Before We Were Yours

In 1939, twelve-year-old Rill Foss lives a carefree life with her four younger siblings on their family's shantyboat on the Mississippi River. Their world is filled with adventure and the freedom of the river. However, one stormy night, their father rushes their mother to the hospital, leaving Rill in charge. Strangers soon arrive, forcibly taking the children to the Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage. Promised a quick reunion with their parents, the children soon realize the grim reality of their situation. At the orphanage, Rill and her siblings face the harshness of the facility's

Lesson 1: River Life Interrupted

This principle from Before We Were Yours is backed by Lisa Wingate's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 2: Orphanage of Shadows

This principle from Before We Were Yours is backed by Lisa Wingate's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

Lesson 3: Avery's Unsettling Discovery

This principle from Before We Were Yours is backed by Lisa Wingate's extensive research and real-world examples. Understanding it deeply can shift how you approach decisions, relationships, and long-term planning in meaningful ways.

How to Apply Before We Were Yours's Lessons

The real value of Before We Were Yours lies in its applicability. After reading, the most important step is identifying which of Lisa Wingate's principles speak most directly to your current situation.

Consider keeping a journal while reading — noting where the ideas challenge your current approach and where they confirm what you already suspected. The friction of your own resistance often points to the most important insights.

Key Quote

"River Life Interrupted" — Lisa Wingate, Before We Were Yours

About the Author

Lisa Wingate is the author of Before We Were Yours. The book reflects years of research, observation, and synthesis of evidence from multiple disciplines.