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Lost and Found
On Christmas Eve, 1930, in America's dust bowl, a young woman delivers her baby alone. Plain, warmhearted Martha Drusso takes the downy-haired infant she names Belle to raise as her own, along with another orphan in her care, a little boy named R.C.
But when Belle is three, her stepbrother mistakenly puts her on a train bound for Los Angeles, then leaves to get her a treat. The train takes off, and Belle is pitched into a child's worst nightmare: a series of orphanages and foster homes. When she is adopted into a loving Japanese-American family, it seems Belle's troubles are over -- until World War II breaks out. Never defeated, Belle is adopted again, and her beautiful singing voice ultimately leads her to Hollywood, and to love and marriage.
All the while, Martha and R.C. steadfastly continue to search for Belle. For thirty years they believe that the persistence of their hearts will bring their little family together again . . . .
"The power and integrity of Harris's prose turn this novel into something valuable." -- Atlanta Journal & Constitution
But when Belle is three, her stepbrother mistakenly puts her on a train bound for Los Angeles, then leaves to get her a treat. The train takes off, and Belle is pitched into a child's worst nightmare: a series of orphanages and foster homes. When she is adopted into a loving Japanese-American family, it seems Belle's troubles are over -- until World War II breaks out. Never defeated, Belle is adopted again, and her beautiful singing voice ultimately leads her to Hollywood, and to love and marriage.
All the while, Martha and R.C. steadfastly continue to search for Belle. For thirty years they believe that the persistence of their hearts will bring their little family together again . . . .
"The power and integrity of Harris's prose turn this novel into something valuable." -- Atlanta Journal & Constitution
434 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
4 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Marilyn Harris
41 books81 followersHarris was born on June 4, 1931, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of John P., an oil executive, and Dora (nee Veal) Harris. Harris was educated in her home state, attending Cottey College from 1945 to 1951, then transferring to the University of Oklahoma, from which she received a bachelor of arts degree in 1953 and a master of arts degree in 1955.
Harris's first collection of short stories, King's Ex, was published by Doubleday in 1967. After that Harris proved a prolific author, publishing seventeen books, including novels, short stories, romance/ historical fiction and children's fiction in a twenty-year period from 1970 to 1989. These works, in addition to those listed above, include In the Midst of Earth (1969), The Peppersalt Land (1970), The Runaway's Diary (1971), The Conjurers (1974), Bledding Sorrow (1976), The Portent (1980), The Last Great Love (1981), Warrick (1985), Night Games (1987), and Lost and Found (1991). Harris's work has received a wide readership; in 1983, nine million of her books were in print, and her work has been translated into many languages, including French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Japanese. She has also been an author in residence at Oklahoma's Central State University.
She died January 18, 2002.
Harris's first collection of short stories, King's Ex, was published by Doubleday in 1967. After that Harris proved a prolific author, publishing seventeen books, including novels, short stories, romance/ historical fiction and children's fiction in a twenty-year period from 1970 to 1989. These works, in addition to those listed above, include In the Midst of Earth (1969), The Peppersalt Land (1970), The Runaway's Diary (1971), The Conjurers (1974), Bledding Sorrow (1976), The Portent (1980), The Last Great Love (1981), Warrick (1985), Night Games (1987), and Lost and Found (1991). Harris's work has received a wide readership; in 1983, nine million of her books were in print, and her work has been translated into many languages, including French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and Japanese. She has also been an author in residence at Oklahoma's Central State University.
She died January 18, 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 12, 2008
I absolutely LOVED this book and read it in two days. It is a very touching story and my whole family was laughing at me because several times I just burst out crying! Beautiful.
September 28, 2014
This book is a contender for the worse book I read in 2014. Stunningly beautiful, blond-haired, blue-eyed Bell who has the singing voice of an angel, an off-the-charts intelligence and a sunny disposition so brilliant that it dims the sun, is separated from her mother and brother at the age of three in a crowded train station. Over the next three decades, her life rockets from Salvation Army cot to an opulent estate that defies imagining, adored by all who encounter her sweetness and charm. Meanwhile, the ever-searching brother and mother serve the hungry, homeless and orphaned with a generosity and joy that would make Mother Theresa look like Scrooge. This story is saccharin and trite, the characters unrealistic, the writing below mediocre.
February 26, 2017
Beautiful Book.
Honestly, the intellectual side of me wanted to say "no way", wanted to be superior and snotty about the trite and unrealistic fairytale in a Forrest Gump way, parts of the book. But then, the reader in me kicked in, and just let the book flow. And flow it did. Through good, and bad, and horrible, humanity in all its forms. But the theme throughout was the constant and absolute goodness of the main characters. I'm a reader, not a writer, so descriptions come hard to me. I'll just say, this is one of the best reads I've had in a long time.
Highest recommendation.
Honestly, the intellectual side of me wanted to say "no way", wanted to be superior and snotty about the trite and unrealistic fairytale in a Forrest Gump way, parts of the book. But then, the reader in me kicked in, and just let the book flow. And flow it did. Through good, and bad, and horrible, humanity in all its forms. But the theme throughout was the constant and absolute goodness of the main characters. I'm a reader, not a writer, so descriptions come hard to me. I'll just say, this is one of the best reads I've had in a long time.
Highest recommendation.
January 15, 2010
Picked up this book ramdomly and LOVED it from the beginning! Couldn't put it down.
Read
May 4, 2024DNF
May 2, 2022
On Christmas Eve, 1930, in America's dust bowl, a young woman delivers her baby alone. Plain, warmhearted Martha Drusso takes the downy-haired infant she names Belle to raise as her own, along with another orphan in her care, a little boy named R.C.
But when Belle is three, her stepbrother mistakenly puts her on a train bound for Los Angeles, then leaves to get her a treat. The train takes off, and Belle is pitched into a child's worst nightmare: a series of orphanages and foster homes. When she is adopted into a loving Japanese-American family, it seems Belle's troubles are over -- until World War II breaks out. Never defeated, Belle is adopted again, and her beautiful singing voice ultimately leads her to Hollywood, and to love and marriage.
All the while, Martha and R.C. steadfastly continue to search for Belle. For thirty years they believe that the persistence of their hearts will bring their little family together again . . . .
But when Belle is three, her stepbrother mistakenly puts her on a train bound for Los Angeles, then leaves to get her a treat. The train takes off, and Belle is pitched into a child's worst nightmare: a series of orphanages and foster homes. When she is adopted into a loving Japanese-American family, it seems Belle's troubles are over -- until World War II breaks out. Never defeated, Belle is adopted again, and her beautiful singing voice ultimately leads her to Hollywood, and to love and marriage.
All the while, Martha and R.C. steadfastly continue to search for Belle. For thirty years they believe that the persistence of their hearts will bring their little family together again . . . .
April 8, 2015
Good writing... I just lost interest and did not finish the book.
***Update***... so nearly 3 years later I finished this book. The book reads like a movie! Okay - maybe not a movie... because it would be really really long. Maybe a mini series that was put together really well!
I love this book! I finished it on vacation and it had me laughing out loud at the beach and holding back tears on the airplane. I am updating from a 4 star rating to a 5.
If you enjoyed the movies Fried Green Tomatoes, The Help, and other historical films that take place in the 30's, 40's and 50's, you'll enjoy this book! It has a little bit of everything!
POV from the poor, from the rich, soldiers at war and some people who never give up. Give it a read! I loooooved it!
***Update***... so nearly 3 years later I finished this book. The book reads like a movie! Okay - maybe not a movie... because it would be really really long. Maybe a mini series that was put together really well!
I love this book! I finished it on vacation and it had me laughing out loud at the beach and holding back tears on the airplane. I am updating from a 4 star rating to a 5.
If you enjoyed the movies Fried Green Tomatoes, The Help, and other historical films that take place in the 30's, 40's and 50's, you'll enjoy this book! It has a little bit of everything!
POV from the poor, from the rich, soldiers at war and some people who never give up. Give it a read! I loooooved it!
May 13, 2011
A three-year-old child is put on a train and told to stay there, while her 7-year old brother goes to get something for them to eat. When he gets back, he is horrified to find that the train has left the station, and that it is the wrong one! For the next thirty years, he and his 'mother' search for her. Meanwhile we follow her life through various foster homes and orphanages, the Japanese internment, and World War II. This is an absorbing book, well worth reading.
March 3, 2012
I have had this book on my fav books bookshelf for about 20-25 years....and have picked it up and re-read it numerous times. Every time, you just cannot put it down until you are done.
May 19, 2025
The book has a lot going for it. An intriguing plot, some interesting characters, and the background of a changing America.
Martha and R. C. are especially appealing. Their lives are often hard, but they manage to overcome adversity and carry on. They enjoy what they have, yet always in the background is Belle, the lost child.
Unfortunately, that’s where things go off the rails. Belle is too perfect. She’s beautiful, and has a voice like an angel. She’s brilliant, but her naivety, which I suppose is supposed to show the pureness of her heart, can be a bit much sometimes. She overlooks, and I guess the reader is supposed to, too, the manipulative and insensitive nature of her boyfriend’s father. What would happen next was pretty obvious. And kind of creepy.
I think the book could have done without the last ten years. At that point the story started to get redundant, as they almost find each other, their paths almost crossing.
The ending left me wondering if there was going to be more to Belle and R.C.’s relationship. Not sure how I would have felt about that.
Martha and R. C. are especially appealing. Their lives are often hard, but they manage to overcome adversity and carry on. They enjoy what they have, yet always in the background is Belle, the lost child.
Unfortunately, that’s where things go off the rails. Belle is too perfect. She’s beautiful, and has a voice like an angel. She’s brilliant, but her naivety, which I suppose is supposed to show the pureness of her heart, can be a bit much sometimes. She overlooks, and I guess the reader is supposed to, too, the manipulative and insensitive nature of her boyfriend’s father. What would happen next was pretty obvious. And kind of creepy.
I think the book could have done without the last ten years. At that point the story started to get redundant, as they almost find each other, their paths almost crossing.
The ending left me wondering if there was going to be more to Belle and R.C.’s relationship. Not sure how I would have felt about that.
August 14, 2022
I love this book so much. It would be a wonderful movie.
December 8, 2022
You shouldn’t be allowed to write a summary for a book’s jacket unless you’ve read the book.
February 21, 2024
Vernacular is off
If you can get past the first 70 pages, it's very good! One lull, a little frustrating at times, but very good!
If you can get past the first 70 pages, it's very good! One lull, a little frustrating at times, but very good!
March 28, 2024
This is my all time favorite book and I can read it over and over!
July 27, 2024
This old book written in 1991 was in a pile given to me. I am glad I picked it up, found it held my interest, enjoyed every minute of it.
June 21, 2025
What an enjoyable story! The circumstances are very believable…a little predictable but worth the read💖
December 30, 2025
Favorite book. Picked it up at the library on a whim and fell in love. Intense and beautiful story
June 6, 2013
The book lost and found is about a mother named Martha who adopted two children. One day her mother was sick and she had to go. R.C and scout left for the train station because they were scared. R.C left mistakenly put Belle on the wrong train and now both Martha and R.C are looking for Belle. I liked this book because it had a lot of suspense in it. Every time that I read it I couldn’t put it down. This story was really descriptive and it was easy to apply my five senses to this book. I liked how one little mistake could lead to your life being drastically changed.
I liked how this book easily transitioned everything so smoothly and how the dates to the events happening went exactly into place. My Favorite quote from this book is “you were trying to do what you thought was best. That’s all. No one, not even God, can fault us for that.” I liked this quote because it told me to do what I think is best even when it does not seem right at the time. Overall this book was a good read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic-fiction books.
I liked how this book easily transitioned everything so smoothly and how the dates to the events happening went exactly into place. My Favorite quote from this book is “you were trying to do what you thought was best. That’s all. No one, not even God, can fault us for that.” I liked this quote because it told me to do what I think is best even when it does not seem right at the time. Overall this book was a good read and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic-fiction books.
November 18, 2012
OH my!!! Such a brilliant read. I picked this up simply as a quick easy read whihc i wouldnt need to really focus on!
I certainly didnt feel the need to focus on this because the book completely captured me!
This read is so compelling, spellbinding and well amazing! I found the characters not only believable but inspirational. Martha of course was my favourite, but i'm sure everyone favoured her. Belles story was a heartbreaking one which left me at times with a teary eye and at other times made me feel extremely sick to my stomach.
This is going be recommended to as may as i can get to read this.
The front cover simply doesnt do this book any favours for those like me who judge most books by thier cover first.
I certainly didnt feel the need to focus on this because the book completely captured me!
This read is so compelling, spellbinding and well amazing! I found the characters not only believable but inspirational. Martha of course was my favourite, but i'm sure everyone favoured her. Belles story was a heartbreaking one which left me at times with a teary eye and at other times made me feel extremely sick to my stomach.
This is going be recommended to as may as i can get to read this.
The front cover simply doesnt do this book any favours for those like me who judge most books by thier cover first.
January 22, 2016
I'm pretty sure this is a book that Goodreads recommended to me because none of my friends have read it. I was intrigued with the story of a young boy who put his half sister, three year old Belle, on a train and ran off to get her something to eat, returning to find the train and Belle gone. The story begins in 1930 with the birth of Belle and carries you through to the 1960's. It is well told and keeps the reader involved at every turn.
The author brings in historical moments along the way adding to the interest as the characters become involved. The race riots in Watts draw a direct parallel to what we sadly see still happening today.
This book is about love, dedication and determination. It is about sharing and compassion and best of all karma, reaping what you sew.
The author brings in historical moments along the way adding to the interest as the characters become involved. The race riots in Watts draw a direct parallel to what we sadly see still happening today.
This book is about love, dedication and determination. It is about sharing and compassion and best of all karma, reaping what you sew.
June 5, 2025
I read this as a teen and I remember absolutely loving it.
August 27, 2015
3.5 stars. I go attached to the characters, and I felt as though the book concluded in a satisfying way. I was sometimes annoyed how Bella's age didn't match the dates, but that was minor. I liked reading about Martha's life and RC's determination to find Belle. Cy was not my favourite character, but it was an interesting storyline. An overall good read.
June 21, 2008
This book tapped into the little girl within me that has yet to grow up. Dreams of rags to riches stories but yet how life still has it's pain and pleasure surrounding love, regardless of how your finances are.
December 15, 2011
4.5/5
There are lots of things that aren't perfect about this book. Belle is a bit Mary Sue, the book manages to touch on lots of the major events from the 1930s-1960s and sometimes the characters are shoe horned in on historical events but...
oh my goodness what a fun read!
There are lots of things that aren't perfect about this book. Belle is a bit Mary Sue, the book manages to touch on lots of the major events from the 1930s-1960s and sometimes the characters are shoe horned in on historical events but...
oh my goodness what a fun read!
Read
August 14, 2008This is one of my all time favorite books. It is a fantastic book full of mystery and it really keeps you wondering. Very good!
August 3, 2009
This is one of the best books I've ever read. They don't have any others of hers at my local library, and would consider buying any I find.
September 8, 2009
Really nice book, well written, tht shows how life can change your paths due to a simple mistake.
November 11, 2009
excellent
April 25, 2010
Excellent semi-surprise ending to this book.
August 14, 2010
Excellent good read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews