2 CHILDREN FOR SALE The sign is a last resort. It sits on a farmhouse porch in 1931, but could be found anywhere in an era of breadlines, bank runs and broken dreams. It could have been written by any mother facing impossible choices. For struggling reporter Ellis Reed, the gut-wrenching scene evokes memories of his family's dark past. He snaps a photograph of the children, not meant for publication. But when it leads to his big break, the consequences are more devastating than he ever imagined. At the paper, Lillian Palmer is haunted by her role in all that happened. She is far too familiar with the heartbreak of children deemed unwanted. As the bonds of motherhood are tested, she and Ellis must decide how much they are willing to risk to mend a fractured family. Inspired by an actual newspaper photograph that stunned the nation, Sold on a Monday is a powerful novel of love, redemption, and the unexpected paths that bring us home.
Ellis Reed, a struggling report, comes across a sign that reads "2 children for sale" while venturing the countryside looking for inspiration for his next story. He ends up taking a photo of the sign next to the children and heads back to the newsroom.
Lillian Palmer, the newspaper secretary, finds the photo developing in the darkroom and brings it to the attention of the Editor. The photograph prompts a story that lands Ellis his big break.... but it comes with some consequences.
I really enjoyed the book! The story will make you ponder a few things about humanity, ethics, and the powerful influence of social media. “Sold On A Monday” is a great book choice for historical fiction fans and will spark interesting discussions for a Book Club read.
Interestingly, the book is a fictional story inspired by a real photograph that was first printed in a Chicago newspaper in 1948. I ended up searching for information regarding the original photograph that inspired McMorris’s book and it's truly heartbreaking. Stories like this can really bring to light a dark and desperate time in our history. You can read more about the original photograph here.
