Sold on a Monday: A True Story of Heartbreak and Resilience

A novel that is taken from actual facts. It follows all emotions, love, tragedy, hope, in the lived of the children taken and sold. It was a good read and hard to put down. After the end, the real facts are told about the actual case that the story was written about.

McMorris writes a poignant tale based on a sign spotted by a young reporter: "2 children for sale."He snaps a picture of the two children playing on a decrepit property in rural 1931 Pennsylvania. He returns to his Philadelpia newspaper, pens a poignant story but somehow the picture is lost. His editor demands a new photo but when he returns, he find the house abandoned. He sees two children in apparently similar circumstances in a house across the road, and before he can think it through, he poses the two children on their own porch with the sign from across the street, persuading their reluctant mother with a few dollars. From this bit of happenstance unfurls a gripping story with well depicted characters and timeless themes. A young female reporter from his paper is drawn into the story. Together these two young people, with unresolved issues of their own, gradually become aware of the tragic consequences for the family featured in the story and set out to right the wrongs suffered. The journey takes us into the smoke-filled newsrooms of the era, into mob-infiltrated urban activities spawnedf by Prohibition, into the pain of a couple haunted by the death of a child, back into the protagonists' own troubled families complicated by an out if wedlock pregnancy, and highlights the plight of children in those difficult economic settings whether in orphanages or bought as slave labor by struggling farming families (evoking similar trafficking of children today for baser purposes.) In short this is a compelling, well researched, many layered journey through far different times than most readers experiencd. The author captures the flavor of this bygone time, most amusingly by the young reporter's repeated use of the word "swell." An author's note at the book's conclusion reveals the genesis of this novel in a similar, haunting children for sale sign she saw in 1948. All in all, the novel is an insightful glimpse into how people in a difficult time dealt with eternally human struggles.

am drawn to books set in the Great Depression, my mother and father told me about their experiences which were very different. My mother grew up on a farm and had plenty to eat but could not buy anything. My father grew up in a small town and his father deserted his family of four, his mother had to send the children to live with different relatives for survival. Ellis Reed, a society page reporter, who wants the opportunity to\o report real news, goes into the county with his camera seeking solace in nature, He stumbles up a pair of young boys beside a sign, children for sale! He thought about the future of the boys if they were sold and then thought what would the brother died young, be like had he survived. He took a picture of the boys and the sign without even thinking about it. The picture was developed by Lillian Palmer, who also worked for the paper but was never given a chance to write because she was a woman. The picture gets noticed and a story behind it is requested and sets off an explosion of interest across the country. I loved learning more details about the Great Depression and I was immediately drawn into the story which turned into a mystery, and two people drawn together to find some lost children and the relationship that evolves between the two. I loved this book, it was the first one that I have read by Kristina McMorris and now I want to read all of her books!

Frankly, this book was only ok for me. I was interest in learning about a sect of American culture that is very often overlooked. I wanted to get a clearer understanding of the group of Americans who fervently support the current administration. This book wasn’t that. But that is not the fault of the author, as she never claimed to be writing a documentary, memoir or text book. Still, this story was far more focused on the adults in it than the children. And I was hoping to learn more about what would really drive a person to actually sell their children. There is nothing real about the economy, the psychology or real circumstances that would lead to such an act. Beyond that, the story moved very slowly. The characters where not especially likable and the writing is just ok. I didn’t care for the ABABA flow of the chapters. That’s one of the reasons why I found it so difficult to keep reading. It’s an ok read for a vacation trip, road trip, long flight or day at the beach. But..... Meh.

Great and great author

It was not actually apparent until I finished the book that Sold on a Monday is a romance novel; it follows the same boy meets girl plot with the predictable ending. It wasn't apparent because it has a great deal more depth of relationship and moral teaching than you normally find in this genre. For one thing, the author took the time to develop the relationship between the two main characters. It isn't an unrealistic love at first sight, three day marathon and we are all in plot. I appreciated that; it kept me reading. The story also demonstrates that the human conscience is still alive and motivating people towards goodness. I write from a Christian perspective and while the author did not reveal any religious leanings, the concept of caring enough about other people to inconvenience yourself is definitely Biblical and badly needed in today's world. It was refreshing that the main characters were hard working, honest, caring people as too often our "heroes" are just the opposite. The book was well written and easy to read but had enough twists and turns to keep me interested and wondering how it would end.

This books was amazing! Definitely worth the read.

This novel is set during the Depression Era of 1931. A sign was in the yard where two small boys were playing that read 'Children For Sell '. This may sound cruel but times were hard in America. Everything was fine until one day the Stock Market crashed, Banks were closing, no money, no food, people out of work, long bread lines waiting for food. Families with children couldn't afford to feed them. Some parents passed their children to farmers to help with the farming. Some parents sold their children thinking it would give their children a better life. This story is about Ellis Reed, a fiction character was a newspaper reported trying to keep his job. He saw the sign and the two boys playing, he took a picture and wrote a story for the newspaper. It was a sad realistic event that blew up in his face. Ellis tries to make his wrong / right again. The story is well written, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, it was that good. The setting, the characters and the plot was outstanding and so vivid. I recommend this book to all that want to know more about the Great Depression Era.

I really enjoyed this book. Would recommend

Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Sold On A Monday exceeded my expectations and I enjoyed it so thoroughly I could not put it down! I loved the character’s connectivity through their kindness and concern for the children’s well being. The twists & turns in the story brought a reality to a troubled time in America’s history. The desperation of people to have to resort to selling their children was perfectly described through the eyes of all the characters including their mother who never gave up hope. And the fact that it was based in a true story made it very authentic and believable. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to all readers. Ten out of ten!

A very different read, but interesting and eventually gripping

This book was lovely. It was Easy ready and not too intense. A great storyline and peek into the depression era. A good holiday book.