Lisa Wingate's Before We Were Yours successfully transforms the tragic Georgia Tann adoption scandal into accessible historical fiction, balancing emotional impact with age-appropriate storytelling, though romance subplots occasionally detract from the powerful historical narrative.
What works
• Historically accurate portrayal of the Georgia Tann adoption scandal
• Age-appropriate handling of difficult themes without sanitizing the tragedy
• Dual timeline structure that effectively connects past and present
• Strong character development, especially for protagonist Rill Foss
• Educational value for readers unfamiliar with this historical period
What doesn't
• Forced romance subplot detracts from the main historical mystery
• Ending resolves conflicts too neatly given the decades of trauma involved
• Some secondary characters lack sufficient development
• Modern timeline occasionally feels disconnected from the historical narrative's emotional weight
