Cover Image: The Girls We Sent Away

The Girls We Sent Away

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Member Reviews

This story line didn’t keep me interested and not a lot was going on through out the story. https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsaNJHgcwl/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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In this stunning novel, Meagan Church weaves historical research and compelling narrative into an elegant tapestry that brings 1960s North Carolina to life. Lorraine Delford is an endearing and relatable heroine whose indefatigable spirit is sure to win readers’ hearts. Even as others try to direct the course of Lorraine’s future, she is determined to wrest back what control she can. A memorable portrait of a tumultuous time period, I highly recommend THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY for fans of historical fiction.

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The book takes place in the 60's and follows Lorraine through her senior year of high school as she and her family deal with her unplanned pregnancy. The story was well written and an interesting insight into life at the time. I appreciate the advanced reader copy.

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Set during the 1960's in North Carolina, THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY, tells the story of a teenage girl named Lorraine whose aspirations of becoming an astronaut in the midst of the Space Race unfortunately become thwarted after she becomes pregnant and is forced to live in a maternity home, as was normal during the Baby Scoop era. Though she is at the top of her class and has high hopes, Lorraine is only encouraged by her parents to do what is expected of her, become a wife and eventually a mother. But when the pregnancy comes unexpectedly during her senior year of high school, both Clint, the father of the baby and her longtime boyfriend, and her parents refuse to support or encourage Lorraine. At first, Lorraine attempts a positive outlook, dreaming that she'll be able to come back and finish her studies after the baby is born. She arrives at the maternity home and develops relationships with a few of the girls, which is a bit of a silver lining for Lorraine. After being let down and left completely alone by everyone in her life she thought she could trust, Lorraine gets to know Mirabelle and Denise, her roommates at the home. Soon, though, Lorraine is fighting another battle as decisions are being made for her and her baby with no regard to her wishes or input. Lucky for Lorraine, a young librarian at the public library offers to help her with GED classes so she can continue her education as she so desperately wishes. The only "education" provided at the maternity home is the type of skills for women who only wish to be wives and mothers, basically finishing school. As Lorraine gets closer to her delivery date, she finds herself reexamining what her future could hold, even if she is not likely to be able to make the decision in the end. Descriptive, beautiful prose allow readers to experience the character's pain and heartache, creating a lasting impression of empathy for young Lorraine. Equal parts heartbreaking and uplifting, THE GIRLS WE SENT AWAY is a must-read for fans of historical fiction. Notable in her prior novel as well, Meagan Church thoroughly explains the history, research, and inspiration behind the story she has created, which adds another layer of richness to the novel. Well-crafted and researched, this timely, powerful novel is a tribute to many lives irrevocably changed by the tumultuous Baby Scoop era.

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This was an okay read. I thought that the ending left some things to be desired, but overall, the book was good.

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