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The Suitcases by Anne Hall Whitt
This is the story of three orphaned sisters, begun in 1936 during the Great Depression in the a story of family and love and loss and survival.
Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1982
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 8, 2014
I will admit to being biased. The author is my great aunt. Her sister, Betty, was my grandmother who sadly passed away recently. I read this book years ago and then picked it up again shortly after my grandmother's funeral. This story of three depression era sisters is honest and incredibly touching. Anne chronicles their abandonment, fear, and struggles as they move through the North Carolina child welfare system during one of America's darkest hours. I laughed and cried my way through the story and rejoiced when they found love with the Nyes. I have a renewed respect and love for my dear Nanny, as I knew Betty, and my great aunts, Anne and Carolyn.
October 27, 2014
A beautiful true-life account of foster care in the south in the latter half of the 20th century. It just shows you how precarious these children's situations can be, how scary that experience can be, and yet the huge impact that kindness and care can have on the whole course of a life. Unfortunately something not many of us spend much time thinking about. Book can be hard to find, but worth reading (or I'll loan you my copy!).
March 23, 2012
Memoir of a basically orphaned treesome of sisters They move from orphanage to numerous foster homes before they find a loving family with the stability and love capacity to adopt three girls. Not exceptionally well written, but touching nevertheless with the honest retelling and resiliency of the girls. Ranked more for the story rather than the style. I commend anyone who will spend the time and effort to tell his/her life.
December 11, 2019
"I had truly seen kings and queens, I had met with the elite, I had danced at the White House. But all those triumphs paled at the sight of my mother and father, waving to welcome me home. My heart was filled with thanksgiving for these two people, who had taken my life of nothing and made it into everything."
November 28, 2010
This author knew how to write. Everything in the book was open, honest, and in a logical order. Her memory served her well. Such a good truthful book about what it was like to grow up in the foster care system at that time. These girls were so lucky to find the family that they did. A very touching look at childhood, both the good and the bad. Highly Recommended!
August 2, 2012
This is not an excellent piece of writing by literary standards. It is however a great reflection on real life in the region. The content is real and verifiable. It gives readers a look in to lives that are probably totally unknown to them. It also shows students that anyone can write his/her own story.
September 16, 2011
I picked this book up at a garage sale because it looked interesting. I had no idea what a gem it would turn out to be! Poignant is the word so many have used to describe it; I would add honest, vulnerable, and inspiring. I was totally captivated by the little girl, Anne, and her life story.
September 11, 2016
I had read this book before but as we are about to become foster parents I dug it out to read again. A most moving story of the strength these 3 girls had to not give up no matter how bad their lives were twisted back and forth. I was especially moved that the author had such a hard time at school whenever a teacher compared her to her older sister... since I had an older brother and 3 older sisters, I went through the same problem in elementary school. I even had a couple teachers who remembered our dad and uncles; it wasn't easy to avoid the labels that were pasted on me from their memories of other relatives.
I am glad that things turned out well for these three girls in the end; and I hope that I can be of help to the future children we may take in.
I am glad that things turned out well for these three girls in the end; and I hope that I can be of help to the future children we may take in.
August 11, 2017
This was such a sweet story and it touched my heart so much. My heart goes out to orphaned children who have had to endure so much uncertainty in their lives. I grew up being the youngest of three sisters and I had the best mom and dad ever. I always felt stable and assured. I'm so glad these three sisters were able to stay together and rely on each other through the rough times and thank goodness the Nye's finally gave them a sense of certainty. I wish I could reach out to Ms. Whitt and tell her how much I loved her book but I just realized that she passed away in the 90's.
July 27, 2009
Thisis aheart moving real story. A person with aheart cannot read continuously as your eyes fill with tears and blurr the letters. It is a biography + novel. Written with remarkable talent. Some phrases in the book will linger in your mind life time & give you corrage to face your own problems. Everyone , young & old should read this book.
Lanka Siriwardana
February 22, 2013
I felt this book came straight from the heart. She had a horrible life to which she grew strong and tolerate of others. So many chances for others to be a good influence in her and her sisters lives and so many dashed hopes.
March 17, 2013
A sweet and moving story about three children as they are bounced around from orphanages and foster homes to finally be adopted. It is told by Anne, the middle child. I found it a lovely tale of how much an adult can have on a child's life.
May 12, 2014
This is a touching memoir on foster care and adoption, which would be good for any teenager up to adult ages. It shows a beautiful end to a challenging journey for one young woman through the "system" and how she finally found acceptance and made peace with her abandonment.
May 22, 2014
Beautiful poignant memoir. I loved this story from beginning to end. I knew one of the three sisters, she entered our family through marriage. She passed away yesterday and will be missed so much by our family. We are blessed to have known Carol.
November 8, 2015
Certainly an incredible story. The book not only tells an inspiring story, it spreads awareness. Crossnore School is continuing to address the need today. I visited their campus earlier this year and saw many miracles in progress.
October 9, 2012
I have read this a million times. As a girl, I loved stories about orphans for some reason, and this was my favorite one. You will love it too!
October 8, 2008
A very touching book about a girl growing up in the foster care system. I read this book quite a few years ago and I'd like to read it again soon.
March 6, 2010
This is a first hand look into growing up tough in the southern depression. So many sad moments, especially toward the end. But shows the strength in family & sisterhood during hard times.
March 21, 2010
I love this book because of the truth in it and that it takes place about an hour from where I live!
August 8, 2010
A quick read, but good story. I finished it in a weekend at the cabin. The book is out of print, so if you find a copy, pick it up!
December 10, 2013
Honest look at foster care during Depression from someone who experienced it firsthand. Appropriate for any age to read.
January 23, 2014
Beautiful story.......
February 25, 2014
Loved every single page! Beautiful story!
August 30, 2015
Very well written book about 3 little girls in the foster care during the later 30's. Foster care sure wasn't what it is today.
July 19, 2019
This is a great memoir of three little girls who were shuttled from One Foster home to another. It’s how they persevered and times of adversity and how in the end their dreams get answered.
October 3, 2019
Well written. Full of strength, wisdom and lots of sorrow. I found I could only read this book in bits, allowing the intensity of the story to ebb away between reading sessions.
January 22, 2021
It's a sweet story about a child's resilience in encountering the foster-care system and a "boarding school" in Avery County, North Carolina.
Avery County is "home" to me although I haven't lived there since 1983.
Even though I lived there almost 50 years after the time of this author's experiences, her description of the staff and residents of Crossnore Children's Home, the village of Crossnore, the people of Crossnore (many of whom are my extended family), Drs. Sloop, and Avery County . . . all are a accurate and as good as they can be.
Grateful to Anne Hall Whitt for documenting her journey and that of her father and sisters.
And, grateful to be reminded of the goodness that my mother was wrapped in as a child in Avery County by her parents and the people that lived there; it prepared her well to grow into a vibrant, joy-filled, and generous mother and wife.
Avery County is "home" to me although I haven't lived there since 1983.
Even though I lived there almost 50 years after the time of this author's experiences, her description of the staff and residents of Crossnore Children's Home, the village of Crossnore, the people of Crossnore (many of whom are my extended family), Drs. Sloop, and Avery County . . . all are a accurate and as good as they can be.
Grateful to Anne Hall Whitt for documenting her journey and that of her father and sisters.
And, grateful to be reminded of the goodness that my mother was wrapped in as a child in Avery County by her parents and the people that lived there; it prepared her well to grow into a vibrant, joy-filled, and generous mother and wife.
April 18, 2021
This is a non-fiction memoir about three orphan sisters who finally find a foster home in the South during the Depression. It’s never going to be made into a Hallmark movie, as might Before We Were Yours, with its tricky magic plot but, as someone who raised a foster daughter as my own, I appreciate its simplicity and honesty— especially as the little girl author and her very patient foster mother dance around each other while they get to know each other.
April 3, 2023
4.5 stars
This non-fiction account of Anne Hall Whitt's is heartbreaking and then redemptive. She and her two sisters lose their mother early in life, and her father and his extended family give them up to an orphanage. Then they go through a few placements before finding a real family that gives each of the girls what she needs.
Fabulous!
This non-fiction account of Anne Hall Whitt's is heartbreaking and then redemptive. She and her two sisters lose their mother early in life, and her father and his extended family give them up to an orphanage. Then they go through a few placements before finding a real family that gives each of the girls what she needs.
Fabulous!
April 12, 2020
A wonderful quick read. It was very well written. Very sad in parts but made me appreciate my childhood. The cruelty people show towards children will never cease to amaze me. Throughly enjoyed!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews