Book Summary and Reviews of The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman

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Elizabeth

Elizabeth@Silver'sReviews - A MUST read
Lena made the awful boat trip from Germany to the United States for a better life for her family and especially her daughter.

When she arrived, she realized it wasn’t that much better.

She arrived in the 1930’s during a time when eugenics was a prime topic, and her brother who couldn’t speak English was sent back because they said he was feeble minded.

Her sponsor who is a distant cousin lived in the mountains in Virginia with two children who always had to hide when the authorities arrived.

A social worker arrived one day and accused Lena of being promiscuous because she is living with her cousin and says that she is an unfit mother to her daughter.

The unthinkable happens and Lena‘s worst nightmare comes true.

THE LIES THEY TOLD is heartbreaking and upsetting and a piece of history that I really wasn’t aware of how widespread it was and how other countries adopted this.

An excellent read and history lesson. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Nancy Z

The Lies They Told
This was a page turner. I never realized how poorly immigrants were treated on Ellis Island. Such horrible conditions - it reminded me of the Jews during the Holocaust. I also didn’t realize that eugenics was a part of our country. I loved how strong Lena became and how fiercely she protected her daughter, Ella. Lena even softens Silas, the man who took her in. It’s wild that this narrative occurred less than 100 years ago. For me, this was a page turner even though parts of it were difficult to read. The author, Ellen Marie Wiseman, lives only a couple hours from me. I have been to two of her book launches, including this book. She is a fabulous writer and I look forward to reading future novels written by her.

jillg

The Lies They Told Us
By Ellen Marie Wiseman
Narrated by Elizabeth Rodgers

How one young woman’s dream of a better life in America is shattered by eugenics…

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia, and Kensington Publishing for both the audio and ebook, which I paired during my reading.

This historical fiction novel is set in the 1930s and follows Lena Conti, a young immigrant who has just arrived from Germany with her two-year-old daughter. After witnessing families being forcibly separated on Ellis Island, Lena finds herself in rural Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, caring for the home and children of a distant relative, Silas Wolfe. But what she and the townspeople face there is unthinkable—a chilling and dark chapter in American history.

I thought the author portrayed the emotional turmoil of the characters in rich, vivid detail. The story touches on trauma, grief, and resilience. Lena, in particular, is portrayed with depth—compelling, and deeply human. The blend of historical fiction with suspenseful drama is done exceptionally well.

Elizabeth Rodgers’ narration was also excellent—she brought the characters to life with emotion and nuance, capturing both their strength and vulnerability in a way that deepened the impact of the story.

This is my sixth book by Ellen Marie Wiseman, and I continue to be impressed by her ability to bring history to life. I look forward to reading more of her work.

The American eugenics movement, which plays a central role in this novel, is shocking and disturbing. The U.S. was the first country to implement forced sterilization, and many of its ideas were later adopted by the Nazi regime. We all know what happened in the Nazi regime in Germany. The author’s note provides even more astonishing historical context. It’s well worth reading. A powerful book club choice—there’s so much to discuss, especially the disturbing role eugenics played in our country’s past.