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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Happens When You Explore the Ugly Side of “Adoption?”

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

With a punch that packs a wallop, Liz Tolsma shows us the not-so-lovely side of adoption in "The Pink Bonnet," a story of the Tennessee Children's Home Society. via @chautonahavig

Cars zipped in and out of lanes with not much more than a person’s width to keep them from crunching. It took five minutes to move from the parking structure of Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. And we hadn’t even touched rush hour traffic yet.

Yay.

She’d flown in from Wisconsin. Or should I say, Wis-CAHN-sin? Ready to teach at the SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference. Liz Tolsma.

I’d read a book of hers—was halfway through another. I had questions. She answered. And then she began telling me her story—not “one of her stories,” but hers.

After the “how she met her husband” one, Liz started talking about her kids. She’s a mom. It’s what moms do.

They’d adopted three children and sponsored another for years. The pride in which she told of the privilege of raising these children for God’s glory shone in every word. Her son the Marine. Her daughter—the one headed off to college. Their other daughter—the one who would never leave the nest and make her own way in the world. No, their youngest would be their “little girl” always.

In her story, I saw the beauty and the heartache that comes with adoption. It’s messy, messy stuff. And, like our adoption into the Lord’s family, it’s beautiful, too.

Six months passed.

While on those trips back and forth from LAX to Biola for last year’s conference, she’d mentioned writing a book—The Pink Bonnet. I didn’t quite know what it was about, but I knew I’d read it. Honestly, I thought it would be some prairie or Victorian story. After all, she’d mentioned historical in there somewhere.

But then I read a book—The White City, by Grace Hitchcock. Not long afterward, the opportunity to read the next in that series, The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma appeared. So that was what she was talking about. The Tennessee Children’s Home Society lady who kidnapped and sold children under the guise of “adoption?” Liz had written that book?

I think the Google form I filled out to request a copy is still sizzling from the speed with which I did that.

Who could do a better job of bringing this story to light than a woman who is as passionate about adoption as Liz is? Before I start the review, I want to say one thing. Liz Tolsma is a compassionate, sensitive woman. I can’t imagine the pain she must have felt writing this book. Myself, I’m rather unemotional and callous, and I guarantee it would have torn at me. I just want to thank her now for braving the ugly to show the beautiful.

What Happens When You Explore the Ugly Side of "Adoption? The Pink Bonnet Review”

Note: links are likely affiliate links that provide me a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested a review copy of this book–opinions are given freely without compulsion (who ever had to compel me to share an opinion, right?)

What Happens When You Explore the Ugly Side of “Adoption?”

Written with careful attention to historical detail, The Pink Bonnet does more than chronicle a young mother’s desperate search for her child. It also shows a subtle picture of God’s relentless pursuit of His own children, ready to rescue each one from Satan’s clutches.

If it sounds cruel to compare Georgia Tann to Satan, well… you’ve got to read the book.

Lord Acton’s words about absolute power corrupting absolutely shows in the way Tolsma portrays the director of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. I believe in any other book written by any other author about any other person, the portrayal would have been over the top. Instead, Tolsma made me believe that I was watching the events play out on the screen.

Not going to lie. There were times I wanted to shake, smack, and otherwise do violent things to different characters. At first, I took that as a problem with Ms. Tolsma’s writing.

But I don’t think it is. I think her writing did exactly what it was supposed to. Since when does a panicked mother ever behave in logical, rational ways when the safety—rather, the life of her child—is at stake? That would have been unrealistic.

Look, I tend to be rather unruffleable. I just move along and do the next thing. Fix it. I’m a fixer. But when an airline moved my minor child to another airline that no one at LAX had ever heard of, you’d better believe I “ruffled.”

Sure, if you want to get nit-picky, there are tiny things. A couple of small anachronisms that most likely wouldn’t notice et cetera. But frankly, I didn’t even care.

From page one of The Pink Bonnet, I wanted Georgia Tann to get her comeuppance. I knew she wouldn’t—not really. I knew how her story ended and it was long after this book. Choosing this year instead of one closer to the end of the Memphis horrors? Brilliant. Leaving it open-ended like that only added to the suspense. And I think that’s pretty cool.

Who would like this book?

Lovers of suspense. Seriously, I think Liz Tolsma mentioned somewhere that this was her first suspense novel. It should not be her last. She managed to capture the momentum and keep it rolling. She got that “snowball” effect started and it crashed at the end of the book with a terrific bang. Well done.

Those who love spiritual truths woven into the story with subtlety and grace will love this. There were no deep theological discussions. You didn’t run across grandiose, spiritual epiphanies. Instead, the realistic clinging to prayer and the dual storyline layered over and under the main story—one of God’s care and provision, even in the dark ugliness of this world—proved rich and true.

Who might not care for it?

If you like your spiritual content overt and strong, you may not be satisfied.

Additionally, if emotional declarations of undying love aren’t your jam, be aware. There’s one near the end. It’s actually my only quibble, and not just because I’m not a big fan of sappy romance. Something about it felt forced—too clean and precise. As if the character read his lines from a playbook instead of speaking them from his heart.

Seriously, though. We’re talking half a page at most. And it’s probably just me. I really liked The Pink Bonnet—almost loved it. I’ll be rereading it as soon as possible because I wonder if I wouldn’t have absolutely loved it if I hadn’t been interrupted so many times while reading it.

If so, I’ll be adjusting my review then. Meanwhile, I recommend it for anyone who loves suspense and can handle the reality of ugliness perpetrated on children and innocent families. The scenes aren’t graphic, but they are realistic and don’t shy away from the horrors inflicted on Memphis during these years.

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Comments

  1. Kathy Jacob says

    June 25, 2019 at 11:12 am

    Sounds like a good book.

    Reply
  2. Florence Wright says

    June 25, 2019 at 8:23 am

    Wow, that sounds like something I might “enjoy?” reading … I think you know what I mean. But if the villain doesn’t get their comeuppance in the end …. I don’t know. I hate that feeling of the bad “guy” not having to pay. Is she going to tell the whole story?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      June 25, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      This is “True Crime.” The true story is that the woman who did all this died before anything was done about it.

      Reply
      • Florence Wright says

        June 25, 2019 at 5:03 pm

        Ugh!!! Were the little ones recovered to their rightful families? Or is that coming up in the series?

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          June 25, 2019 at 6:56 pm

          No, most children were never returned to their families. This isn’t Liz’ series. It’s a series on True Crime events in America’s history. The first book was about the horrible hotel in Chicago during the world’s fair where the “first serial killer” in the US lured people to their deaths. That author did a FABULOUS job showing a horrible thing but so far removed from it that you don’t see the horror at all. You just know it happened and saw someone do her bit to stop it.

          Reply
  3. Emma says

    June 25, 2019 at 2:15 am

    I just read this book. It’s one of the few that I’ve stayed up late reading in several years. I would say I loved the book–but I can’t love the story behind it! The writing is great, and it was certainly suspenseful. I didn’t know exactly how the story would turn out till near the end–and I like that!

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 161: A Chat with Christian Women's Fiction Robin W. Pearson
byChautona Havig

Nothing says good, Southern women’s fiction like a feisty granny or a family secret, and Robin W. Pearson’s got you covered on both fronts. Stir in a pot of faith, and well… you’re bound to find a story you’ll never forget. And isn’t that a blessing? Award-winning, bestselling, and aspiring yodler on the other side of the Rockies, Robin writes stories of faith, family, and it sounds like some seriously delicious food.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What’s Better Than a Great Women’s Fiction Novel on a Summer’s Day?

New-to-me (or she was!) women’s fiction author, Robin W. Pearson writes God-centered, family-focused fiction. Robin is a delightful homeschooling mom of seven and if that wasn’t job enough, her debut novel won a Christy award! I mean, that takes some serious skills! Not to mention, it has a killer kick-off synopsis on Amazon. I was hooked from the first paragraph.

Robin says she wants people to see love in her books–how to love well even when we don’t know how. How to see each other as God does.  I think that sounds pretty amazing.

Her debut novel, A Long Time Coming, is more than just a great-sounding book, it really deals with family issues and I’ll just say I fell in love with the narrator of the audio.

The next book, Till I Want No More, rips your heart out with the synopsis, stomps on it, and says, “There. Now what’ll you do about that?  Well, I don’t know what I’ll do, other than read it of course!

And her latest novel?  Oh, my gravy. It released just last week and it’s amazing.  Well, the part I’ve read already is. Walking in Tall Weeds promises to keep your heart on tenterhooks as it takes you through a family’s pain and trauma.  And what more could you want?

Walking in Tall Weeds by Robin W. Pearson

From award-winning author Robin W. Pearson comes a new Southern family drama about one family who discovers their history is only skin-deep and that God’s love is the only family tie that binds.

Paulette and Fred Baldwin find themselves wading through a new season of life in Hickory Grove, North Carolina. Their only son, McKinley, now works hundreds of miles away, and the distance between the husband and wife feels even farther. When their son returns home, his visit dredges up even more conflict between Fred and Paulette.

McKinley makes it no secret that he doesn’t intend to follow in his father’s footsteps at George & Company Fine Furnishings or otherwise. Fred can’t quite bring himself to accept all his son’s choices, yet Paulette is determined McKinley will want for nothing, least of all a mother’s love and attention—which her own skin color cost her as a child. But all her striving leaves Fred on the outside looking in.

Paulette suspects McKinley and Fred are hiding something that could change the whole family. Soon, she’s facing a whirlwind she never saw coming, and the three of them must dig deep to confront the truth. Maybe then they’ll discover that their history is only skin-deep while their faith can take them right to the heart of things.

You can learn more about Robin W. Pearson on her WEBSITE.

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Episode 161: A Chat with Christian Women's Fiction Robin W. Pearson
Episode 161: A Chat with Christian Women's Fiction Robin W. Pearson
July 26, 2022
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Episode 160: A Chat with Liz Johnson about The Last Way Home
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Episode 157: A Chat with Historical Christian Fiction Author, Lynn Austin
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Episode 154: A Chat with Romantic Suspense Author, Sami A. Abrams
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Episode 153: A Chat with Historical Author, Tracie Peterson
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Episode 152: A Chat with Contemporary Romance Author, Amy Anguish
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