Shadows in our Bones

Shadow In Our Bones

"For readers of Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours, comes a “thought-provoking and complex tale about two families, generations apart . . . based on the scandalous, true-life events that forced entire families to be institutionalized and forcibly evicted from their homes" – Kirkus Reviews

The past is never truly forgotten.

Shadows in Our Bones is based on a series of events and actual persons. The story traces how greed, societal forces, religion, eugenics and racial prejudice came together, In shameful and shocking ways, on a small, wooded island off the coast of Maine.

The atrocious events that occurred on Malaga Island and how they impacted the lives of the residents and their descendants continue to echo through the years. Their impact is felt in many ways and by many lives. The attitudes and actions of both past and present generations are explored.

In 1903, Cora Lane, vacationing with her missionary parents on nearby Horse Island, is introduced to a community on Malaga Island that the press has labeled “degenerate half-breeds.” They are of mixed race, a circumstance that promotes scorn, ridicule, and intolerance.

More than a century later, Georgia O’Brien, a college professor, is questioning the beliefs and customs of today that result in racial prejudice, disdain, and bigotry. As her mother fights for her life against cancer, Georgia and her family are challenged by secrets that upset their views concerning who they are and what they believe.

Two time periods. Two coasts. Lives intertwined and impacted forever . . .

This story was unique and interesting. The descriptions of the locations and of the main characters painted pictures in my head...which I love when reading. I enjoyed how the author blended historical events with more recent events with families generations apart. - SESCA