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The Disappeared
Inspired by the real mothers and grandmothers who spoke out against Argentina’s military dictatorship, The Disappeared is an award-winning debut about identity, family secrets, and those who endured decades of hardship to expose the truth.
In 1976 Buenos Aires, Lorena Ledesma is a housewife with dangerous secrets living under Argentina’s rising military dictatorship. When she and her husband are torn from their home by the paramilitary in the middle of the night, their two-year-old son is left behind with Lorena’s mother, Esme. There’s never any record of the arrest. Desperate to locate Lorena, Esme joins an underground group of mothers who are investigating the disappearances of their own missing children. But when they make a devastating discovery—that several of their kidnapped daughters have given birth in prison—a new kind of pursuit begins: the search for their stolen grandchildren.
Nearly three decades later, thousands of miles away, American adoptee Rachel Sprague learns she has a biological brother from another country—somewhere she has never visited. But the truth goes far deeper than the results of a DNA test, and revealing her origins will expose painful family secrets that could put Rachel’s loved ones in jeopardy.
A heart-wrenching drama that spans thirty years, The Disappeared is inspired by the true stories of the mothers and grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, an extraordinary group of women who, for more than forty-five years, have been searching for children of the “disappeared”—those captured as dissidents during Argentina’s Dirty War.
“Equally heartbreaking and uplifting, Rebecca Sanford’s The Disappeared is a testament to the enduring devotion of a mother to her children. A powerful, richly crafted debut by a gifted new voice in historical fiction.”
—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
“Written in spare yet wonderfully evocative prose, The Disappeared captures the brutal realities of a shared buried history, one that we can now never afford to forget. Rebecca J. Sanford is a gifted novelist, and I highly recommend this deeply compelling and important book.”
—Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog
“Rebecca Sanford’s novel will capture your heart and your imagination. Carefully researched and powerfully written, The Disappeared is a necessary book to help us find the hundreds of children—now women and men—who were stolen from their families in the Argentina of my own tragedy.”
—Dr. Alicia Partnoy, author of The Little School: Tales of Disappearance and Survival
In 1976 Buenos Aires, Lorena Ledesma is a housewife with dangerous secrets living under Argentina’s rising military dictatorship. When she and her husband are torn from their home by the paramilitary in the middle of the night, their two-year-old son is left behind with Lorena’s mother, Esme. There’s never any record of the arrest. Desperate to locate Lorena, Esme joins an underground group of mothers who are investigating the disappearances of their own missing children. But when they make a devastating discovery—that several of their kidnapped daughters have given birth in prison—a new kind of pursuit begins: the search for their stolen grandchildren.
Nearly three decades later, thousands of miles away, American adoptee Rachel Sprague learns she has a biological brother from another country—somewhere she has never visited. But the truth goes far deeper than the results of a DNA test, and revealing her origins will expose painful family secrets that could put Rachel’s loved ones in jeopardy.
A heart-wrenching drama that spans thirty years, The Disappeared is inspired by the true stories of the mothers and grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, an extraordinary group of women who, for more than forty-five years, have been searching for children of the “disappeared”—those captured as dissidents during Argentina’s Dirty War.
“Equally heartbreaking and uplifting, Rebecca Sanford’s The Disappeared is a testament to the enduring devotion of a mother to her children. A powerful, richly crafted debut by a gifted new voice in historical fiction.”
—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary
“Written in spare yet wonderfully evocative prose, The Disappeared captures the brutal realities of a shared buried history, one that we can now never afford to forget. Rebecca J. Sanford is a gifted novelist, and I highly recommend this deeply compelling and important book.”
—Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog
“Rebecca Sanford’s novel will capture your heart and your imagination. Carefully researched and powerfully written, The Disappeared is a necessary book to help us find the hundreds of children—now women and men—who were stolen from their families in the Argentina of my own tragedy.”
—Dr. Alicia Partnoy, author of The Little School: Tales of Disappearance and Survival
256 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2024
31 people are currently reading
11912 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca J. Sanford
1 book71 followersRebecca J. Sanford is the author of The Disappeared, recipient of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Rising Star Award. She received her MA in International Affairs from The New School in NYC. Rebecca lives in Florida with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 31, 2024
This is a fantastic historical fiction debut. I learned a lot while reading this book and found it to be so interesting and captivating. Based on true events in 1976 Buenos Aires. Lorena and her husband are torn from their home and family while living under Argentina's military dictatorship. Her two year old son is left with her mother Esme. Esme eventually joins an underground group of mothers to search for their missing children. In the process, they find out that their daughters gave birth in prison. Now they also want to find their missing grandchildren.
Three decades later, American Rachel Sprague who was adopted, searches about her past through a DNA test, and learns she has a sibling in another country, and then reveals painful secrets of her past.
This book is well written and researched. I was able to learn so much about this war that I had no idea about. The hardships these families went through are unimaginable. I highly recommend it to historical fiction fans!
Thank you Suzy approved book tours, netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Three decades later, American Rachel Sprague who was adopted, searches about her past through a DNA test, and learns she has a sibling in another country, and then reveals painful secrets of her past.
This book is well written and researched. I was able to learn so much about this war that I had no idea about. The hardships these families went through are unimaginable. I highly recommend it to historical fiction fans!
Thank you Suzy approved book tours, netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2024
I am a huge fan of debuts and this one is a great one!!! I was very interested in the story right from the beginning and tore thru the pages quickly so I could find out what happened next!!!
This is a dual timeline book and I found both timelines to be very interesting!! It is a book full of secrets, family, determination, trauma and injustice.
Argentina…late 1970s…Esme is at the home of her daughter and son in law when the military junta take Lorena and Jose from the house at night in front of of Esme and her grandson. Esme must now care for her grandson and try to find her family. She encounters other families with missing children and they band together to try to locate them. There are no records of their arrests so the police are of no help.
NY 2005.. Rachel receives a phone call during her birthday party from a woman who clams to know about her parents. She knows she is adopted but does not want to talk about it and how is she connected to the 1970s in Argentina.
This one comes out on 7/30. Happy Reading!!!
This is a dual timeline book and I found both timelines to be very interesting!! It is a book full of secrets, family, determination, trauma and injustice.
Argentina…late 1970s…Esme is at the home of her daughter and son in law when the military junta take Lorena and Jose from the house at night in front of of Esme and her grandson. Esme must now care for her grandson and try to find her family. She encounters other families with missing children and they band together to try to locate them. There are no records of their arrests so the police are of no help.
NY 2005.. Rachel receives a phone call during her birthday party from a woman who clams to know about her parents. She knows she is adopted but does not want to talk about it and how is she connected to the 1970s in Argentina.
This one comes out on 7/30. Happy Reading!!!
September 11, 2024
This is a heart-wrenching historical fiction written in dual timelines. The story is based on the 1970s Argentine military dictatorship. It is inspired by the real-life "Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo," women who searched for their missing children and grandchildren. The book touches on motherhood, memory, activism, and the resilience of women across generations.
The plot revolves around a young mother named Lorena, who harbors dangerous secrets as the military dictatorship is beginning to gain power. In the first timeline, Lorena and her husband are taken from their home by the paramilitary in the middle of the night, leaving their two-year-old son behind with Lorena's mother and the boy's grandmother, Esme. With no record of the arrest, Esme takes on the responsibility of caring for her grandson and searching for her daughter and son-in-law. She joins forces with other mothers in a similar predicament. The contemporary timeline is set three decades later and follows the story of a young woman named Rachel, who was adopted as a baby in the United States. She is faced with the possibility of having a biological brother in a country she has never visited. To explore this possibility, she must confront devastating truths about her past and identity.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
The plot revolves around a young mother named Lorena, who harbors dangerous secrets as the military dictatorship is beginning to gain power. In the first timeline, Lorena and her husband are taken from their home by the paramilitary in the middle of the night, leaving their two-year-old son behind with Lorena's mother and the boy's grandmother, Esme. With no record of the arrest, Esme takes on the responsibility of caring for her grandson and searching for her daughter and son-in-law. She joins forces with other mothers in a similar predicament. The contemporary timeline is set three decades later and follows the story of a young woman named Rachel, who was adopted as a baby in the United States. She is faced with the possibility of having a biological brother in a country she has never visited. To explore this possibility, she must confront devastating truths about her past and identity.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
November 10, 2024
Compelling read. I learned about the guerra sucia in undergrad in two classes taught by Daniel Noemi Voionmaa. Until then I'd had no idea such things had happened in South America. In Daniel's classes, I read short stories like "Lo juro que fue por amistad," where a militant tells of killing his friend, a "subversive," and swears that it was for friendship. That he would have rather seen his friend die than suffer at the hands of the dictatorship. While studying, I also listened to the rock latino of that time period whose profound lyrics protested dictatorship with mellow ballads. I connected deeply to the grief these stories and lyrics conveyed, even if it was in a language that wasn't my own.
On a human level, we can all connect to themes like grief and loss, outrage at injustice. There was no official accounting for los desaparecidos. Which made it easy for them to remain disappeared and difficult for their loved ones to find out what happened to them. And once the junta was out of power, the perpetrators received slaps on the wrist. It all just seems so wrong.
Rebecca J. Sanford does a beautiful job of creating a narrative that honors the memory of the desaparecidos and their loved ones through Lorena and her family. While I am certain so many loved ones did not receive the closure they deserved in reality, I loved how things came together at the end for the characters in this book. I think what I loved the most was the passionate search for the children of the desaparecidos and the desire to restore them to their intended identities - to let them know who they really were. I also thought it was very real to show how even if justice does not show up, freedom can still be found in the power of forgiveness.
I am also reminded that it could be easy to wrap up this review and move on. But I want to sit with thinking about the heaviness of oppression and injustice and what pursuing righteousness and justice looks like in my now/after reading this book. (Thank you for coming to my Ted talk/journaling time)
On a human level, we can all connect to themes like grief and loss, outrage at injustice. There was no official accounting for los desaparecidos. Which made it easy for them to remain disappeared and difficult for their loved ones to find out what happened to them. And once the junta was out of power, the perpetrators received slaps on the wrist. It all just seems so wrong.
Rebecca J. Sanford does a beautiful job of creating a narrative that honors the memory of the desaparecidos and their loved ones through Lorena and her family. While I am certain so many loved ones did not receive the closure they deserved in reality, I loved how things came together at the end for the characters in this book. I think what I loved the most was the passionate search for the children of the desaparecidos and the desire to restore them to their intended identities - to let them know who they really were. I also thought it was very real to show how even if justice does not show up, freedom can still be found in the power of forgiveness.
I am also reminded that it could be easy to wrap up this review and move on. But I want to sit with thinking about the heaviness of oppression and injustice and what pursuing righteousness and justice looks like in my now/after reading this book. (Thank you for coming to my Ted talk/journaling time)
May 18, 2025
A sad but compellingly story about life under the military dictatorship in Argentina and those fearless souls who stood up against it. The novel had me engaged from the beginning until the last page. It is beautifully written and delivers a strong message about the power of bravery and dogged persistence in the face of evil.
September 19, 2024
Bookish thoughts: The Disappeared is a historical fiction book about a time in history, sadly, I knew anything about. This debut novel was inspired by true events regarding Argentina’s military dictatorship. I enjoyed the dual timeline. Both stories kept me on the edge of my seat. If you enjoy stories about family secrets, identify and political history, this book is for you!
I received an advanced electronic copy from Blackstone Publishing publisher and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.
I received an advanced electronic copy from Blackstone Publishing publisher and Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.
November 7, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I was not aware of the children of the disappeared or of Argentina’s Dirty War. I was engrossed by the writing through the entirety of the book. I don’t want to leave any spoilers so my review is brief but Highly Recommend!
July 20, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone publishing for the eARC!
I was pulled in right away! Emotional, moving story of family, justice, and the trauma, and occasional corruption, tied to adoption especially when it comes to adoptees searching for their identity.
The book explores two timelines from 1977-1980s and 2005 where we get switching POVs food through third person narrative. We see Rachel in 2005 trying to find her biological parents and grapple with her lack of identity as an adoptee. We also get glimpses of Esme, in 1970s-80s, as one of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo (a group of women who searched for their children, deemed dissidents by the Argentine dictatorship, as well as the children of these “disappeared”).
I really related to the infertility depictions and thought they were beautifully handled. Also Shows the dark and corrupt side of the adoption industry and how parents like Jonathan adopt for the wrong reasons (to fill a void and wish they could have a “clean, history free” child). I hated Jonathan 😳😂
The characters are well written, even the one I didn’t like, with so much depth and care added! The writing was beautiful, I can’t believe this is a debut and look forward to more from Sanford!!
Overall this was a moving story about a piece of history I hadn’t known about! I flew through this book and loved getting to know the characters. I’d highly recommend if you enjoy stories about family secrets, finding your identity, and strong resilient women, with seeds of hope planted throughout the pages 🤍
TW/CW: kidnapping, forced imprisonment, torture, grief, death, adoption trauma, infertility, miscarriage, suicide (brief mention), police brutality, medical trauma, blood, murder, death of parent, infidelity (brief)
I was pulled in right away! Emotional, moving story of family, justice, and the trauma, and occasional corruption, tied to adoption especially when it comes to adoptees searching for their identity.
The book explores two timelines from 1977-1980s and 2005 where we get switching POVs food through third person narrative. We see Rachel in 2005 trying to find her biological parents and grapple with her lack of identity as an adoptee. We also get glimpses of Esme, in 1970s-80s, as one of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo (a group of women who searched for their children, deemed dissidents by the Argentine dictatorship, as well as the children of these “disappeared”).
I really related to the infertility depictions and thought they were beautifully handled. Also Shows the dark and corrupt side of the adoption industry and how parents like Jonathan adopt for the wrong reasons (to fill a void and wish they could have a “clean, history free” child). I hated Jonathan 😳😂
The characters are well written, even the one I didn’t like, with so much depth and care added! The writing was beautiful, I can’t believe this is a debut and look forward to more from Sanford!!
Overall this was a moving story about a piece of history I hadn’t known about! I flew through this book and loved getting to know the characters. I’d highly recommend if you enjoy stories about family secrets, finding your identity, and strong resilient women, with seeds of hope planted throughout the pages 🤍
TW/CW: kidnapping, forced imprisonment, torture, grief, death, adoption trauma, infertility, miscarriage, suicide (brief mention), police brutality, medical trauma, blood, murder, death of parent, infidelity (brief)
April 10, 2024
What an absolutely beautiful, thought provoking, heartfelt novel. It is a story of loss and brutality, but also of the things a mother will do for their children. I have to admit, I was not completely familiar with the historical events before reading this book and I was enlightened on a subject that is so significant. I feel this novel does such a great job of personalizing an event that is so historically important. The writing is beautiful and the reader truly feels the emotions of the characters; the fear, the loss, and at times the joy; A central theme being the significance of being connected to your family and your culture. I feel this would be an excellent book for any reader, especially book clubs as there is a lot to discuss. Rebecca has done so much with the characters in this book, we feel what they feel. I found myself crying several times throughout the book and feeling such a connection with them. An excellent read and a very important novel!
April 12, 2024
After workshopping the opening pages with the author, I was anxious to read this book to its conclusion. I am thrilled to be an advance reader of this important debut novel.
The Disappeared explores themes of love, loss, secrets, identity and justice, connecting a mother, abducted from her home during the Argentinian dictatorship of the 1970’s, and an American woman in New York thirty years later, who will learn the truth about her birth and adoption.
The author exhibits a clear understanding of both the culture and history of this tragic period, and is impassioned without being heavy handed. Her dialogue is rich and real, her characters written with emotional depth, particularly the mothers and grandmothers. Their losses and hardships, their grief and hopes, become those of the reader. These women and their stories, which Rebecca Sanford has masterfully woven, will stay with you.
The Disappeared explores themes of love, loss, secrets, identity and justice, connecting a mother, abducted from her home during the Argentinian dictatorship of the 1970’s, and an American woman in New York thirty years later, who will learn the truth about her birth and adoption.
The author exhibits a clear understanding of both the culture and history of this tragic period, and is impassioned without being heavy handed. Her dialogue is rich and real, her characters written with emotional depth, particularly the mothers and grandmothers. Their losses and hardships, their grief and hopes, become those of the reader. These women and their stories, which Rebecca Sanford has masterfully woven, will stay with you.
March 20, 2024
I received this book as a first reader for a first novel prize. This book explores loss and political unrest and the aftermath of a dictatorship really well. The novel is a definite page turner. Sanford not only dive into the history and makes it come alive, but she weaves a compelling drama. I didn't really want to put this book down. It brought so much of what happened in Argentina in the 1970s to light and explored it through the lens of unrest, revolution, and personal tragedy.
April 7, 2024
As an avid reader, it has been a long time since I found a book that I couldn't put down. An amazing story that weaves together Argentina's tragic history with present day. The author expertly builds the
characters in the story so that the reader is emotionally tied to each of them and their struggles. What an amazing first novel and I can't wait to see what other stories the author has in store for us.
characters in the story so that the reader is emotionally tied to each of them and their struggles. What an amazing first novel and I can't wait to see what other stories the author has in store for us.
August 24, 2024
I won The Disappeared through a giveaway by Blackstone. I was unaware of the tragic events in Argentina during the 1970's and into the 1980's that Rebecca J Sanford brought to light in her book, The Disappeared. It was beautifully written and shows the fighting spirit of the families that were and are still affected by that time in history. I would recommend it to family and friends.
March 13, 2024
A wonderful and inspiring read. Sanford expertly captures the tiny moments of transcendence in tragedy and weaves them into a story that cannot be disappeared.
July 24, 2024
I was fortunate to win an ARC giveaway box and it was simply beautiful, isn't is a beautiful cover!? Being a Spanish teacher who teaches an art and culture course and being half Argentinian, anything having to do with the Dirty War fascinates me. Learning about this novel, thank you @aliciapartnoy, had me very excited to read this and the time finally came!
Sanford's novel, inspired by the work of the Abuelas & Madres de Plaza de Mayo is one who reminds me of the compilation of movies, book and documentary that I show in class during this unit . This novel highlights the story of Rachel, who finds out she may be hija de desaparecida (daughter of the disappeared). Her journey to uncover a big family lie to then learn of her real story is one that reflects the stories of so many who went through the same distress. I know that not many readers like the fluctuation in pov or in time lines in a novel but I think that it worked so well in this novel. We have the povs of the biological parents (los desaparecidos), Rachel and other children of disappeared, Esme who is the biological grandmother and an Abuela de Plaza de Mayo and the "adoptive parents" aka the appropriators.
I found this novel was carefully researched to assure that the topic was handled cautiously. There were chapters where I felt the sadness, anger and love that the characters felt. Sanford included the cultural aspects with much care and to be honest there was only one thing that I found to be not very Argentine and that it the shorted name of Matías but it in no way takes away from the integrity of the novel.
Each character was handle with care and truly gave light to various ways this war affected so many. I will say that Lorena's chapters were the ones that stuck with me the most. Her last chapter brought me to tears and left me smiling because it reminds me that even during the hardest of times, family will always pull you through. Rounding up to 5 stars, rate it a 4.75.
Sanford's novel, inspired by the work of the Abuelas & Madres de Plaza de Mayo is one who reminds me of the compilation of movies, book and documentary that I show in class during this unit . This novel highlights the story of Rachel, who finds out she may be hija de desaparecida (daughter of the disappeared). Her journey to uncover a big family lie to then learn of her real story is one that reflects the stories of so many who went through the same distress. I know that not many readers like the fluctuation in pov or in time lines in a novel but I think that it worked so well in this novel. We have the povs of the biological parents (los desaparecidos), Rachel and other children of disappeared, Esme who is the biological grandmother and an Abuela de Plaza de Mayo and the "adoptive parents" aka the appropriators.
I found this novel was carefully researched to assure that the topic was handled cautiously. There were chapters where I felt the sadness, anger and love that the characters felt. Sanford included the cultural aspects with much care and to be honest there was only one thing that I found to be not very Argentine and that it the shorted name of Matías but it in no way takes away from the integrity of the novel.
Each character was handle with care and truly gave light to various ways this war affected so many. I will say that Lorena's chapters were the ones that stuck with me the most. Her last chapter brought me to tears and left me smiling because it reminds me that even during the hardest of times, family will always pull you through. Rounding up to 5 stars, rate it a 4.75.
October 2, 2024
Extremely sad and yet so courageous and important to expose terrorism by one's own country to one's own people when a military dictatorship rules. This author takes us through the story of Lorenda growing up and struggling to remain a quiet, domestic housewife while, at the same time, she is longing to fight against the forces of evil she sees. It also deals with the pain and loss of a mother, a grandmother, a son, a daughter and those who love them.
This was my first read by this author, Rebecca J. Sanford, and I admired her skill in outlining this very devastating era in Argentina and putting it into a believable, fictional read so readers can understand how horrific the situation was for the people who endured this dictatorship.
I read this story from a paperback ARC.
This was my first read by this author, Rebecca J. Sanford, and I admired her skill in outlining this very devastating era in Argentina and putting it into a believable, fictional read so readers can understand how horrific the situation was for the people who endured this dictatorship.
I read this story from a paperback ARC.
July 19, 2024
I was immediately sucked into this gripping story, a dual timeline with multiple POVs that centers around the real-life disappearance of thousands of young men and women during the Argentinian military dictatorship of the 1970s. The story begins in the point of view of Lorena, a young mother struggling agains the confines of her role as a housewife, who is taken by the military in the middle of the night and forced to leave her young son behind in the care of her mother Esme, who never stops searching for her.
Meanwhile, three decades later, we are introduced to the character of Rachel, an adoptee who grew up hearing the story of how she was abandoned as a baby outside an adoption center in Virginia — but learns that the truth about her adoption is far more complicated and may tear apart her family.
This is a rich, layered story that digs deep into the question of what it means to be a family. I appreciated that even the characters who make truly unforgivable decisions are portrayed as three-dimensional, and we can understand their intentions even as we condemn their actions. I was fully invested in the plot and characters, and I look forward to reading what Rebecca J. Sanford writes next.
Meanwhile, three decades later, we are introduced to the character of Rachel, an adoptee who grew up hearing the story of how she was abandoned as a baby outside an adoption center in Virginia — but learns that the truth about her adoption is far more complicated and may tear apart her family.
This is a rich, layered story that digs deep into the question of what it means to be a family. I appreciated that even the characters who make truly unforgivable decisions are portrayed as three-dimensional, and we can understand their intentions even as we condemn their actions. I was fully invested in the plot and characters, and I look forward to reading what Rebecca J. Sanford writes next.
July 20, 2024
WOW! What an imaginative and gut watching read! Being a debut novel, I was skeptical about the content being so good. This is definitely a fantastic book that is very hard to put down. The author wrote a powerful rendition of Argentina’s military dictatorship in the 1970’s. A compelling drama of political unrest, families torn apart and children adopted into families of different countries. As you read this book you will experience many emotions such a despair, empathy, loss and and anger as you read about the way children were left behind and at other times just taken from their mothers. The author writes this with such raw emotion, you would think it is her own story to tell. Ms. Sanford wrote with immense knowledge of the time period and as you read it, the book will capture your heart and your imagination. The author’s writing is powerful and painful but uplifting at the same time. This is an intense and wonderful read that I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to #suzyapprovebooktours for an ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are solely my own.
Thank you to #suzyapprovebooktours for an ARC of this book to read and review. All opinions are solely my own.
October 4, 2024
This historical fiction written in dual timelines was interesting from the start. Beautiful writing, beautiful story, although heartbreaking as it's inspired by true events.
July 22, 2024
Books like this are no joke! It brings such a strong and interesting voice to real life circumstances and history. This showed me things I never even knew about Argentina in the 1970s and I couldn’t not put it down. Political unrest after a dictatorship leaves so much unanswered and emotions are high. The author did a great job describing everything but also letting the reader follow along and make their own conclusions. Definitely give this one a try!
Thank you Suzy approved book tours and the author!
Thank you Suzy approved book tours and the author!
August 30, 2024
This book is based and inspired by true events during the 1970’s in Argentina.
It tells about the voices of mothers and grandmothers searching for loved ones that the dictatorship has taken because they feel threatened.
This book tells the story of Esme and the search for her daughter Lorena. There’s so much that’s uncovered as we get the backstory in the 70’s and the 2005 timeline.
This book kept me up way past my bedtime. It’s a page turner and I learned a lot about this part of history that I knew very little about.
It tells about the voices of mothers and grandmothers searching for loved ones that the dictatorship has taken because they feel threatened.
This book tells the story of Esme and the search for her daughter Lorena. There’s so much that’s uncovered as we get the backstory in the 70’s and the 2005 timeline.
This book kept me up way past my bedtime. It’s a page turner and I learned a lot about this part of history that I knew very little about.
December 2, 2025
This book made me ugly cry and that’s all you need to know.
June 30, 2024
I love reading stories that educate as well as entertain. This Women’s Historical Fiction book did just that. It’s a heartrending story of Argentina’s women (mothers, grandmothers, aunts) who had their adult daughters or sons ripped from their homes by the military and then they were never heard from again. During Argentina’s military dictatorship these stolen lives were tortured and if the women were pregnant their babies were taken from them and basically ‘sold’. Those left at home, suffered for decades trying to find out what happened to their loved ones. Protests, filing legal papers, heading up a DNA database, gathering pictures and stories. This story takes us through one family’s search for answers.
August 4, 2024
A stunning debut!
I had heard about 'The Disappeared' people of Argentina but this fictional story really shines a much needed light on the subject. The author does an exceptional job of personalizing the horrors of having daughters, sons, and grandchildren taken by force without warning and with no accountability from the government. The story is heartfelt and the writing flows from one page to another making for an emotional and quick read. This is historical fiction at its best!
Thank you to the author and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
I had heard about 'The Disappeared' people of Argentina but this fictional story really shines a much needed light on the subject. The author does an exceptional job of personalizing the horrors of having daughters, sons, and grandchildren taken by force without warning and with no accountability from the government. The story is heartfelt and the writing flows from one page to another making for an emotional and quick read. This is historical fiction at its best!
Thank you to the author and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
May 27, 2024
Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Rebecca J. Sanford for the advanced reader copy of the book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.
This is one of those books that hit me right in the gut. The author, Rebecca Sandford, doesn’t state that she’s an adoptee. If she isn’t, then somewhere along the lines she had some honest conversations with people who are. Her descriptions of what it’s like to be adopted are spot on.
Argentina in the 1970s was marked by “The Dirty War” where the US Government propped up a military junta as a protection against communism in South America. Political dissidents during this time were silenced by being “disappeared” and for a long time no one knew what became of them.
In this setting, we meet the Ledesma family. Jose is a mild-mannered man, concerned with protecting his wife, Lorena, and young son Matias. One night the junta arrives and grabs Jose and Lorena out of bed. Fortunately, her mother Esme is there at the time so Matias is left in her care. Esme never hears from either of them again.
In New York City in 2005, Rachel Sprague is contacted by a woman who says she can help her find her family. Rachel was allegedly abandoned at birth and adopted by John and Vivian, a couple desperate for a child of their own. Rachel grew up feeling the ghost in the house of the child that John and Vivian wished they’d had, and no answers to be found about why she was abandoned. The woman, Mari, tells Rachel she was actually the daughter of Lorena, born in Argentina.
To read my full review please go to The Disappeared by Rebecca J. Sanford
This is one of those books that hit me right in the gut. The author, Rebecca Sandford, doesn’t state that she’s an adoptee. If she isn’t, then somewhere along the lines she had some honest conversations with people who are. Her descriptions of what it’s like to be adopted are spot on.
Argentina in the 1970s was marked by “The Dirty War” where the US Government propped up a military junta as a protection against communism in South America. Political dissidents during this time were silenced by being “disappeared” and for a long time no one knew what became of them.
In this setting, we meet the Ledesma family. Jose is a mild-mannered man, concerned with protecting his wife, Lorena, and young son Matias. One night the junta arrives and grabs Jose and Lorena out of bed. Fortunately, her mother Esme is there at the time so Matias is left in her care. Esme never hears from either of them again.
In New York City in 2005, Rachel Sprague is contacted by a woman who says she can help her find her family. Rachel was allegedly abandoned at birth and adopted by John and Vivian, a couple desperate for a child of their own. Rachel grew up feeling the ghost in the house of the child that John and Vivian wished they’d had, and no answers to be found about why she was abandoned. The woman, Mari, tells Rachel she was actually the daughter of Lorena, born in Argentina.
To read my full review please go to The Disappeared by Rebecca J. Sanford
March 17, 2025
This book should get wider readership than it is (apparently) getting. It is a solid piece of historical fiction which is both well-written and informative. My book club is hosting an author talk (the author is the daughter-in-law of one of our members), or I would probably have never read it. And that would have been a shame, because I really enjoyed it.
The Disappeared tells the story of approximately 30,000 people of Buenos Aires, Argentina in the 1970s, who, because of their actions came to be thought of as enemies of the dictatorship in place at the time. The main character, Lorena Ledesma, was torn from her home in the middle of the night, along with her husband Jose. The couple left behind a two-year-old son with his grandmother. There is never any record of the arrests. The grandmother, Esme, is at a loss of what to do, until she comes across an underground group of mothers who are investigating the similar disappearances of their children. The group eventually comes to realize, after many months pass with their children not being freed, that some of the female captives (up to 500) gave birth in captivity, and their babies whisked away. The group of women adjusts its search to include their missing grandchildren. This tireless group will not rest until they discover what happened to the babies. (mild spoiler alert:) In The Disappeared, one such baby, Rachel, is found in New York City 30 years later and brought back into the fold of Lorena’s family.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates good historical fiction. The Disappeared surprised me with its quality. It is a well-researched and powerfully written book.
The Disappeared tells the story of approximately 30,000 people of Buenos Aires, Argentina in the 1970s, who, because of their actions came to be thought of as enemies of the dictatorship in place at the time. The main character, Lorena Ledesma, was torn from her home in the middle of the night, along with her husband Jose. The couple left behind a two-year-old son with his grandmother. There is never any record of the arrests. The grandmother, Esme, is at a loss of what to do, until she comes across an underground group of mothers who are investigating the similar disappearances of their children. The group eventually comes to realize, after many months pass with their children not being freed, that some of the female captives (up to 500) gave birth in captivity, and their babies whisked away. The group of women adjusts its search to include their missing grandchildren. This tireless group will not rest until they discover what happened to the babies. (mild spoiler alert:) In The Disappeared, one such baby, Rachel, is found in New York City 30 years later and brought back into the fold of Lorena’s family.
I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates good historical fiction. The Disappeared surprised me with its quality. It is a well-researched and powerfully written book.
July 27, 2024
I love to learn anything new about a country's history that I never learned about in school. This book is based on real events that happened from the 1970s to about 1983 in Argentina where people were kidnapped to "prevent political and civil unrest". Many of these people that disappeared are never to be seen again. A group of mothers and grandmothers (that are STILL operating today) work timelessly to find these lost souls.
This book gives us a fictional woman Rachel who was adopted and she might be a baby of one of the disappeared. She gets to learn the truth about her life and finally makes some decisions for herself. She gets to find a family she didn't know about. This book was so sad and emotional.
This book gives us a fictional woman Rachel who was adopted and she might be a baby of one of the disappeared. She gets to learn the truth about her life and finally makes some decisions for herself. She gets to find a family she didn't know about. This book was so sad and emotional.
May 3, 2024
✨️ I loved it. A dark time in history, I hadn't known about. Heartbreaking and honest account of mother's fierce love for their children. Story unfolds through the past and the present seamlessly with gripping mystery throughout. Emotional depth of suffering in everyone's lives is heartbreaking, yet their courage has profound influence on readers. Stories of other mothers were equally heartbreaking as Esme. The truest example of motherhood. Thanks a lot to the author for bringing this story forward in such a respectful and encouraging way. The ending is perfect, inspiring, and hopeful. Impressive writing style with excellent storytelling. I got goosebumps reading some of the scenes. A brilliant debut by the author. Highly recommended. Thanks a lot to the author, @Netgalley , and Blackstone Publishing for providing an eARC.
September 4, 2024
The disappearance of civilians without any record or trace is a common tactic exercised by many countries that are run by dictatorships to instill fear. "The Disappeared," by Rebecca J. Sanford however tells a remarkable story few may have heard of. For over 50 years, the incredible Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo have relentlessly searched for their children and grandchildren who went missing during Argentina’s dirty war. Many of the children were put up for adoption by the government with forged identities. As of this date, these fearless women were able to restore the identities of 137 of these children, who are now adults.
This beautifully written and well researched story, is a powerful tribute to the strength of women and the profound connections within a family. Looking forward to see a movie adaptation of this book!
This beautifully written and well researched story, is a powerful tribute to the strength of women and the profound connections within a family. Looking forward to see a movie adaptation of this book!
October 16, 2024
"Here, right in front of Rachel, was the most beautiful open doorway to a biological family -- but to pass through, she first had to acknowledge that her own parents were hiding, lying, involved. She couldn't fit both truths in her mind at once"
I loved this historical fiction book about a period I knew pretty much nothing about -- the dictatorship in Argentina, where anyone they accused of being against them simply disappeared, never to be heard from or seen again. This story is written so well, going between that time in Buenos Aires and the present day, when a daughter of one of the disappeared is putting together the pieces of her past. I genuinely looked forward to picking up this book and I learned a ton! Would def recommend!!
I loved this historical fiction book about a period I knew pretty much nothing about -- the dictatorship in Argentina, where anyone they accused of being against them simply disappeared, never to be heard from or seen again. This story is written so well, going between that time in Buenos Aires and the present day, when a daughter of one of the disappeared is putting together the pieces of her past. I genuinely looked forward to picking up this book and I learned a ton! Would def recommend!!
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