudice. I was annoyed with the doctor’s description of Lucy as a “mongoloid” with severe mental retardation after she was born. Ginny barely held her baby before a decision was made to send her to the Willowridge School in western Massachusetts. She had to resolve her discomfort and guilt by trusting that her husband and father-in-law did what was best for their daughter.

Two years later Marsha, Ginny’s best friend, calls to inquire about an undercover expose in the newspaper about the Willowridge School. Ginny visits her mother and sister who still live in Amherst where Marsha works as an ER nurse. The newspaper articles discuss the deplorable living conditions at the school prompting a class action law suit against the school.

Once she learns about the squalor and mistreatment of the residents at Willowridge she pleads with Ab to investigate. Guilt and remorse overwhelms Ginny who is shocked by the reality of the neglected children. Soon she is faced with some ethical and legal decisions regarding her desire to keep Lucy from returning to that school. The situation becomes more complex when Abbott’s firm defends the school in the class action law suit.

The impulsive “road trip” that follows seems ridiculous and unbelievable. I did not like Ginny or Marsha. Although, Ginny’s character did evolve from being passive to finally confronting her husband’s decisions. I didn’t find Marsha to be the best example of a professional nurse qualified to work in an ER. Her character is polar opposite to that of her friend, Ginny. Her carefree lifestyle of drinking and smoking made me cringe.

Overall, the story explores the mistreatment and misunderstanding of children with special needs. Although this story is fictitious the events and attitudes existed which eventually led to the child protection laws we have today.