Sold on a Monday

Author/Guide: Kristina McMorris

Why a Booktrail?

1930s: Inspired by an actual newspaper photo of children for sale

ISBN: 978-1492663997
Genre: Fiction, Inspired by true events

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What you need to know before your trail

The scrawled sign, peddling young siblings on a farmhouse porch, captures the desperation sweeping the country in 1931. It’s an era of breadlines, bank runs, and 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 the image leads to his big break, the consequences are devastating in ways he never imagined.

Haunted by secrets of her own, secretary Lillian Palmer sees more in the picture than a good story and is soon drawn into the fray. Together, the two set out to right a wrongdoing and mend a fractured family, at the risk of everything they value.

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Travel Guide

Philadelphia

This story was inspired by a very real photograph the author found in a newspaper of 4 siblings huddled on the steps of an apartment building in Chicago. Their mother is seen in the background shielding her face. The photo so shocked the author that she bookmarked the page and that image stayed with her, not to mention the story behind it. She wanted to know more about why a mother would be pushed to an act of such desperation.

The Depression which brought America to its knees in 1930s had its effects felt in many ways.

The 1930s is nicely evoked with the newspaper of the times and their reporters with their suits and oversized cameras. The job of having to write the so called “women’s pages”, and the overriding desire to get the story first. One story stands out during this time and is evoked in the novel – that of the infamous Flying Dutchman speakeasy which was a secret club. A newspaper ran the story complete with map and x marks the spot. The police investigated only to find it was a hoax.

Philadelphia comes to bustling life with its supper clubs, gambling halls and mobsters. There’s pushcart peddlers, newspaper headlines being shouted down the streets at passing customers. These headlines the author explains are often based on true stories of the time.

Booktrailer Review

Susan: @thebooktrailer

When I found out this novel was inspired by a photograph of children for sale, to say I was intrigued is an understatement. See that picture now and we’d probably wonder if it were fake, but then, there was hardship and a Depression and the newsrooms were buzzing with all kinds of tales.

I love what the author has done with this story. Taken the essence of that photograph and brought it back to life, not to mention the story of the children and mother in that picture. Recreating 1930s Philadelphia has been done really well so you feel the chaos of the newsrooms, the boy reporters in their suits and trilby hats chasing the next big story. The shouts of ‘read all about it’ etc. Very atmospheric and really evocative.

The novel examines a lot of things about what we see and read, how life was back during the Depression and how a photograph really can speak a thousand words. I was thoroughly intrigued throughout and to enter this time and place, to spend time on such a fascinating and compelling case was a treat. The author note puts lovely finishing touch on the reasons for writing the book but don’t read this until you’ve soaked up the story for yourself.

Read all about it! Sold on a Monday is one compelling read.