Review of Before and After

Before and After by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate

Before and After does not read like Lisa Wingate’s novels, but it takes her book Before We Were Yours into the realm of reality. It is the true stories of orphans who survived the scandal that came out of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The novel captivated its readers and made you wonder if it could be true. This book shows you it could be. It chronicles the stories of many who came through the process and how it affected them and even the next generation. Some of the stories are heart rending and others are stories of triumph and overcoming. Many who shared their stories never thought they would have a voice to tell what it was like. Many told their stories at the urging of their children.  The stories show reunions, some heartbreak, and unexpected connections that help them to heal. It is a story that should not have to have been written, or shared, but because it happened, the sharing inspires hope and restoration. If you read Before We Were Yours, this is a must read to complete the story and to answer more questions.