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I couldn‘t imagine being one of these women who were ill informed, and forced to give their child up for adoption.

Growing up in the 90s, the issue of coerced surrender and the fight to move towards open adoption was something that was talked about and that I was aware of from a pretty young age even though it didn‘t affect my family directly. Because of that frame, I didn‘t actually learn anything new or unexpected reading this, but I did get to see the issue in more detail, and in a new light. Fessler works hard to ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Heartbreaking read. The facts and statistics recited were infuriating; the quoted stories broke me to bits. Published a dozen years ago and currently especially topical in today's political climate.

1. When it ends 😊
2. The tagged. It still gets me.
3. The bargain/clearance lol
4. Tag 🏷
@Eggs #wonderouswednesday

This book will break your heart & make you angry. Post WWII, a young woman becoming pregnant out of wedlock was such a source of shame that she was hidden away, sent to a home for unwed mothers, essentially forced to surrender her child for adoption. This is the story of these women. https://cannonballread.com/2019/07/the-girls-who-went-away-the-hidden-history-of...

Equal parts heartbreak and anger. What this girls and women went through and continue to go through because of society is awful. These are stories that need to be told and need to be read.
The writing is decent you can tell that Fessler is not a writer writer. The way that the book is structured gives more impact to the stories, we are given some background to the times and societal norms that led to these women being sent away. Highly recommend

I can‘t let go of this book. I‘m rationalizing it to myself as the effect that adoption has on genealogical situations, and therefore it is pertinent to my studies. But it‘s also reinforcing to me that it has always been about policing women‘s bodies, and that if anyone tells my daughters what to do with their respective uteruses, I will fillet them alive.

This is a great book so far, but oh my gut wrenching and heartbreaking.

1. Getting my #bookfitnesschallenge goals even though it was a rainy yucky week. Also volunteering Wednesday, it‘s office work but I was so happy doing it.
2. Putting real effort into getting my house clean clean and hopefully tackling my craft closet and getting it better organized and cleaned.
I do love short and sweet 😆 #friyayintro @howjessreads

This feels like a timely read.

Oh, look, time to pull this out again because we are back in 1957.

Sorry to be flip. I am furious. I am afraid. This book has been on my mind all day; it's an important read, though heartbreaking. In the wake of the horrible news from Alabama, Georgia, et al, this book and its topics- women blamed, women shamed, women with no choice in what happens to their bodies and in their lives- are haunting me. #currentlyreading

Completed for the “something written by a woman” category for #nonfiction2019. It‘s a compilation of stories from women who were forced to give their babies up for adoption in the years between WWII and Roe v. Wade. Heartbreaking and sobering —especially at first, although the stories start to sound the same by the end.

@Riveted_Reader_Melissa

So much to highlight. I'm an adoptee myself. And more. Reading this book is a painful experience, but oddly, a really good read.

#readUsa2019

The author is from Rhode Island, but the stories of these women are from everywhere.

My mother was adopted in 1962. Then almost right after her mother got pregnant and ended up have three biological children of her own. Leaving my mom as the odd one out. My mother was herself sent away at 17 to give birth to her daughter in 1980, and gave her up for adoption. We later found her! And I do not know my father but was adopted by my brothers father! Adoption is deeply woven in my family story! I‘m reading to understand my moms pain.

Wow! Probably the best #nonfiction book I‘ve read this year! The author collected oral histories of women who were forced or coerced into giving up their babies in the 50s, 60s, and early 70s. For the most part the book is the women talking, but the author does also add some informative context and research. 5⭐️

Book 1 #deweys24hourreadathon #nonfiction2018

1. #Henry dug a bed in the couch cover at my parents‘ house.
2. ⬆️
3. Not much so far. I‘m going to do Dewey‘s Saturday if I can. Anyone else doing it?
4. My book sleeve!
5. 🎶 I don‘t want to wait for my life to be over/I want to know right now what will it be 🎶

#humpdaypost

Social stigma, lack of education, and the outlaw of abortion necessitated that many girls and young women found themselves in group homes for unwed mothers. This book sheds light on some of the women who found themselves #pregnant decades ago and were eventually forced to give their babies up for adoption.

#septemberdanes

I have an entire #TBR shelf dedicated to history. World history, colonial history, American history, British history, medical history, art history, war history. #itshistory #anditsaugust

This book is incredible in so many ways. The lack of information given to young women prior to their pregnancies and how the adoption agencies treated them is unbelievable. It's a must read! Most of this book is oral history recounted, I wish I it would have had a little more beef from studies and the legal premises of the time.

(Greetings from 🇦🇹 Austria)

Ahh thank you @haileyhugsbooks for all the goodies! All of these gifts are so perfect for me it's ridiculous. Nerdy Doctor Who bookmark ✔️ Awesome #diversecomic that I have been wanting to read for sooo long ✔️ Fascinating non-fiction about reproductive-rights-related women's history with real women's stories ✔️ And delicious chocolate ✔️The card is also super cute! ❤ Thanks again soooo much! Your GR stalking paid off - I haven't read these! 😍🎉

Nonfiction. Wow! Powerful! Between 1950-1973; prior to (Roe v Wade) 1.5 million babies were put up for adoption mainly due to pressure from families & society. Fessler presents commentary on the times as well as oral histories from over 100 birth mothers & their stories. Tragic & heartbreaking...On a personal level it stirred up a lot of emotions in me since I have both a sister & a daughter who are adopted.

Nonfiction. Wow! Powerful! Between 1950-1973; prior to (Roe v Wade) 1.5 million babies were put up for adoption mainly due to pressure from families & society. Fessler presents commentary on the times as well as oral histories from over 100 birth mothers & their stories. Tragic & heartbreaking...On a personal level it stirred up a lot of emotions in me since I have both a sister & a daughter who are adopted.

For the #augustphotochallenge on #politicsandbooks I'm highlighting two books that shaped my thoughts on abortion rights. I return to PRO again & again as I think about how to argue for abortion rights. It has stayed with me. The Girls Who Went Away tells the stories of unwed mothers forced to surrender their babies for adoptions before Roe. It's a heart-wrenching and largely untold part of the pre-Roe story. #augustofpages