I was not aware of the Dionne quintuplets at all before seeing this book on Netgalley and finding myself requesting it. I actually read this while also reading Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me and listening to Taylor’s version songs & Miley Cyrus’ song “Used To Be Young”, and all of these combined made me realize how much society can get obsessed with celebrity culture and feeling like they are owed something just because of who they perceive someone to be.
The story of the Dionne quintuplets is told chronologically and almost reads as a fictional story. I was so invested in learning more about these five women and the events that occurred to them throughout their lives. I really appreciated how the author wrote their stories and gave each sister their own piece of the story. While I wish there was more about the adult lives of the sisters and who they really became, I really appreciate how this book gives a lot of insight to their familial beginnings.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

So sad. These babies were put on like a sideshow and the government even helped do that. There was no help for the parents and they were treated like they were nothing. Everyone else felt they knew better than the other. These children felt like outcasts in their own family when they were able to go back home and they didn't know how to function in real life. This book was really good but very detached and very factual but not a lot of emotions were felt in this book to me. You could feel anguish when they talked about the dad and the anger when they talked about the mom but it was very blunted when talking about the children. It was sad that this happened to these girls but I hope they found their peace.

I have been fascinated by multiple births since I was a very young kid. Maybe its because I'm an only child? To think of having a matched set of siblings! Born in an era and area of their country where funds and medical care were sparse, those poor girls were looked at as a zoo attraction! I loved seeing pictures of their beautiful little faces and reading about their growth. However, my heart broke for the family decisions and angered at the doctor who took advantage of a situation and, in essence, designed a life for Yvonne, Cecile, Annette, Marie and Emilie.
The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets is written in an easy to read style, which I enjoyed. It celebrates their birth for the treasure it was while at the same time recognizing that our fascination with the unusual fuels the tragedy of being in the public eye. My Grandma shared the story about the Dionnes with me when I was little and I've never forgotten them. I think Sarah Miller did an excellent job with this book and I thank NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review it.

The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller was quite the fascinating read! I hadn't heard of the Dionne Quints before this book but it quelled my curiosity to do a little more research on them.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book for free in exchange for my review and opinion.

I remember hearing about the Dionne quints growing up, but never knew much of their story. While written for teens, this well-written, in-depth look at both the good and the bad of their lives is recommended for readers of all ages.

First sentence of the prologue: In an empty nursery, behind two woven wire fences topped with barbed wire, five nine-year-old girls waited for their father.

Premise/plot: Sarah Miller’s newest book is a biography of the Dionne quintuplets: Yvonne, Annette, Cecile, Emilie, and Marie who were born on May 28, 1934. Their arrival and survival captivated and fascinated the world at large not just for weeks, months, or even years but for decades. Their birth thrust them into fame, a fame that they could hardly hope to escape. The Dionne parents didn’t ask for it, nor their older siblings—or younger siblings that would follow. The county, country, nation, world deemed the parents incapable of raising the quintuplets. It wasn’t just that they would need help or support—nurses, nannies, doctors, all of which would take money. No they were judged by the crowd, the mob, society to be unfit to decide how to raise these five. They were not to have any say in the day to day decisions or the decisions that would prove more significant and lasting. They were begrudgingly allowed to visit—if they were deemed healthy enough—but the children did not belong to them or with them. When the parents finally did get custody of the quintuplets, when they were allowed to live with their parents for the first time, it would prove difficult and challenging. There would always be a strain, a strangeness. The quintuplets would always, always relate to one another best. For better or worse.

Life is a miracle. All life is a miracle. The quintuplets birth was miraculous certainly. But it was also tragic by most anybody’s standards. No matter their age—babies, toddlers, children, teenagers, young adults, adults—challenges plagued them. It didn’t have to be, a tragedy of its own. Their strange upbringing, the fame and attention, did not prepare them for life, for the real world, to live full lives apart from one another. No one should be treated as a spectacular spectacular.

My thoughts: Incredibly sad, that is how I’d describe this one. I expected ups and downs. Perhaps more downs than ups based on the title. But this one was all downs. The sad thing is that in retrospect some of the downs turned out to be more “up” than previously thought.

Miller pieced together the story well from two extremes. The “facts” as seen from both sides are far, far apart. Many sources seem to exaggerate and play around somewhat loosely with black and white facts. It must have been challenging to research and not take sides and form strong opinions. But Miller did a good job in my opinion. If I was slow to finish (I started this one in August) it was because the book was so bleak. Biographies are like this sometimes.

What a fascinating read! I've always been interested in the Dionne Quints and Miller's book was so informative and well researched. I learned so much! Definitely will recommend!

Well written look at Canada's famous Dione Quintuplets, five identical sisters that captured the world's attention by having the grit to survive and thrive even as the country around them suffered through the Great Depression. However, as Sarah Miller shows through extensive research, despite the rosy appearance of their lives, the Dione Quintuplets suffered greatly for their fame, living a sheltered, cold, and divided life in the public eye.

Miller is extremely organized and even-handed in her portrayal, showing the misunderstandings and mistakes as well as outright crimes committed against the five girls. Readers will come away from this book understanding more about the Dionne Quintuplets, but also about how relentless media attention and exploitation can ruin a childhood or a life.

Highly recommended for nonfiction collections.

I had never heard of the Dionne Quintuplets until I read this book. I finished the book feeling angry and sad. Thinking back on it I think I was angry the entire time I read the book. How as a human did at anytime we think it was ok to look at them like caged animals? Yes, their birth in 1934 was a miracle in itself but to be put on display from almost day one?

Although this book is touted as a Young Adult book it should be read by adults as well. If nothing else, maybe we can all learn not to treat others as commodities but as equals.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Random House Children’s, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this one at this time. While it sounded interesting, I just don't have the time to finish it right now. Should I ever have a free moment to read/review I will update it on Netgalley.

An enduring fascination with the Dionne quintuplets has lasted for decades and will doubtless continue for decades more. Born in 1934 during a time of explosive growth in medical learning and advancement when compared to knowledge of even ten or twenty years earlier, the tiny, premature babies were never expected to survive. Day by day family and medical staff alike were astounded when they continued to persevere despite various obstacles and setbacks.
In this heavily researched book, Sarah Miller gives the reader a thorough look into Quintland, the commercialized and appallingly public facility that the quints were raised in. She diplomatically shares and examines viewpoints from both the Dionne family, whom the girls were taken away from under the guise of it being in their best interest, and that of the government and staff, who believed the girls would have been incapable of thriving if left with their family.
The meat of the book focuses on the girls’ childhoods and the nonstop fighting between those in charge of Quintland and the Dionne family’s persistent desire to have the girls returned to their family home. Miller is careful to never explicitly take sides, instead leaving it up to the reader to determine what would have been the most prudent decision, or if there even was one. However, Miller also does not leave out salacious rumors or gossip that was prevalent at the time, giving the book a feel of being a tell-all. In some instances, the narrative feels more like a children’s book when it explains ideas, concepts or historical details that adults will already be well-aware of, and this feels incongruous with darker information that is shared later. At one point, I double checked to make sure this book was not labelled as “Juvenile Non-Fiction” since the explanation felt directly like someone delicately explaining something to a child.
I have been interested in the Dionne quintuplets since childhood and was engrossed in this book and especially appreciated the large collection of photographs that are included. For those with no previous knowledge of them, there is more than enough backstory included for it all to make sense but even the most ardent fans will find new details and information to keep them invested. I do wish that Miller had taken more time, especially early on, to share more about each girl’s individuality. Instead, especially as children, they are lumped together or given one or two defining characteristics, not unlike the ways they were often stereotyped by newspaper articles and magazines growing up.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary advanced copy of the book. This had no impact on my review.

Captivating book, and it leaves you feeling distressed and upset on behalf of the quints. This is not a happy ever after story, with everything tied up in a bow, and the book does a good job of presenting the story without polishing it.

The chapters are quick and easy to read, so the story goes quickly despite the sometimes dry subject matter. This is put in the category of YA, but it does not read like a YA book and could be enjoyed by any ages teen or above.

Reviewed for School Library Journal August 23, 2019
Gr 7 Up–In May of 1934, a 24-year-old farmer’s wife in North Bay, Ontario gave birth to five identical girls. The Dionne Quintuplets, as the media would christen them, were named Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie, and Marie. Born prematurely, the girls were tiny—surprising even the two midwives who had helped deliver hundreds of babies. Miller (The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century) is no stranger to writing historical nonfiction astutely and accurately. The story of the quintuplets is told in chronological order, and the dialogue is directly rendered from diaries, books, and newspapers. Photographs put faces to the names. Miller’s style is captivating and enchanting, as well as respectful. The references section offers further reading or watching, and the well-organized notes section proves Miller did her due diligence.VERDICT Thoughtfully, cautiously, and candidly researched. A must-purchase for all YA/junior high nonfiction collections.

This book was the first I had heard about the Dionne Quintuplets and what I sad story this was. They are separated from their family at birth and go through many upheavals through their lives that are difficult and to be treated the way they were is so different from what most people go through. I thought the book was well written, however it would have been nice to see better transitions, or at least something to break up the book more. It became difficult to read in parts because it was either rushed, or too drawn out.

The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller is a detailed account of the quintuplets birth in Ontario, Canada in 1934 to Oliva and Elzire Dionne. The mere fact that these babies survived their extremely premature births without medical intervention is a miracle indeed. These five girls were born in 1934 in a small farmhouse to parents with five older children.

Their birth made the newsreel and once word circulated that quintuplets were born and still living, word began to spread. Once the babies became more stable and began to thrive, the World's Fair exhibition wanted to feature the babies, and not long after, many other commercial offers began to pour in. Because of the commercial interest in these still-delicate quints, the parents were convinced to share medical supervision of the quints and ultimately guardianship papers were drawn up. As a result, the quints became wards of the state and began to live their lives separated from the Dionnes and their siblings. Separate facilities were built and staffers were brought in, and the quints began to grow up "on display". The government realized how much public interest there was for the quints, and so they proceeded to cultivate a tourist industry around them. The girls were made wards of the government until they reached the age of 18.

This book is full of details about the hardships that these children endured as a result of being raised as wards of the government instead of daughters of the Dionne family. Their notoriety and their fame and their constant pressure to 'perform' and be smiling daughters on display eventually takes its toll on them, and the money donated/raised/pledged to help them was whisked away into a trust fund for their adult years which caused further scrutiny and struggle to try to retain control of the girls.

I didn't know much about the Dionne quintuplets before reading this book, and I found their story captivating. However, I am not sure the writing style is for a YA/Teen book. It reads a tad more tedious.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Received an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

The meticulous research that went into this book made it an engrossing read -- the details available about the early days, months and years of the girls' lives are fascinating. I was Wikipedia page-level familiar with the story but Miller tells it in a straightforward way with plenty of context and history.

I put this down for a few weeks to read other things but came back to it and finished it in a matter of hours. Definitely readable and interesting.

Few books give such a complete picture of the triumphs and tribulations involved in living in the public eye as The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller. If nothing is entirely black or white, these sisters’ lives were firmly enmeshed in the gray. In 1934, five tiny babies were born to Oliva and Elzire Dionne and the world was never quite the same. Yvonne, Annette, Cecile, Emilie, and Marie, joined nine other members of their immediate family, on the Dionne farm in Ontario, Canada. At first, life saving medical supplies and round the clock care could only be provided due to the media attention that this seemingly miraculous birth was attracting. Unfortunately, the attention that the Dionne’s were getting quickly turned from generous to sensational.

The Dionne quintuplets spent many of their formative years away from their immediate family while being put on display for the public to observe. Aside from a few short visits from their parents, the girls spent all of their time together with only a few nurses for company. They didn’t get to know other children their age and they never saw the wider world outside of the walls of the institution in which they lived. The contrast between the public proclamations of love from all who surrounded them and the loneliness that these girls experienced throughout their lives is truly wrenching in this extraordinary work of nonfiction.

Miller’s research covers almost the entire lives of each of the Dionne quintuplets and the research was extensive. The notes that Miller provides at the end of the book detail each of the sources that she used to put together this tremendously informative story. Young adults who have grown up in the age of social media will see connections between the story of the Dionne quintuplets and the public lives lived today. How many infants are already on Instagram? However, the Dionne’s story is also unique in so many ways and Miller does an excellent job of communicating the personal toll that fame took on each of their lives.

The Miracle and Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller is a nonfiction book about the amazing birth and lives of the Dionne quintuplets. They were born against all odds in the 1930s in Canada and grew to adulthood despite the very tiny sizes they were born at. This book is so well researched and the photographs really add to the reader's enjoyment of learning about these five girls. It's billed as young adult but adult readers will enjoy this book too. What lives these girls lived! Read and enjoy!

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, Netgalley.com and the publisher, Random House. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The story of the Dionne Quintuplets is a heartbreaking one. It reads more like a work of fiction. An eye opening, cautionary tale. A must read.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

3.5/5 This was a fascinating story about the Dionne Quintuplets. I didn't know much them but while reading, I did remember hearing something about them in the past. So sad that they were put on display at such a young age. I was surprised to learn that as of 2018 there are two surviving sisters. It would have been nice to have included pictures of the quintuplets in the book. Maybe they weren't included in the digital ARC I read. Having the internet readily available, though, it was quite easy to view pictures of them there. What beautiful children! Overall, this was a very interesting and enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.