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BY Kristina McMorris
Sourcebooks Landmark
August 28, 2018/ ISBN 9781492663997
Fiction / Women / Historical
Reviewed
by Elise Cooper
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Sold on A Monday By Kristina
McMorris brings to life a story anchored in reality, by an actual
photograph. The saying “a picture is worth a 1000 words”
springboards the plot. The mystery begins with a photograph
taken as readers wonder what happens to all those in the picture?
McMorris noted, “I saw this photo circulating on-line.
It was of four children huddled together on a stoop in Chicago
in 1948 with their mother in the background. There was a sign
next to them that read, ‘four children for sale inquire
within.’ As a mother of two young boys, I was haunted
by that photo for months and months. After I understood there
is a story to write I revisited it. They say ‘a picture
is worth a 1000 words,’ but for me, it ended up to be
90,000 words, a whole novel. I think any strong and powerful
art piece or photo after someone looks at it can tell a story
that might even raise questions.”
It all started with a picture that became the inspiration for
an article by a struggling journalist, Ellis Reed, as it expressed
the desperate days of the American Great Depression in 1931.
He took a picture of two boys sitting under a sign that read,
“2 children for sale.” After the picture is brought
to the chief’s attention by his secretary, Lillian (Lily)
Palmer, Ellis is offered his chance to write worthwhile stories
that begins with this one about the boys. But his chance to
advance seems to go up in ashes after the picture is accidentally
destroyed just prior to publication. Knowing the article would
be meaningless without a photo Ellis stages another one with
a different family. Lily feels responsible for the aftermath
because it was her idea to show the original picture to the
newspaper editor in the first place. Ellis’s story launches
his career, but it also creates a chain of devastating events.
Now both Ellis and Lily, feeling responsible, are determined
to make things right. “I wanted to write Lily
as strong, vulnerable, and someone who carries a lot of guilt,
shame, as well as secrets. I think her son Samuel helps to drive
her decisions. She connects to the children in Ellis’
story, seeing parallels to her own life. Ellis is a good person
who makes poor choices. He wants his father’s approval
and to get it has the need for tangible accomplishments. Through
his career achievements he gains self-confidence and self-esteem.
All the characters in this story tried to forgive themselves
for past deeds. They are searching for what they really want
out of life.”
Readers will take a journey with all the characters as they
ponder what they would do if they could give their children
a better life. Set in 1931 during the Depression, people were
desperate to feed their families. This brings into focus the
question of how far would a parent go to ensure their children
survive? On a similar note, McMorris also explores the struggle
Lily had with trying to succeed professionally and being a single
mother who wanted the best for her son, Samuel.
This novel takes readers back in time and allows them to have
a vivid picture of the desperation. It is an engrossing story
of love, family, ambition, and the struggle of each of the characters
with their personal beliefs, how life’s circumstances
can push people to do the unthinkable.
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