Sold on a Monday is a heart touching story that will surely have you shed a few tears, at least I know I did! This story is based off an actual photo taken during the great depression when times were hard and people had to make desperate decisions for their family.  Ellis Reed is a reporter struggling at his job, he can’t seem to catch a break or get his boss to give him a shot at a big story. While Ellis is out he stumbles upon two little boys sitting on a porch with a sign next to them that states, “2 children for sale”. Even though Ellis is worried he’ll be using film from his camera that was meant for work only, he’s so moved by what he sees he must photograph this moment. What dire straights must this family be under that they have to resort to selling off their flesh and blood.  Ellis has only a few coins to his name as well, and wishes there was something he could do, but he just can’t.  Lillian Palmer is a secretary at the newspaper and she develops the photo’s for Ellis. When she sees the photo of the boys she approaches her boss about letting Ellis write a story about this family.  Unfortunately the picture gets ruined, so Ellis boss neeeds him to go back and retake the photo and write up the story. Ellis is hesitant to do this because the photo is so personal, and might hurt the family even more, but he also wants to prove to his boss he is worthy of a big story. So Ellis heads back to the home where he took the picture, but the boys are gone, only the dirty sign remains.  A little girl approaches him from across the street and she tells Ellis that the boys are gone, in fact the entire family is gone. How is going to get his big break now?  His boss will be so mad!
  Ellis decides to approach the mother of the little girl and see if he can find out where the family is. The women looks poor, sickly, and wants nothing to do with him. He sees the little girl’s brother and gets an idea, what if he uses these two little kids to retake the photo? He has the sign he used, but he knows this mother will never allow it, and he struggles with a moral delema of lying and printing a story and photo about a family that isn’t true. He wants this opportunity to shine, so he offers the mother a few coins to take the picture of the two kids. The mother is very hesitant of this stranger asking for a picture of her kids, but as a single mom she needs the money, therefore agrees. The plan goes exactly as Ellis hoped, and this article skyrockets Ellis career. The guilt is terrible for Ellis, and when donations for the family pour in Ellis delivers the items to the family, leaving them on the families porch. Lily and Ellis become close, and although he cannot tell her what he’s done because he’s so ashamed, he tells her he really wants to know how the family is doing, and she does as well. So they drive down to the house and discover the family is gone. Ellis finds out from a neighbor that after the article came out, a rich looking business man came to the home and purchased the kids, and the mother moved away from the home shortly after. Ellis is in shock, how could this have happened? These children weren’t for sale, and although they looked like they had little money, they were a family, and the mother didn’t seem like someone who would sell her children. This was all Ellis fault, and he set on a long journey to discover where the children ended up, and if they’re safe, happy, and healthy. 
Such a sad and touching story. Parts had me on the edge of my seat, other times I was reaching for a tissue. I really enjoyed the story and learning about the orginal photo that sparked the author to write this book. I really liked Lily and Ellis, and the message to stay true to who you are, stay humble and don’t let money or anyone change you.

We have probably all seen the photo of four children crowded on the stairs with mother turning an embarrassed face away, and the sign "Four Children FOR SALE  Inquire within" that appeared in the Vidette-Messenger , Valparaiso, Indiana in 1948 and went national. Thought by some to be a hoax, it is breathtakingly heart-breaking never the less.  

Sold on a Monday is an  excellent period piece, with precisely correct word pictures of the clothes, the cars, the music and movies, and the mores of the early 1930's.  Centered around another photo of kids for sale, two young blonde boys tossing rocks into a can on a dilapidated porch, and a similar hand lettered sign.

Kristina McMorris takes us to the American world as it was in 1931, with the Great Depression dug in hard, jobs few and poorly paid, prohibition creating it's own problems and journalists a dime a dozen.  Ellis Reed is an excellent photographer who wants desperately to advance from the Society page to some real newspaper work at the Philadelphia Examiner.  Lily Palmer is a single mom in an era when that was not socially acceptable, working in the city as secretary to the hard nosed editor in chief  of the Examiner and going home to her small community and the deli her parents own on weekends to help in the store and be with her son Samuel. 

While doing an errand for another reporter in the newspaper dark room, she comes across the photo Ellis had taken of the boys, and slips it onto the desk of the editor in chief, who in turn asks Ellis to do the article to accompany said photo. And it is an excellent article - but the photo and negative are destroyed by a spilled drink as the article is processed.

Retaking the photo proves impossible as that family has since moved away.  But next door, in the same farming town with despair painted over every inch of the dwellings and residents therein, are Ruby and Calvin and their widowed mom Geraldine Dillard.  For a two dollar modeling fee, all the money he has in his pocket, Ellis is allowed to move the sign and take a photo of the boy and girl playing on the porch, with the mother, turning away to the door.... Of course the photo goes national.  And Ellis becomes a feature reporter at the Philadelphia Examiner and a regular visitor at the Dillard house as he clandestinely drops off the small donations for the family that arrive almost daily in the mail.  

And there begins the journey that will take Ellis to a reporting position in New York City, with both Ellis and Lily diligently trying to find out what happened to the Dillard family who quietly disappeared without a forwarding address.  This is an excellent novel, with personable characters and a good mystery.  I can happily recommend Sold on a Monday to family and friends. 

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Kristina McMorris, and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

Sold on a Monday touches a nerve, it questions one's ethics and provides redemption  when wrongs are righted.

This was a very interesting book. It caught my attention because of the cover. I will say it took some time to get into but I was glad I kept on reading. I will search out other books by this author.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review."

A heartbreaking picture, innocently snapped by newspaper reporter Ellis Reed, brings about changes to lives he never meant to put in motion.  This story follows his search as he endeavors to track down the children to ensure that their station in life has improved.  The plot twists and turns and keeps you turning pages for more.

The novel revolves around two main characters that are very humane and well rounded.  You understand what has brought them to this place in life and why they make the decisions they do.  The storyline is also many faceted.  There are many story threads that are woven together to create a thought provoking novel.  Just when you think you understand what is going to happen, it twists and heads in another direction.

I enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it.  Although it is a fictional story it is built around a real picture that was taken.  It shows how the best of intentions sometimes brings about unexpected results.  This story can be read teen to adult readers.  If you liked The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, you will want to read this book.

This historical novel is based on a real photograph snapped (possibly staged) during 1948 by a news reporter. McMorris takes that idea and transports it back to the Depression.  I was expecting something along the lines of Orphan Train, but I was off track there.  In fact, the children are mere devices to get the story going and don’t figure prominently again until it’s over halfway done.  

McMorris does some things very well.  The tension between Ellis and his father felt spot on. And the love and willingness of a parent to move heaven and earth for a child.  In fact, where the book does best is when it deals with the ethics of the choices made by all the various adults.  

To me, the best historical fiction evokes enough of the time and place to teach me something.  This fails in that regard.  That doesn’t mean the book is bad.  It just means if you go in expecting to learn something new about the depression, you’ll be disappointed.  She gets the details right, but this ground has all been covered before. 

And the writing seemed two dimensional.  Despite how heartbreaking the story is, I couldn’t connect with it.  In trying to decide why that is, I can only surmise that it’s because the story is more about Ellis and Lillian.  When it comes down to it, this is more romance novel than historical fiction.  

My thanks to netgalley and Sourcebooks for an advance copy of this novel.

The premise of this book was intriguing.  The story held get promise, but did not deliver.  I feel that is because
of simple dialog and very basic writing style.  Attempts to use slang of the day fell flat and felt forced.
Disappointed, as I really wanted to like this book !

This historical fiction novel was inspired by an actual Depression Era photograph.  It follows the story of Ellis Reed, a struggling reporter, whose photograph and accompanying article launches his career and complicates his life.  The photograph?  Two children with a sign in front of them:  Two Children for Sale.  Lilly Palmer is Ellis’s coworker and is involved in a way Ellis doesn’t even know.  From the countryside to the city; from news desks in Philadelphia and New York – the story moves along making you want to keep turning pages.
It did take me several chapters to get into the characters of Ellis and Lilly and to be invested in the story.  However, once I was there, I finished the rest of the book pretty quickly.  The fact that this novel is based on a photograph actually printed and that people were so desperate that all they could think was to sell their children saddens me.  It made me wonder what I would do in a similar situation.
One of the reasons I like reading historical fiction is to get a glimpse of the past.  This did that with the photograph, a look into gender roles, glimpses of newspaper life, and even some Mafia interaction.  
It was a good book.  I’d recommend it to others who like historical fiction or books inspired by something true in the past.
There are more points I would like to expound on but don’t want to have spoilers.  So I’ll leave it at that.
Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the review copy.  If you would like to read more of my reviews, please visit mommyreadsbooks.blogspot.com.

This is a wonderfully written book by Kristina McMorris. Sent to me by Netgally and the publisher for review.

 The setting is during the depression when desperation took over many families who could not feed or take care of their families. Ellis a young reporter who cant' seem to get a good storyhappens across a house with two little boys wearing a for sale sign. He takes a picture which somehow was destroyed so he goes back to take another picture. The family is gone the home deserted. Ellis finds two other children down the street and pays the Mom to let him take  the picture with her little girl and boy. The picture and story make the front page and is circulated all around .
  From there the story begins with the consequenses of the lie ! a lot of heartbreak, hardship  and  yet heartwarming  at times.
 I felt the characters of the book were  strongly developed and story flowed extremely well. 
 I  found this book to be  one that I was eager to read  and enjoyed  emmencely although I don't normally choose history related books. I am glad I did!
.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris is a very interesting story from the Great Depression. Mothers selling children, such a sad and horrible situation. I fell into the book and was swept away, finishing in one afternoon. The story is told through a reporter who sees two young boys playing outside and then notices a "2 children for sale" sign on the front porch; captivated about this mystery he continues to pursue the situation. This reporter along with another stop at nothing to find the truth of the story; motherhood, grief, loss of a child and the children themselves.Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this amazing story!

A newspaper reporter snaps a photo of two young children being offered for sale by their family – a desperate measure during the American Depression – and sets in motion a chain of events he couldn’t have anticipated. What should have been a compelling page-turner (there’s both mystery and romance) ultimately falls flat, due to the lack of character development. 

Those who enjoy plot-driven novels may find more to like in this book, but I never grew to care about what happened to any of the one-dimensional characters (even the children), and so for me, the story dragged, and the ending was melodramatic and hard to believe.  

As well, the historic context (that is so important to the family’s decision to sell their children) serves merely as a backdrop.  Very seldom are other characters affected by the Depression, and so the impoverished family’s choices seem an isolated aberration rather than a symptom of larger societal problems.

This was a really good book with really good characters (especially the two main characters- Ellis and Lily) and a great plot. It all started with a photo...seems so simple and innocent, and yet it unraveled a whole series of events that were the basis for the story. The book kept my attention throughout - both because of the action-packed events that occurred as well as the evolution of Ellis and Lily and how they came together and trusted one another to right a wrong. Throughout the book, I was reminded of how far we've come with technology and medical advancements. Every time Ellis was trying to make a quick getaway I held my breath because he had to crank the engine and, occasionally, it wouldn't start (and now we can push a button to start our cars!). I thought this book was very well-written. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy historical fiction!

“It started with a picture,” Lily told the detective. Time comes at the end of the historical fiction Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris when Lily must confess the truth. I read and advance reading copy from Net Galley of this book that is available for preorder and goes on sale on August 28.

It had all started when eager young reporter Ellis Reed snapped a photo of a sign reading, “2 children for sale.” In the middle of the great depression similar signs in 1931 Philadelphia were heartbreakingly common with children sold to become nannies, maids, farm hands, or factory workers. With the help of the newspaper secretary Lily Palmer, Ellis gets assigned a feature article about the picture. When the picture is ruined and he has to stage a deceptive second one with a different family, his article goes viral as we would say today. 

Other consequences when the brother and sister are sold to a family with mob connections lead Ellis and Lily on a mission to right things and reunite the family. Lily’s well-kept personal secret, her relationship with another reporter, and Ellis’s family conflicts are secondary to the dangerous track the two must follow to find the children and to right a success story gone very wrong. Kristina followed the oft-given writerly advice to put your hero(s) in hot water and then turn up the heat.

By the time the reader gets to the author’s note, it comes as no shock that inspiration for the book itself came from an old newspaper photo she stumbled upon with children on a staircase behind a sign saying, “4 Children; FOR SALE; INQUIRE WITHIN.” This is an excellent book for a book club read and discussion. It is ineffective as a bedtime sleep inducement and may result in a long night of repeating “just one more chapter.”

What a great book. It had me hooked from the start.  
It made hard reading in some areas and bought tears to my eyes to think that that was based around true events of the time.  The level of detail was really good and that characters very believable. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I know this book is supposed to be loosely based on real events, but these characters and the choices they made are just not believable.  It never really weaves itself into an interesting story.

I had hopes that this book would be reminiscent of Orphan Train, a rich historical tale of the Great Depression. The story begins with a down-on-his-luck reporter, taking a photo of two boys holding a sign that shows them to be "For Sale" in 1932 Philadelphia. As the tale unwinds, this photo causes lots of problems with both the reporter and the office assistant who involves herself in the newspaper publishing of the story. I found the main characters to be quite thin, the minor characters to be tedious, and the plot to be without much-needed tension and a tad saccharine. I am sure there are many readers who love this type of book; it just is not me. Thanks to Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An actual photo discovered from 1948, led to this story of a news photographer and a newsroom secretary set this depression-era story off, with several side trips to explore a relationship that frankly, felt disruptive and unnecessary to the plot. Ellis Reed is a newly-minted employee of a newspaper in 1931 – it’s the Depression, jobs, money and opportunity are hard to find and he’s determined to make his mark.  When he’s chasing a story in a small town, his car breaks down… it is then that a decision he makes with a photograph that he snaps of two young boys sitting on a rundown porch holding a sign, 2 Children for Sale.  The instant implications and questions of that scene are somewhat blithely pushed aside by a quote from Elliott Erwitt, “Photography is the art of observation. It has little to do with things you see and everything to do with the way you see them”, a bit of this remove from the scene is transferred almost subconsciously into Ellis, and that remove informs near every move, mistake, and interaction he has from that point forward for me.  

Back in the newsroom there is Lillian, the secretary and single mother, struggling to keep a roof and outshine the stigma of her own mistakes and missteps, she’s intrigued by Ellis and while the two have huge obstacles of trust, truth and purpose that they approach from different ends of the spectrum, the photograph both separates and brings them together.  However, from my perspective, while I could grab onto their questions that Ellis’ photograph (and his subsequent spin into a story of the times with all of the associated questions about loss, choice and never-before experienced hardships seemed to fall to the side as they explored their “relationship’ and often dropped their focus on the actual and very real crisis at their doorstep, in fact, at the doorstep of near everyone at the time. 

What started as a story that should have produced a never-ending series of questions, emotional and complex choices, and perhaps some information about where the children went, if they went, and were they able to find some improvement in their own circumstances? These are questions, and choices, that could have had some sort of resolution and connection, actual palpable connection, to the couple that is so forcibly placed at the center of the story, without really ever seeming as if their story was enough: bold enough, dramatic enough, or even intriguing enough to overshadow the crisis in the photograph – or the many instances of similar ‘Sophie’s choice’ decisions made by parents hit hardest by the poverty, famine and weather that conspired against them. 

I was disappointed that this story didn’t hit harder where the heartbreaking and often last-choice options were taken by those who literally ripped their lives and families apart to provide some nebulous something for children they couldn’t afford to feed, house or care for – and just where (and how) those traumas effected those children.  Intriguing if you want the lighter and fluffier sort of ‘pass over something you weren’t aware of’ moment in history to provide a backdrop for a romance, but for me, this was a miss – a decent story that could have been a favorite had the focus been on the history unfolding in a photograph rather than the steps and missteps of a newly developing relationship because of the changes and upheavals. 

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. 

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9YK/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A tragic, compelling read. When Ellis Reed spots a sign "2 children for sale," he snaps a photo.  He never intended the photo for publication, (the sign reminds evokes some brutal memories in his past) but events quickly spin out of his control. Meanwhile Lillian Palmer must decide whether money and celebrity are worth the cost of a fractured family.  Set against the background of the Great Depression, the novel captures the heart-rending choices a family makes and the irony of a moment's choice leading to unintended consequences. An excellent book, highly recommend.

One of the best books I've read this year. The cover concept drew me in and the content of the kept me hooked the whole way. I loved the level of detail Kristina McMorris provides as to the nature of a 1920s newsroom, I really felt a part of the goings on. I immediately warmed to both Ellis and Lily, the main characters, and found myself deeply invested in their lives and welfare. Full of intriguing twists and turns, I would absolutely recommend this book to friends and family.

Great book!  Love this Author!  I could not put this book down!  I will be reading more by this Author no doubt!