Oct. 2023 - True Crime Book Club - Past Titles - LibGuides at Westwood Public Library

About the Authors: Judy Christie & Lisa Wingate

Lisa Wingate
- Lisa Wingate was born on August 7, 1964, in Neosho, Missouri, USA. She grew up in a small town in southwest Missouri and developed a love for storytelling and writing at an early age. She pursued her education at Oklahoma State University and later worked in journalism and marketing.
- In her literary career, Lisa Wingate has written numerous novels that often delve into themes of family, relationships, and history. Some of her notable works include "Before We Were Strangers," "The Book of Lost Friends," "Before and After," and the best-selling novel "Before We Were Strangers."
- One of her most acclaimed novels is "Before We Were Strangers," which intertwines the stories of two women from different generations. The book was well-received by readers and critics alike, showcasing Wingate's talent for weaving compelling narratives.
- Lisa Wingate's writing often draws from her own experiences, interests, and research into historical events. Her works often shed light on lesser-known aspects of history and aim to resonate with readers on a personal and emotional level.
- She continues to write and is active in the literary community, engaging with her readers through events, book signings, and social media. Lisa Wingate's works have gained a significant following and have been translated into multiple languages, reaching a wide and diverse readership.
Judy Christie
- Judy Christie was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and has spent a significant portion of her career in the world of journalism. She has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor, and her journalistic endeavors have allowed her to cover a variety of topics and stories, ranging from human interest pieces to hard news.
- In addition to her journalism career, Judy Christie is also known for her fiction writing. She has written numerous novels, often set in the American South and featuring themes related to family, relationships, and small-town life. Some of her notable works include "Magnolia Market," "Wreath, A Girl," and "Gone to Green."
- Judy Christie's novels often blend her love for storytelling with her understanding of the dynamics of Southern culture and life, creating engaging and relatable narratives.
- She continues to be active in the literary community, engaging with readers through book signings, speaking engagements, and online platforms. Judy Christie's contributions to both journalism and fiction have been appreciated by a wide readership, and she remains an influential figure in the world of contemporary literature.

Other Writings:

Synopsis

The compelling, 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 as a result of its wide reach From the 1920s to 1950, Georgia Tann ran a black-market baby business at the Tennessee Children's Home Society in Memphis. She offered up more than 5,000 orphans tailored to the wish lists of eager parents--hiding the fact that many weren't 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 Wingate's novel Before We Were Yours brought new awareness of Tann's 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. Christie and Wingate 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, many of the long-silent victims of the tragically corrupt system return to Memphis with the authors to reclaim their stories at a Tennessee Children's Home Society reunion . . . with extraordinary results. Advance praise for Before and After "In Before and After, authors Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate tackle the true stories behind Wingate's blockbuster Before We Were Yours, of the orphans who survived the Tennessee Children's Home Society. With a journalist's keen eye and a novelist's elegant prose, Christie and Wingate weave together the stories that inspired Before We Were Yours with the lives that were changed as a result of reading the novel.

Discussion Questions

What were the most shocking or surprising aspects of the Tennessee Children's Home Society scandal as presented in the book? How did this revelation impact your understanding of historical adoption practices?
The book shares the stories of individuals who were directly affected by Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society. Whose story affected you the most, and why?
Discuss the role of Georgia Tann in perpetuating the scandal. How did her actions and the operations of the Tennessee Children's Home Society impact the lives of innocent children and families?
The book highlights the resilience and strength of the survivors. How did they cope with the trauma and challenges they faced, and what can we learn from their experiences?
In what ways did the scandal expose the flaws and lack of oversight in the adoption system during that time? How have adoption practices evolved since then, and what improvements can still be made to ensure ethical and transparent adoptions?
How did the legal and societal context of the early to mid-20th century enable Georgia Tann's criminal activities? Discuss the implications of her connections and influence within the legal and political spheres.
Consider the emotional toll on both birth parents and adopted children. How did the scandal affect their lives, identities, and relationships with their families? How can such traumas impact future generations?
Reflect on the impact of media and public awareness in bringing Tann's crimes to light. How can responsible journalism and media play a role in exposing social injustices and advocating for change?
Discuss the ethical implications of adoption and child welfare. How can society ensure that vulnerable children are protected and that adoption processes prioritize the best interests of the child and their birth families?
What are the lessons we can learn from the Tennessee Children's Home Society scandal? How can we work towards preventing similar atrocities from occurring in the future?

Fact vs Fiction: Tennessee Children's Home

Georgia Tann was an American child trafficker and the mastermind behind the Tennessee Children's Home Society (TCHS), an adoption agency in Memphis, Tennessee. Operating from the 1920s until 1950, Tann and her accomplices engaged in a series of crimes related to illegal adoptions, child abduction, fraud, and abuse.

Illegal Adoptions and Child Trafficking:

Georgia Tann used the façade of a legitimate adoption agency, the Tennessee Children's Home Society, to facilitate the illegal adoption of children. She exploited the lack of oversight in the adoption system during that era to profit from the illegal placement of children into adoptive families.

Fraud and Deception:

Tann and her organization engaged in fraudulent practices to speed up the adoption process and maximize profits. Birth records were altered, and adoptive parents were often given misleading or false information about the child's background, medical history, and birth parents.

Abuse and Neglect:

Reports and survivor accounts indicate that the conditions within the Tennessee Children's Home Society were often deplorable. Children were subjected to neglect, inadequate care, and sometimes physical and emotional abuse while under Tann's custody.

Death and Inhumane Treatment:

Tragically, some children under Tann's care suffered from malnutrition, illness, and neglect, leading to untimely deaths. There are accounts of children being mistreated and dying due to the appalling conditions in the facilities.

Power and Influence:

Georgia Tann had significant influence and connections within the legal system, the government, and the media, which helped her operate for years without scrutiny. Her connections allowed her to manipulate the adoption process and cover up her illegal activities.

Child Abduction and Kidnapping:

Tann and her associates were involved in the systematic kidnapping and abduction of children, often taken from poverty-stricken families, unwed mothers, or those she deemed "unfit" for parenting. Children were frequently taken without consent or under false pretenses.

The crimes committed by Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society were exposed after her death in 1950. The revelations shocked the nation and shed light on the need for reform in adoption laws and regulations. Tann's actions had a profound and lasting impact on the lives of countless children and families, and her story remains a dark chapter in the history of adoption practices in the United States.

On Writing the Book

Lisa Wingate and Judy Christie worked together to research and compile these stories, aiming to shed light on the historical events and the impact they had on the lives of the individuals involved. They conducted extensive research, including interviews with survivors, archival exploration, and documentation review, to piece together a comprehensive and accurate account of the Tennessee Children's Home Society scandal and its aftermath.
Before and After seeks to honor the resilience and courage of the survivors and families affected by this dark chapter in history, providing a voice to those whose stories were often hidden or suppressed. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and understanding the past while raising awareness about the atrocities committed and advocating for ethical adoption practices in the present and future.

We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian
Call Number: 362.73 Asgarian
On March 26, 2018, rescue workers discovered a crumpled SUV and the bodies of two women and multiple children at the bottom of a cliff along the Pacific Coast Highway. Investigators soon concluded that the crash was a murder-suicide, but there was more to the story: Jennifer and Sarah Hart, it turned out, were a white married couple who had adopted six Black children from two different Texas families in 2006 and 2008. Behind the family's loving facade was an alleged pattern of abuse and neglect that had been ignored as the couple withdrew the children from school and moved west. It soon became apparent that the State of Texas knew all too little about the two individuals to whom it had given custody of six children. Immersive journalism of the highest order, Roxanna Asgarian's We Were Once a Family is a revelation of precarious lives; it is also a shattering exposé of the foster care and adoption systems that produced this tragedy. As a journalist in Houston, Asgarian sought out the children's birth families and put them at the center of the story. We follow the lives of the Harts' adopted children and their birth parents, and the machinations of the state agency that sent the children far away. Asgarian's reporting uncovers persistent racial biases and corruption as young people of color are separated from birth parents without proper cause. The result is a riveting narrative and a deeply reported indictment of a system that continues to fail America's most vulnerable children while upending the lives of their families.
Jessica Lost by Bunny Crumpacker; Jil Picariello
Call Number: 362.734 Crumpacker
A mother and her child, lost and then found again after four decades: this extraordinary story of love, loss, and reunion is told in alternating voices by the two women, each relating her own powerful experience. For the mother, it's the tale of an unhappy marriage followed by betrayal, a pregnancy of uncertain paternity, and the heartrending decision to give up her newborn. The daughter's search begins 40 years later, as she slowly, painstakingly, stitches together her story. These intertwined tales give us two unforgettable points of view of a remarkable journey-and of the multiple meanings of motherhood.
American Baby by Gabrielle Glaser
Call Number: 362.734 GLASER
The shocking truth about postwar adoption in America, told through the bittersweet story of one teenager, the son she was forced to relinquish, and their search to find each other. During the Baby Boom in 1960s America, women were encouraged to stay home and raise large families, but sex and childbirth were taboo subjects. Premarital sex was common, but birth control was hard to get and abortion was illegal. In 1961, sixteen-year-old Margaret Erle fell in love and became pregnant. Her enraged family sent her to a maternity home, and after she gave birth, she wasn't even allowed her to hold her own son. Social workers threatened her with jail until she signed away her parental rights. Her son vanished, his whereabouts and new identity known only to an adoption agency that would never share the slightest detail about his fate. Claiming to be acting in the best interests of all, the adoption business was founded on secrecy and lies. American Baby lays out how a lucrative and exploitative industry removed children from their birth mothers and placed them with hopeful families, fabricating stories about infants' origins and destinations, then closing the door firmly between the parties forever. Adoption agencies and other organizations that purported to help pregnant women struck unethical deals with doctors and researchers for pseudoscientific "assessments," and shamed millions of women into surrendering their children. Gabrielle Glaser dramatically demonstrates the power of the expectations and institutions that Margaret faced. Margaret went on to marry and raise a large family with David's father, but she never stopped longing for and worrying about her firstborn. She didn't know he spent the first years of his life living just a few blocks away from her; as he grew, he wondered about where he came from and why he was given up. Their tale--one they share with millions of Americans--is one of loss, love, and the search for identity. Adoption's closed records are being legally challenged in states nationwide. Open adoption is the rule today, but the identities of many who were adopted or who surrendered a child in the postwar decades are locked in sealed files. American Baby illuminates a dark time in our history and shows a path to reunion that can help heal the wounds inflicted by years of shame and secrecy.
The Baby Thief by Barbara Bisantz Raymond; Da Capo Press, Inc. Staff
Call Number: 362.734 Raymond
For almost three decades, renowned baby-seller Georgia Tann ran a children's home in Memphis, Tennessee -- selling her charges to wealthy clients nationwide, Joan Crawford among them. Part social history, part detective story, part expose, The Baby Thief is a riveting investigative narrative that explores themes that continue to reverberate today.
The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler
Call Number: 362.8298 Fessler
In this deeply moving work, Ann Fessler brings to light the lives of hundreds of thousands of young single American women forced to give up their newborn children in the years following World War II and before Roe v. Wade . The Girls Who Went Away tells a story not of wild and carefree sexual liberation, but rather of a devastating double standard that has had punishing long-term effects on these women and on the children they gave up for adoption. Based on Fessler's groundbreaking interviews, it brings to brilliant life these women's voices and the spirit of the time, allowing each to share her own experience in gripping and intimate detail. Today, when the future of the Roe decision and women's reproductive rights stand squarely at the front of a divisive national debate, Fessler brings to the fore a long-overlooked history of single women in the fifties, sixties, and early seventies. In 2002, Fessler, an adoptee herself, traveled the country interviewing women willing to speak publicly about why they relinquished their children. Researching archival records and the political and social climate of the time, she uncovered a story of three decades of women who, under enormous social and family pressure, were coerced or outright forced to give their babies up for adoption. Fessler deftly describes the impossible position in which these women found themselves: as a sexual revolution heated up in the postwar years, birth control was tightly restricted, and abortion proved prohibitively expensive or life endangering. At the same time, a postwar economic boom brought millions of American families into the middle class, exerting its own pressures to conform to a model of family perfection. Caught in the middle, single pregnant women were shunned by family and friends, evicted from schools, sent away to maternity homes to have their children alone, and often treated with cold contempt by doctors, nurses, and clergy. The majority of the women Fessler interviewed have never spoken of their experiences, and most have been haunted by grief and shame their entire adult lives.
Philomena by Martin Sixsmith; Dame Judi Dench (Foreword by)
Call Number: BIOGRAPHY LEE
The heartbreaking true story of an Irishwoman and the secret she kept for 50 years When she became pregnant as a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to a convent to be looked after as a " fallen woman." Then the nuns took her baby from her and sold him, like thousands of others, to America for adoption. Fifty years later, Philomena decided to find him. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Philomena' s son was trying to find her. Renamed Michael Hess, he had become a leading lawyer in the first Bush administration, and he struggled to hide secrets that would jeopardize his career in the Republican Party and endanger his quest to find his mother.