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Before and After
Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society | Judy Christie, Lisa Wingate
32 posts | 31 read | 20 to read
The incredible, poignant true stories of victims of a notorious adoption scandalsome of whom learned the truth from Lisa Wingates bestselling novel Before We Were Yours and were reunited with birth family members as a result of its wide reach From the 1920s to 1950, Georgia Tann ran a black-market baby business at the Tennessee Childrens Home Society in Memphis. She offered up more than 5,000 orphans tailored to the wish lists of eager parentshiding the fact that many werent orphans at all, but stolen sons and daughters of poor families, desperate single mothers, and women told in maternity wards that their babies had died. The publication of Lisa Wingates novel Before We Were Yours brought new awareness of Tanns lucrative career in child trafficking. Adoptees who knew little about their pasts gained insight into the startling facts behind their family histories. Encouraged by their contact with Wingate and award-winning journalist Judy Christie, who documented the stories of fifteen adoptees in this book, many determined Tann survivors set out to trace their roots and find their birth families. Before and After includes moving and sometimes shocking accounts of the ways in which adoptees were separated from their first families. Often raised as only children, many have joyfully reunited with siblings in the final decades of their lives. In Before and After, Wingate and Christie tell of first meetings that are all the sweeter and more intense for time missed and of families from very different social backgrounds reaching out to embrace better-late-than-never brothers, sisters, and cousins. In a poignant culmination of art meeting life, long-silent victims of the tragically corrupt system return to Memphis with Wingate and Christie to reclaim their stories at a Tennessee Childrens Home Society reunion . . . with extraordinary results.
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LibraryCin
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Mehso-so

I listened to the audio and that may have been my downfall. Because there were multiple individual stories to this one, it was more similar to a book of essays or short stories, so (because – audio) when I missed parts, it was hard to “catch up” on what I‘d missed before we moved on to the next story. It did seem like many of the adopted kids had good lives, in the end

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britt_brooke
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ A nonfiction companion to Before We Were Yours. Due to the awareness Wingate‘s novel brought upon the Tennessee Children‘s Home Society, many people realized their family secrets and truths, deciding to further dig. Christie follows 15 stories documenting various instances of reuniting, both positive and negative. A very emotional, but ultimately uplifting read.

Deblovestoread I did not know about this book. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! 6mo
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Zuhkeeyah
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Pickpick

I stumbled upon this nonfiction re-telling of the fictionalized story in Before We Were Yours. I remember reading BWWY back in 2020 just after visiting Memphis. The story has always stuck with me. To hear the real-life stories was even more impactful. There are stories of reconciliation, heartbreak, and unexpected thankfulness. I highly recommend this to everyone.

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JennF13
Pickpick

After finishing “Before We Were Yours”, I was pleased to discover that the time, effort and work had been put into creating a non-fiction book about this despicable part of US history. A moving account of the many many lives Georgia Tann affected, this is well worth reading.

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DHill
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I loved Before We Were Yours but just didn‘t quite mesh with the telling of the actual stories.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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Has anyone read this one? I got it free with my credits on Amazon 😊📚

I loved Before We Were Yours 💔

Jensol77 Before We We‘re Yours was so sad it made me nauseous. I‘m sure this is equally as tough. 3y
megnews I haven‘t read it but I put it on my tbr after I read Before We Were Yours which I loved. (edited) 3y
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abookishbutterfly
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Mehso-so


This may not be the best book I‘ve ever read (or, technically, listened to), but I was in for the personal tales, so I did find value in that. I don‘t regret seeing it through. I will likely read Before We Were Yours one day, too!

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4103333628

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mcctrish
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Pickpick

For some reason I read about this book that came after Lisa Wingate‘s fiction book about the Tennessee Children‘s Home first, so now I will read “Before We Were Yours” I also seemed to never know where the phrase ‘tongue tied‘ came from and I actually think it‘s brutal people use this term when someone is at a loss for words or stumbles over them. This is a really engaging book.

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mcctrish
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I got my second vaccine today 🎉🎉 I‘m rocking the AZ/Pfizer combo ( maybe getting some super hero status soon 🤣🤣)

Reagan Yay! Me too, also today and same combo! I‘m excited for my new superpowers 😂 3y
ShelleyBooksie Got mine today too - High five! 3y
mcctrish Congratulations @Reagan and @ShelleyBooksie we are one more step closer to normal times 🎉🎉🎉 and super powers 3y
See All 12 Comments
LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Second for me next Saturday! 3y
mcctrish @LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 3y
CoverToCoverGirl Wonderful! Hoping to get mine by the end of next week! 3y
Cathythoughts Great 👍🏻😁 3y
mcctrish I wish you luck @CoverToCoverGirl 🤞🏻 3y
mcctrish Thx @Cathythoughts one less thing to worry about 3y
Cathythoughts Absolutely! I can‘t wait to get my second …. Crazy world we live in now .. the vaccine will protect us 3y
mcctrish @Cathythoughts absolute truth 3y
NikkiM5 Yay 🎊 3y
70 likes12 comments
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mcctrish
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Stumbled across this on Libby and it was ready to listen to while I wait for other holds. I didn‘t realize it happened as a result of Lisa writing “Before We Were Yours” so of course I have put that on now too

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WriterAtHeart
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Pickpick

When I read "Before We Were Yours", I was engrossed in the adoption scandal of the Tennessee Children's Society and Georgia Tann. Reading "Before and After", was just as touching this time around, listening to the stories of real life survivors of TCHS. I am grateful to Wingate and Christie for telling the families' stories and was glad to be a part of the experience through reading the accounts provided.

Crazeedi Before we were yours was excellent, I'll have to check this out 3y
35 likes1 comment
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JenDR
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I guess the silver lining of pulling a tendon by tripping over my own feet - I got to read a chunk of this one while waiting for the doctor.

LiteraryinPA Ouch! I hope you recover quickly (and get to read more along the way!). 💜 4y
JenDR Thanks 4y
4 likes2 comments
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FeatherV
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Pickpick

TCHS severely impacted the lives of over 5,000 children between 1920s and 1950. "Before and After" by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate goes a step further from Lisa Wingate's novel "Before we Were yours" and follow the planning of a reunion for these children as well as documenting several of their stories. ⁠
#lisawingate #judychristie #beforeandafter #history #learningnewhistory
heartandsoulbooks.blogspot.com⁠
New Post Today!⁠

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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

Picked this one up after Mom @AmyK1 read it—glad I did! These stories are so moving, and it‘s incredible that I‘d never heard of this until now.

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

I read Before We Were Yours in 2018 and loved it so when I heard about this book I had to get it from the library. It details the real life stories of children who were stolen (and in a few cases voluntarily given up) by Georgia Tann and the TCHS.

This fills a free spot for August‘s #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

I haven't read the fiction novel yet about this same topic, but I'm glad I read this one first.

The stories and history presented in this devastating read about children sold in Tennessee is one I will not soon forget. I had never heard of this before the books came out, and I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around what the parents and children went through at the hands of one greedy, evil woman.

Well done read, even though it was hard.

AmyK1 I‘ve got this on hold at the library. Need to go pick it up tomorrow. I read Before We Were Yours and loved it. 4y
sblbooks I enjoyed this book, however Before We Were Yours was even better. 4y
31 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Always_booked
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Before & After.
This was as good as Before we were yours. Touching stories from real life adoptees & children of the adoptees. What happened, what they think happened & what they learn from searching for documents and DNA findings. #georgiatann #beforewewereyours #beforeandafter #reallifestories #adoptee

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Reynosa8701
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Reading in bed on this cold Colorado day!

Reggie Love the bookmark! 5y
15 likes1 comment
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MaggieCarr
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Pickpick

In 2018 I joined the hub-bub and read a book that was never on the library shelf more than a few moments before quickly being snapped up again. Before We Were Yours was was recommended world of mouth throughout our town and when I got my turn, I bawled though a box of tissues. These real life stories took me back to that favorite of the year, gave me some emotional closure from stories I am not connected to but think about. Highly recommend!

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DebinHawaii
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#LibraryHaul from yesterday. Went to pick up 3 holds & ended up finding a WWII NF book I couldn‘t put down, grabbed a copy of Case Histories to join in with @Cinfhen & @BarbaraBB on the #BelowZer00s #buddyread & then the librarian gave me an #ARC of the tagged book & told me I needed to read it since she knows I like NF/TrueCrime. Not to mention my stack already at home. The chickens doubt I‘ll get them all read. 🐔🐔🐔They mock me! 😉

Cinfhen I love those chickens 🐓 🐓 🐓 great haul ❣️ 5y
71 likes1 comment
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Jennick2004
Pickpick

This book was SO good. Heartbreaking, warm and fuzzy, anger-inducing. You‘ll feel it all!

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Jennick2004
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Break time at work!

Lindy that's my kind of multitasking. 😃 5y
24 likes1 comment
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Jennick2004
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OMG this book 😱😭💜

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Jennick2004
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“...a woman who managed to attend her birth mother‘s funeral and finally saw people who looked like her”

I‘m going to cry through this entire book!
#TearJerker

Bklover I had that experience myself several years ago. I think one of the best parts of meeting my birth mother was having her family talk about how much I looked like this daughter or this aunt or whoever. 5y
18 likes1 comment
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Floresj
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Mehso-so

Admittedly, I hadn‘t read the “Before You Were Ours” and no background of the TCHS. The stories were sad but society‘s disapproval of pregnant single and poor women were just as sad. (Tann sounds like a horrible person, however.) This one just didn‘t do it for me.

Reviewsbylola Ooooh this sounds right up my alley. 5y
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sblbooks
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐
#NFNov Book 13 finished. Bingo prompt: True Crime
Stories from real life victims of TCHS, I highly recommend, however I suggest you read Before We Were Yours first.
#TIL On one day, at the local hospital, six unsuspecting mothers were told their baby had died. That of course was a lie, all were sold by Georgia Tann and her cronies.
I find it unbelievable that this went on for 30 years!
@rsteve388 @Clwojick

rsteve388 9 pts 5y
35 likes1 comment
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Jennick2004
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My Target B2G1 books came! Which should I read next?!

sblbooks Before and after, I'm reading it now. 5y
30 likes1 comment
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the_next_chapter101
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Pickpick

So tragic but yet such a powerful read. The author captured their stories beautifully. I can't wait to read Before We Were Your's now. Highly recommend! 5/5⭐ (Listened via Scribd)

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Pageturner2
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Just started this. Haven‘t read Before We Were Yours.

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LatrelWhite
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The incredible, poignant true stories of victims of a notorious adoption scandal—some of whom learned the truth from Lisa Wingate‘s bestselling novel Before We Were Yours and were reunited with birth family members.

I need to read “BeforeWe We‘re Yours.”

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Michellekidwell
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Pickpick

In this book we read some of the Poignant True Stories of Victims of Georgia Tann‘s adoption Scandal, some of them learning the truth from Lisa Wingate‘s novel Before We Were Your‘s and we‘re reunited with their birth families.

Georgia Tann ran a Black Market Baby business out of The Tennessee Children‘s Home in Memphis from the 1920‘s to 1950‘s. More than 5000 Orphans tailored to the wishlist of Eager parents.