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The Lies They Told
12 hours, 48 minutes
In rural 1930s Virginia, a young immigrant mother fights for her dignity and those she loves against America’s rising eugenics movement – when widespread support for policies of prejudice drove imprisonment and forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin – in this tragic and uplifting novel of social injustice, survival, and hope for readers of Susan Meissner, Kristin Hannah, and Christina Baker Kline.
When Lena Conti—a young, unwed mother—sees immigrant families being forcibly separated on Ellis Island, she vows not to let the officers take her two-year old daughter. But the inspection process is more rigorous than she imagined, and she is separated from her mother and teenage brother, who are labeled burdens to society, denied entry, and deported back to Germany. Now, alone but determined to give her daughter a better life after years of living in poverty and near starvation, she finds herself facing a future unlike anything she had envisioned.
Silas Wolfe, a widowed family relative, reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter to his weathered cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his home and children. Though the hills around Wolfe Hollow remind Lena of her homeland, she struggles to adjust. Worse, she is stunned to learn the children in her care have been taught to hide when the sheriff comes around. As Lena meets their neighbors, she realizes the community is vibrant and tight knit, but also senses growing unease. The State of Virginia is scheming to paint them as ignorant, immoral, and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.”
After a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, her own worst fears come true. Sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, Lena face impossible choices in hopes of reuniting with her daughter—and protecting the people, and the land, she has grown to love.
In rural 1930s Virginia, a young immigrant mother fights for her dignity and those she loves against America’s rising eugenics movement – when widespread support for policies of prejudice drove imprisonment and forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin – in this tragic and uplifting novel of social injustice, survival, and hope for readers of Susan Meissner, Kristin Hannah, and Christina Baker Kline.
When Lena Conti—a young, unwed mother—sees immigrant families being forcibly separated on Ellis Island, she vows not to let the officers take her two-year old daughter. But the inspection process is more rigorous than she imagined, and she is separated from her mother and teenage brother, who are labeled burdens to society, denied entry, and deported back to Germany. Now, alone but determined to give her daughter a better life after years of living in poverty and near starvation, she finds herself facing a future unlike anything she had envisioned.
Silas Wolfe, a widowed family relative, reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter to his weathered cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his home and children. Though the hills around Wolfe Hollow remind Lena of her homeland, she struggles to adjust. Worse, she is stunned to learn the children in her care have been taught to hide when the sheriff comes around. As Lena meets their neighbors, she realizes the community is vibrant and tight knit, but also senses growing unease. The State of Virginia is scheming to paint them as ignorant, immoral, and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.”
After a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, her own worst fears come true. Sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, Lena face impossible choices in hopes of reuniting with her daughter—and protecting the people, and the land, she has grown to love.
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Published July 29, 2025
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About the author
Ellen Marie Wiseman
14 books5,709 followersEllen Marie Wiseman is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for writing novels based on real historical injustices, including THE LIES THEY TOLD, THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR, WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND, THE PLUM TREE , COAL RIVER, THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN, and THE LOST GIRLS OF WILLOWBROOK, which was an Indie Next selection, an Amazon Editor's Pick and the B&N “Our Monthly Pick.” Born and raised in Three Mile Bay, a tiny hamlet in northern New York, Ellen is a first-generation German American who discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in New York State. Since then, her novels have been published worldwide, translated into more than twenty languages, and sold nearly two million copies in the United States alone. They have also been named to "best of" lists by Reading Group Choices, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, The Historical Novel Society, Great Group Reads, and more. A mother of two and grandmother to six, Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her Husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,567 reviews
July 1, 2025
“The Lies They Told” is an unmissable read that highlights an event in history that shames those who engineered it.
It’s the early 1930’s, and Lena Conti, an unmarried mother with a two year old daughter, arrives at Ellis Island from Germany. With her are her mother and teenage brother. All of them hoping for a better life after the poverty and suffering of post war Germany. Their plans are to work for a distant cousin of Lena’s mother, Silas Wolfe.
After much questioning and endless medical examinations at Ellis Island, Lena and her two year old daughter are allowed to stay in the United States, but her mother and brother are refused entry. The reason for her brother’s deportation? Feeble mindedness, which was far from the truth. His mother had to accompany her son back to Germany as he wasn’t an adult.This won’t be the last time Lena hears the words feeble mindedness!
She finds herself living on Silas’s farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Her job is to help around the farm and look after widower Silas’s two children. Silas is unhappy to say the least. He was only expecting Lena’s mother and brother, not Lena and her daughter. He really needed the help of Lena’s brother to carry out the heavy work around the farm.
It’s a hard life and Lena has much to learn about running this busy household and farm, and it doesn’t help that Silas is hostile towards her, but as we’re about to find out, Silas has an awful lot to worry about!
Though Lena desperately misses her mother and brother, she begins to settle into her new life, and develops a close and loving bond with Silas’s children, and also with other families in this tight knit mountain community. It’s a good life with food aplenty and friendly get together’s with their neighbours on long hot summer’s days.
However, when a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness (there’s that word again), her fear is overwhelming, she can’t bear to be parted from her daughter, nor Silas’s children, who by this time feel like her own kin.
Sadly, the authorities care nothing for one’s feelings and Lena is placed in the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, where she faces a life altering decision.
I really don’t know what I can say that hasn’t already been said about this wonderful book. The author has brought to life a part of history that I knew nothing about, especially as I live here in the UK. It involved forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin. This is a profoundly moving story that not only left me in tears, but also left me with an anger that was hard to quash at times.
“The Lies They Told “ is brutal, joyful, painful and heartbreaking, but it’s also about survival and resistance against oppression, finally though, it’s about hope, for without that a person has nothing. This thought provoking novel comes highly recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
It’s the early 1930’s, and Lena Conti, an unmarried mother with a two year old daughter, arrives at Ellis Island from Germany. With her are her mother and teenage brother. All of them hoping for a better life after the poverty and suffering of post war Germany. Their plans are to work for a distant cousin of Lena’s mother, Silas Wolfe.
After much questioning and endless medical examinations at Ellis Island, Lena and her two year old daughter are allowed to stay in the United States, but her mother and brother are refused entry. The reason for her brother’s deportation? Feeble mindedness, which was far from the truth. His mother had to accompany her son back to Germany as he wasn’t an adult.This won’t be the last time Lena hears the words feeble mindedness!
She finds herself living on Silas’s farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Her job is to help around the farm and look after widower Silas’s two children. Silas is unhappy to say the least. He was only expecting Lena’s mother and brother, not Lena and her daughter. He really needed the help of Lena’s brother to carry out the heavy work around the farm.
It’s a hard life and Lena has much to learn about running this busy household and farm, and it doesn’t help that Silas is hostile towards her, but as we’re about to find out, Silas has an awful lot to worry about!
Though Lena desperately misses her mother and brother, she begins to settle into her new life, and develops a close and loving bond with Silas’s children, and also with other families in this tight knit mountain community. It’s a good life with food aplenty and friendly get together’s with their neighbours on long hot summer’s days.
However, when a social worker from the Eugenics Office accuses Lena of promiscuity and feeblemindedness (there’s that word again), her fear is overwhelming, she can’t bear to be parted from her daughter, nor Silas’s children, who by this time feel like her own kin.
Sadly, the authorities care nothing for one’s feelings and Lena is placed in the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, where she faces a life altering decision.
I really don’t know what I can say that hasn’t already been said about this wonderful book. The author has brought to life a part of history that I knew nothing about, especially as I live here in the UK. It involved forced sterilizations based on class, race, disability, education, and country of origin. This is a profoundly moving story that not only left me in tears, but also left me with an anger that was hard to quash at times.
“The Lies They Told “ is brutal, joyful, painful and heartbreaking, but it’s also about survival and resistance against oppression, finally though, it’s about hope, for without that a person has nothing. This thought provoking novel comes highly recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
June 17, 2025
Gripping, raw, thought provoking, emotion evoking, heart breaking, and hard to put down! With her book, The Lies They Told, Ellen Marie Wiseman tackles sad and horrific time in American history. This work of historical fiction tackles the immigrant experience during the 1930's, poverty, prejudice, the Eugenics program, forced sterilizations, seizure of land, and loss to name a few. Let me tell you, it can be difficult to read with tears in your eyes and that is what I did at various times in this book.
Lena Conti, a young unwed mother from Germany has crossed the ocean and entered the United States through Ellis Island where she and her mother and brother are examined and only Lena and her baby are allowed to stay. Silas Wolfe, a widowed father, who was expecting Lena's mother, begrudgingly agrees to take on Lena and her baby to his cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his two children and his home.
I thought the author did a tremendous job of depicting both time and place in this book. She vividly described the cabin and mountains while introducing reader to Silas and his children. I felt for Lena and all that she went through. I could imagine her fear of leaving Germany in search of a better life in a new country. Her shock at being subjected to a very through exam only to be separated from her brother and mother. Imagine being a young woman in a new country with a young child, with nowhere to go, no money and facing starvation and prejudice. Luckily, she was taken in by Silas but the culture shock of being in a cabin, having to learn how to adapt to living with his family and learning how to care for his household. Just when I thought thing were going to be fine and Lena begins to meet and enjoy her neighbors, a woman from the State of Virginia's Eugenics Office stops pays them a visit......
Oh, how this book pulled on my heartstrings. I rooted for all the characters in this book. Bonnie, one of Silas's children stole every scene she was in. I loved her spunk and tenacity. My heart broke many times while reading this beautifully written book. I went from concern, to happy, to hopeful, to devastated, to angry, to hopeful, to heartbroken and back to hopeful again. This book put me and the characters through the ringer.
The author did a great job with her research and showing the plight of poor, rural, and down on their luck individuals. She showed how those who lived in the mountains had a strong sense of community and depicted their ways of supporting each other. She also showed how those in power abused it and took advantage of poor people who they viewed as uneducated, lacking in morals, unable to care for their children, their land, and. themselves.
Ellen Marie Wiseman has delivered another gripping and moving historical fiction book. She continues to wow me with her wonderful writing.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Lena Conti, a young unwed mother from Germany has crossed the ocean and entered the United States through Ellis Island where she and her mother and brother are examined and only Lena and her baby are allowed to stay. Silas Wolfe, a widowed father, who was expecting Lena's mother, begrudgingly agrees to take on Lena and her baby to his cabin in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to care for his two children and his home.
I thought the author did a tremendous job of depicting both time and place in this book. She vividly described the cabin and mountains while introducing reader to Silas and his children. I felt for Lena and all that she went through. I could imagine her fear of leaving Germany in search of a better life in a new country. Her shock at being subjected to a very through exam only to be separated from her brother and mother. Imagine being a young woman in a new country with a young child, with nowhere to go, no money and facing starvation and prejudice. Luckily, she was taken in by Silas but the culture shock of being in a cabin, having to learn how to adapt to living with his family and learning how to care for his household. Just when I thought thing were going to be fine and Lena begins to meet and enjoy her neighbors, a woman from the State of Virginia's Eugenics Office stops pays them a visit......
Oh, how this book pulled on my heartstrings. I rooted for all the characters in this book. Bonnie, one of Silas's children stole every scene she was in. I loved her spunk and tenacity. My heart broke many times while reading this beautifully written book. I went from concern, to happy, to hopeful, to devastated, to angry, to hopeful, to heartbroken and back to hopeful again. This book put me and the characters through the ringer.
The author did a great job with her research and showing the plight of poor, rural, and down on their luck individuals. She showed how those who lived in the mountains had a strong sense of community and depicted their ways of supporting each other. She also showed how those in power abused it and took advantage of poor people who they viewed as uneducated, lacking in morals, unable to care for their children, their land, and. themselves.
Ellen Marie Wiseman has delivered another gripping and moving historical fiction book. She continues to wow me with her wonderful writing.
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
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July 3, 2025
The Best New Historical Fiction Books Out in July:
When Lena Conti arrives at Ellis Island from Germany in the 1930s, she isn't met with the freedom and opportunity she had hoped for. Instead, she sees families being forcibly separated. Determined not to be separated from her two-year-old daughter, Lena marches ahead. Instead, it's her mother and teenage brother who are denied entry, labeled burdens to society, and shipped back to Germany. But even once she makes it to Virginia to stay with a widowed relative, the terror continues. The eugenics movement has taken hold in America, and there are those determined to find cause to institutionalize the people here and take their land. —Rachel Brittain
When Lena Conti arrives at Ellis Island from Germany in the 1930s, she isn't met with the freedom and opportunity she had hoped for. Instead, she sees families being forcibly separated. Determined not to be separated from her two-year-old daughter, Lena marches ahead. Instead, it's her mother and teenage brother who are denied entry, labeled burdens to society, and shipped back to Germany. But even once she makes it to Virginia to stay with a widowed relative, the terror continues. The eugenics movement has taken hold in America, and there are those determined to find cause to institutionalize the people here and take their land. —Rachel Brittain
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August 21, 2025Could be a case of it's not you, it's me. Or not. Just was too slow to keep me engaged.
July 19, 2025
Shocking, just shocking what was done to people in the name of preserving the race. A frightening look at deciding who is deemed fit and who is unfit. Concentrates on Immigrants and the Mountain People of the Blue Ridge Area during the 1920’s. All new information to me and very disturbing.
Ellen Marie Wiseman does an excellent job humanizing Immigrants legally coming to Ellis Island and all that can go wrong. Loved Lena and her baby daughter, Ella. They are forcefully separated from her Mother and Brother. The treatment people received I was completely unaware of, so harsh and cruel.
Next, Lena goes to live with a relative, Silas and his children in Northern Virginia. Here life is difficult as well. Eugenics programs were started in the United States at this time and decided people were not fit enough to be parents in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Children were taken to go to “Better and More Suitable Families”, many of the people were deemed Feebleminded and sent to Facilities where Forced Sterilizations Occurred. Many were not let out of these places. Completely Unbelievable, but true.
Although, all this was upsetting and sad, the story still had hope and goodness to it. The Ending really was Uplifting.
Thank you NetGalley for a Copy of this Book. I always leave Reviews of Books I Read.
Ellen Marie Wiseman does an excellent job humanizing Immigrants legally coming to Ellis Island and all that can go wrong. Loved Lena and her baby daughter, Ella. They are forcefully separated from her Mother and Brother. The treatment people received I was completely unaware of, so harsh and cruel.
Next, Lena goes to live with a relative, Silas and his children in Northern Virginia. Here life is difficult as well. Eugenics programs were started in the United States at this time and decided people were not fit enough to be parents in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Children were taken to go to “Better and More Suitable Families”, many of the people were deemed Feebleminded and sent to Facilities where Forced Sterilizations Occurred. Many were not let out of these places. Completely Unbelievable, but true.
Although, all this was upsetting and sad, the story still had hope and goodness to it. The Ending really was Uplifting.
Thank you NetGalley for a Copy of this Book. I always leave Reviews of Books I Read.
August 9, 2025
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Lena, her infant daughter, mother and teenage brother have all survived horrendous conditions crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Germany in the bowels of a ship. Their first “welcome” to America, Ellis Island, is anything but welcoming. In fact, only Lena and her daughter make it off the island.
Silas gathers the two filthy, bedraggled, very distant relatives and takes them to his home high on a mountain in a remote area of the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. He’s angry - two more mouths to feed and not the workers he’d been expecting and paid for. He already has enough trouble and these two are gonna make it worse. Well, at least she should be able to help watch his two kids and learn how to do housework, farming and cooking; give my kids some help.
For the first half of THE LIES THEY TOLD, readers are introduced to the realities of what immigrants faced entering America thru Ellis Island and then trying to assimilate into society. Much has been written about big cities but this is a completely different look at government. The towns might be small but the corruption is just as large and it feels somehow, far worse. Please make sure to read all author, Ellen Marie Wiseman’s, notes prior to starting the book. There are a few pages after the Acknowledgements, starting with a poem and moving on to information about Eugenics. After the story ends, there are very important notes that flesh the intro out and help quite a lot, if read prior to starting the story. This includes some links to further reading for those who are interested.
One of the most beautiful national parks on the east coast is Shenandoah National Park. I’ve been from one end to the other many times - hiked there, shopped there, had meals, explored historic sites, visited high holy tourist traps of obligation, been to concerts. You get the idea, I really like the area. In all my wanderings, never have I heard about the land being stolen from mountain people by the government just because they wanted it. Oh, they call it Eminent Domain; that makes it ok; NOT. Details are put forth in this story and are despicable. Wiseman has done her homework researching for this book. Be prepared to get involved at an emotional level.
Once the government has destroyed Lena’s family and home, the last part of the story is devoted to her reclaiming herself and finding those who were stolen from her. Excellent characterization will have you cheering for Lena and bearing a rifle on her behalf. Difficult situations are tempered by lovely descriptions of landscapes, flora, crafting’s, mountain medicine, superstitions and food…very interesting food. Altho’ much of the story is harsh and difficult to read, Lena is a survivor and Wiseman gives her an HEA I found satisfying.
Historical Fiction is best when it uncovers events that are not well known and can help readers understand what was good and bad in any situation. Learning from history allows us to grow as a people and hopefully, not repeat the sins of our forefathers. Eugenics is disgraceful, disgusting, despicable and any other “D” words you’d like to use. I found the catalytic effect America’s usage had on other countries to be horrifying. IMO, the government has no business legislating family life and morality; for anyone; ever; under any circumstance.
Very well written, perfect for readers of Historical Fiction, Southern Fiction, 20th Century Political Fiction, and anyone wanting a visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a good story about good people fighting for their right to live their way on their land📚
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
Lena, her infant daughter, mother and teenage brother have all survived horrendous conditions crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Germany in the bowels of a ship. Their first “welcome” to America, Ellis Island, is anything but welcoming. In fact, only Lena and her daughter make it off the island.
Silas gathers the two filthy, bedraggled, very distant relatives and takes them to his home high on a mountain in a remote area of the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. He’s angry - two more mouths to feed and not the workers he’d been expecting and paid for. He already has enough trouble and these two are gonna make it worse. Well, at least she should be able to help watch his two kids and learn how to do housework, farming and cooking; give my kids some help.
For the first half of THE LIES THEY TOLD, readers are introduced to the realities of what immigrants faced entering America thru Ellis Island and then trying to assimilate into society. Much has been written about big cities but this is a completely different look at government. The towns might be small but the corruption is just as large and it feels somehow, far worse. Please make sure to read all author, Ellen Marie Wiseman’s, notes prior to starting the book. There are a few pages after the Acknowledgements, starting with a poem and moving on to information about Eugenics. After the story ends, there are very important notes that flesh the intro out and help quite a lot, if read prior to starting the story. This includes some links to further reading for those who are interested.
One of the most beautiful national parks on the east coast is Shenandoah National Park. I’ve been from one end to the other many times - hiked there, shopped there, had meals, explored historic sites, visited high holy tourist traps of obligation, been to concerts. You get the idea, I really like the area. In all my wanderings, never have I heard about the land being stolen from mountain people by the government just because they wanted it. Oh, they call it Eminent Domain; that makes it ok; NOT. Details are put forth in this story and are despicable. Wiseman has done her homework researching for this book. Be prepared to get involved at an emotional level.
Once the government has destroyed Lena’s family and home, the last part of the story is devoted to her reclaiming herself and finding those who were stolen from her. Excellent characterization will have you cheering for Lena and bearing a rifle on her behalf. Difficult situations are tempered by lovely descriptions of landscapes, flora, crafting’s, mountain medicine, superstitions and food…very interesting food. Altho’ much of the story is harsh and difficult to read, Lena is a survivor and Wiseman gives her an HEA I found satisfying.
Historical Fiction is best when it uncovers events that are not well known and can help readers understand what was good and bad in any situation. Learning from history allows us to grow as a people and hopefully, not repeat the sins of our forefathers. Eugenics is disgraceful, disgusting, despicable and any other “D” words you’d like to use. I found the catalytic effect America’s usage had on other countries to be horrifying. IMO, the government has no business legislating family life and morality; for anyone; ever; under any circumstance.
Very well written, perfect for readers of Historical Fiction, Southern Fiction, 20th Century Political Fiction, and anyone wanting a visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a good story about good people fighting for their right to live their way on their land📚
Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks
July 11, 2025
1928: Magdalena "Lena" Conti leaves Germany to start a new life in America with her mother, brother and young daughter and she has no idea what awaits them when they arrive at Ellis Island. The inspection process is confusing and stressful, and she’s cruelly separated from her family, who are labelled burdens to society and denied entry, and deported back to Germany.
Silas Wolfe is a distant cousin and he’s waiting to collect Mrs. Conti and he reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter Ella to Wolfe Hollow farm in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to be his housekeeper. She meets his children Bonnie and John Henry, their dad has told them to hide, when the sheriff or strangers arrive, as they threaten to seize two things from Silas, his children and land. The State of Virginia is scheming to label them as slow, backward, and interbred and without morals so they can evict them from their land, take the children, and stop those possessing “inferior genes” from passing them on and enforce their new eugenics policy.
I really admired Lena’s character, she was resilient and brave, and a good mother, made friends in Old Rag and wanted her daughter to have a better life and was only a teenager herself.
Lena is falsely accused of being a uneducated, promiscuous and a dim-witted foreigner, she’s sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, where her and Ella’s future is determined by a doctor and authorities and she must make a difficult choice to have any hope of seeing her daughter again.
I received a copy of The Lies They Told from Edelweiss plus and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. Using real historical facts Ellen Marie Wiseman brings to the reader's attention the eugenics movement in America, where children were forcibly removed from their parents, women were sterilised and land in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia stolen.
A story about injustice and prejudice, a dark and overlooked time in American history and a shameful one and make sure you have a box of tissues handy and five stars from me.
Silas Wolfe is a distant cousin and he’s waiting to collect Mrs. Conti and he reluctantly brings Lena and her daughter Ella to Wolfe Hollow farm in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains to be his housekeeper. She meets his children Bonnie and John Henry, their dad has told them to hide, when the sheriff or strangers arrive, as they threaten to seize two things from Silas, his children and land. The State of Virginia is scheming to label them as slow, backward, and interbred and without morals so they can evict them from their land, take the children, and stop those possessing “inferior genes” from passing them on and enforce their new eugenics policy.
I really admired Lena’s character, she was resilient and brave, and a good mother, made friends in Old Rag and wanted her daughter to have a better life and was only a teenager herself.
Lena is falsely accused of being a uneducated, promiscuous and a dim-witted foreigner, she’s sent to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics, where her and Ella’s future is determined by a doctor and authorities and she must make a difficult choice to have any hope of seeing her daughter again.
I received a copy of The Lies They Told from Edelweiss plus and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review. Using real historical facts Ellen Marie Wiseman brings to the reader's attention the eugenics movement in America, where children were forcibly removed from their parents, women were sterilised and land in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia stolen.
A story about injustice and prejudice, a dark and overlooked time in American history and a shameful one and make sure you have a box of tissues handy and five stars from me.
August 26, 2025
(4.5 stars)
The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman is a beautifully written story, but such a sad one. Wiseman takes you to Ellis Island in the late 1920s and then to the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. We follow Lena, who has emigrated from Germany with her toddler daughter, Ella. She winds up living with a distant cousin, Silas, in those mountains, helping him care for his two children, Bonnie and Jack Henry.
The descriptions of the land and the people really sucked me in. The scenes at Ellis Island were so emotional for me. And then to see how the mountain people were so misunderstood by outsiders. I had already known about the despicable eugenics movement in the US and how it provided a blueprint for the N*zis - along with the racial separation laws in the southern US states. (Definitely check out Jacqueline Friedland’s book, Counting Backwards, for another excellent look at this issue.) It was tragic for so many and we (sadly!) are hearing echoes of this movement even today. Another thing covered in the story is the forced removal of these people from their land, to make way for the (gorgeous) Shenandoah National Park in the 1930s. It’s a shame that they had to make people leave the place their families had lived for generations. Surely there could have been a more humane way to create the park!
I fell in love with Lena, Ella, Bonnie and Jack Henry. Silas was a bit harder to bond with, but his backstory created him, so there it is. I loved meeting the other mountain neighbors as well. The story was just so sad and upsetting that it took me longer than usual to finish the book. I kept needing to take a break. There is an uplifting ending, so that helped, although I did find it a bit hard to believe. It was nice to read, though!
Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers e-copy of this book. Thank you also to Tandem Collective Global for a beautiful paperback copy to read as part of their readalong program. All opinions are my own.
The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman is a beautifully written story, but such a sad one. Wiseman takes you to Ellis Island in the late 1920s and then to the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. We follow Lena, who has emigrated from Germany with her toddler daughter, Ella. She winds up living with a distant cousin, Silas, in those mountains, helping him care for his two children, Bonnie and Jack Henry.
The descriptions of the land and the people really sucked me in. The scenes at Ellis Island were so emotional for me. And then to see how the mountain people were so misunderstood by outsiders. I had already known about the despicable eugenics movement in the US and how it provided a blueprint for the N*zis - along with the racial separation laws in the southern US states. (Definitely check out Jacqueline Friedland’s book, Counting Backwards, for another excellent look at this issue.) It was tragic for so many and we (sadly!) are hearing echoes of this movement even today. Another thing covered in the story is the forced removal of these people from their land, to make way for the (gorgeous) Shenandoah National Park in the 1930s. It’s a shame that they had to make people leave the place their families had lived for generations. Surely there could have been a more humane way to create the park!
I fell in love with Lena, Ella, Bonnie and Jack Henry. Silas was a bit harder to bond with, but his backstory created him, so there it is. I loved meeting the other mountain neighbors as well. The story was just so sad and upsetting that it took me longer than usual to finish the book. I kept needing to take a break. There is an uplifting ending, so that helped, although I did find it a bit hard to believe. It was nice to read, though!
Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers e-copy of this book. Thank you also to Tandem Collective Global for a beautiful paperback copy to read as part of their readalong program. All opinions are my own.
July 30, 2025
Misconceptions and bending the truth to fit her narrative
August 25, 2025
What a breathtaking novel! When Lena Conti and her daughter arrive at Ellis Island, she has high hopes dor a better life. But America isn't the welcoming place she thought for impoverished German immigrants arriving at its shores. Her brother and mother are separated from her and her daughter, and when she is finally allowed entry, she meets Silas Wolfe, who had offered jobs for her mother and brother. When she arrives in the rural Virginia mountains, she falls in love with the land and Silas's children Bonnie and John Henry.
Lena and her daughter Ella feel welcomed by the families in the mountains, however she is horrified by city government and law enforcement officials, who support a eugenics program that involves land seizure, forced sterilization, imprisonment, children taken away, and more.
The Lies They Told is a gripping, powerful, raw, and emotional look at a dark time in our country's history. This book is must-read historical fiction that is well-researched and has a strong sense of time and place. I felt fully immersed in the novel and enamored with the fully fleshed out characters that I grew to understand. I think it is important to learn about positive and negative aspects of our history so that previous mistakes and injustices are not repeated. This novel is perfect to inform and educate us in Wiseman's poignant and beautiful story that gutted me emotionally and ended in such a positive way.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, UpLit Reads, and Ellen Marie Wiseman for an advance reader's copy and finished copy in exchange for my honest review.
Lena and her daughter Ella feel welcomed by the families in the mountains, however she is horrified by city government and law enforcement officials, who support a eugenics program that involves land seizure, forced sterilization, imprisonment, children taken away, and more.
The Lies They Told is a gripping, powerful, raw, and emotional look at a dark time in our country's history. This book is must-read historical fiction that is well-researched and has a strong sense of time and place. I felt fully immersed in the novel and enamored with the fully fleshed out characters that I grew to understand. I think it is important to learn about positive and negative aspects of our history so that previous mistakes and injustices are not repeated. This novel is perfect to inform and educate us in Wiseman's poignant and beautiful story that gutted me emotionally and ended in such a positive way.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, UpLit Reads, and Ellen Marie Wiseman for an advance reader's copy and finished copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 4, 2025
This is both the best and worst timed book. I will admit I wasn’t expecting this particular slice of history because unsurprisingly my America education did not include even a hint of it. I had no idea eugenics had taken such a hold in America and we had done such horrific things. This book was beautifully written, which wasn’t a surprise, I love this author. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was superb, especially with the songs. It really brought all of the characters to life. Lena and her family came from Germany to America with the hope of a better life. While Lena and her daughter Ella were allowed in, her mother and younger brother were not. Her brother was deemed feeble minded and her mother was determined to be too sick. Lena went with her distant relative down to Wolf Hollow Virginia to help him care for his children and home. Everything goes well for a tragically brief period and changed the trajectory of Lena’s life forever. This book is haunting and is definitely one that will be sticking with me.
October 3, 2025
This is a well written but intense historical fiction account of the eugenics program in America during the early 1900s, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I won’t repeat the blurb, but it doesn’t begin to cover the horrors of Ellis Island, the fear that the families in the Blue Ridge Mountains faced as the State of Virginia used eugenics to rip apart families in order to steal their land and the terrors that lurked in the Virginia State Colony for the eEpileptic and Feebleminded.
Lena and her two-year-old daughter Ella find themselves in situations that Lena could never have imagined, and she fights as hard as she can to protect her daughter. Lena, Silas, Bonnie and Jack Henry are all remarkable characters who are doing the best they can under unbearable circumstances . At first Silas is a bit hard to like but eventually you understand why that is. There are also many other wonderful characters among the hill folk, and some purely evil characters, especially Mr. Pollock.
There is a lot of heartbreak in the story and it is not an easy read, but well worth it. The author’s notes expand more on the eugenics program and how it is still in effect today.
“While this is a dark time in history to look back on, 31 states in the US as well as Washington DC still have laws that allow for sterilization for the disabled, the incarcerated and immigrants. In 2020, forced sterilization at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.(ICE) detention center in Ocilla, Georgia attracted national attention.” Apparently nothing much has changed since the early 1900s.
If you’ve ever visited the Shenandoah National Park, you might want to rethink how you view it. “In 1928, Virginia passed the Public Park Condemnation Act, which took 200,000 acres from land owners and farmers and donated it to the federal government to establish the Shenandoah National Park. Soon afterward, strangers appeared in the mountains: surveyors, commissioners, social workers, and doctors, all talking about evictions, condemnation, proceedings, proof of ownership and settlement. Not only were 500 families forced off the land, but most did not qualify for compensation.”
Even if I was inclined to travel, (and I’m not) I would never go there, knowing how it was established.
A definite recommend.
Lena and her two-year-old daughter Ella find themselves in situations that Lena could never have imagined, and she fights as hard as she can to protect her daughter. Lena, Silas, Bonnie and Jack Henry are all remarkable characters who are doing the best they can under unbearable circumstances . At first Silas is a bit hard to like but eventually you understand why that is. There are also many other wonderful characters among the hill folk, and some purely evil characters, especially Mr. Pollock.
There is a lot of heartbreak in the story and it is not an easy read, but well worth it. The author’s notes expand more on the eugenics program and how it is still in effect today.
“While this is a dark time in history to look back on, 31 states in the US as well as Washington DC still have laws that allow for sterilization for the disabled, the incarcerated and immigrants. In 2020, forced sterilization at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.(ICE) detention center in Ocilla, Georgia attracted national attention.” Apparently nothing much has changed since the early 1900s.
If you’ve ever visited the Shenandoah National Park, you might want to rethink how you view it. “In 1928, Virginia passed the Public Park Condemnation Act, which took 200,000 acres from land owners and farmers and donated it to the federal government to establish the Shenandoah National Park. Soon afterward, strangers appeared in the mountains: surveyors, commissioners, social workers, and doctors, all talking about evictions, condemnation, proceedings, proof of ownership and settlement. Not only were 500 families forced off the land, but most did not qualify for compensation.”
Even if I was inclined to travel, (and I’m not) I would never go there, knowing how it was established.
A definite recommend.
July 29, 2025
Magdalena Conti is a young German-Italian immigrant who has come to America in 1928, hoping to build a better life for her daughter and herself. Lena, as she is called, is first subjected to the indignity and bigotry she encounters at Ellis Island, before she can start a new life in Virginia with a distant cousin, caring for his home and children. But there is fear in the mountains among the families who’ve lived there for many generations, as the government threatens to take over their land and homes, and even more horrifically, taking away their children. In Lena, author Ellen Marie Wiseman has given us a main character who is strong and resilient, living through very scary times. The eugenics movement in America was one of the most atrocious and shameful things to ever happen in America, and this book brings it to light in a very honest, raw, and personal manner. I was seething throughout the book, filled with despair myself, and at times it was Lena herself who calmed me down, the hope that got her through every dark day wove itself into my own heart. The author gets right to the heart of the mistreatment of immigrants, the prejudice shown toward anyone the government didn’t deem worthy of basic human rights; folks deprived of humanity because they were poor or uneducated. Although this book was at times heart-wrenching, there were beautiful and wonderful moments as well, as family and community came together to care for each other. The relationships that Lena herself established with the children she cared for, and especially the love for her own daughter, were heartwarming and wondrous in a world that could be unspeakably cruel. All in all, The Lies They Told is a memorable story that will forever live in my heart and soul. I received an advance readers edition of this book.
May 13, 2025
The author herself admits in the afterward that she had *just recently learned what eugenics was* before writing this book and it’s quite clear in her writing. The book is riddled with ableism and completely neglects the lives and stories of the people who actually lived through these horrors and the people who are still directly impacted by them today. There is not a single disabled character or character of color in the entire story. Even when the German main character is sent to a eugenics camp, she does not interact with a single character who is not white and able-bodied. She spends the whole book whining about how, since she isn’t disabled, she doesn’t deserve for the eugenicists to treat her the way they treat disabled people, completely neglecting the fact that actual disabled people at the time also did not deserve to be imprisoned and tortured. It’s like the Boy in the Striped Pajamas all over again. It feels like the author read one article about this chapter in history and tried to write a story around it without an ounce of heart, empathy, or research. It reads as half-baked, emotionally flat, and ignorant. My staff was so appalled reading the ARC that we canceled our orders for this book.
This is yet another case of a major publisher throwing all their marketing dollars at a white author who is woefully unprepared to write about such a serious topic, posturing them as doing something socially important, while neglecting all the wonderful, nuanced, well-researched, and important books about similar topics written by marginalized authors that published within the same house. With fascism on the rise, why is Penguin pushing THIS whitewashed and historically inaccurate book as “an uplifting novel of social injustice?” We’re sick of it at our bookstore.
This is yet another case of a major publisher throwing all their marketing dollars at a white author who is woefully unprepared to write about such a serious topic, posturing them as doing something socially important, while neglecting all the wonderful, nuanced, well-researched, and important books about similar topics written by marginalized authors that published within the same house. With fascism on the rise, why is Penguin pushing THIS whitewashed and historically inaccurate book as “an uplifting novel of social injustice?” We’re sick of it at our bookstore.
September 15, 2025
This book was amazing and devastating all at the same time. A peak into our not so great history as the country who welcomes everyone. I couldn't help but fall in love with the characters but Bonnie was by far my favorite. The writing was beautiful and engaging. A must read!
January 18, 2025
In Ellen Marie Wiseman's latest novel, a young immigrant mother's world teeters on the edge of despair.
The story begins when Lena Conti finds herself alone in rural 1930s Virginia, her family torn from her at Ellis Island. Her new home, a weather-beaten cabin nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, offers both sanctuary and sorrow.
Lena discovers solace in the embrace of a lively community, yet simultaneously faces the festering underbelly of prejudice and inequity. The dark cloud of Virginia's eugenics policies hangs heavy, seeking to label and ostracize those deemed unfit. Lena's vulnerability is exploited when she is falsely accused of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, leading to her imprisonment in a colony for the "feebleminded." With her daughter's future hanging in the balance, Lena must make agonizing decisions to safeguard her loved ones.
A heavy air of dread permeates the narrative, mirroring the grim realities of the eugenics era. Wiseman's prose is vivid and immersive, depicting both the enchanting allure of the mountains and the disfigured face of societal bias.
Her characters are complex, and Lena's unwavering determination strikes a resonant chord. Separated from her family and threatened with forced sterilization, her resilience mirrors that of many immigrants seeking a better life.
Silas Wolfe, a gruff relative, provides shelter and gradually reveals a compassionate side, forming a bond with Lena and her daughter. He serves as a link between Lena's past and present, offering stability in chaos.
The children under Silas's care are portrayed as vulnerable, reflecting society's failures. They are taught to hide from authorities due to systemic prejudice, highlighting its devastating effects on the defenseless.
A social worker from the Eugenics Office embodies oppressive forces, guided by a dehumanizing system that targets those deemed "inferior," adding urgency and tension to the narrative. Each character contributes to the story's emotional depth, highlighting marginalized communities' struggles and resilience.
While the novel occasionally dips into familiar tropes of social injustice, Wiseman's captivating storytelling and faithful recreation of history make for a gripping read. The universal themes of survival, hope, and resistance against oppression are poignant and timely.
Ellen Marie Wiseman is renowned for her conscientious research and talent for resurrecting overlooked historical episodes.
A truly exceptional novel about a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in American history, one that should never be forgotten.
The story begins when Lena Conti finds herself alone in rural 1930s Virginia, her family torn from her at Ellis Island. Her new home, a weather-beaten cabin nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains, offers both sanctuary and sorrow.
Lena discovers solace in the embrace of a lively community, yet simultaneously faces the festering underbelly of prejudice and inequity. The dark cloud of Virginia's eugenics policies hangs heavy, seeking to label and ostracize those deemed unfit. Lena's vulnerability is exploited when she is falsely accused of promiscuity and feeblemindedness, leading to her imprisonment in a colony for the "feebleminded." With her daughter's future hanging in the balance, Lena must make agonizing decisions to safeguard her loved ones.
A heavy air of dread permeates the narrative, mirroring the grim realities of the eugenics era. Wiseman's prose is vivid and immersive, depicting both the enchanting allure of the mountains and the disfigured face of societal bias.
Her characters are complex, and Lena's unwavering determination strikes a resonant chord. Separated from her family and threatened with forced sterilization, her resilience mirrors that of many immigrants seeking a better life.
Silas Wolfe, a gruff relative, provides shelter and gradually reveals a compassionate side, forming a bond with Lena and her daughter. He serves as a link between Lena's past and present, offering stability in chaos.
The children under Silas's care are portrayed as vulnerable, reflecting society's failures. They are taught to hide from authorities due to systemic prejudice, highlighting its devastating effects on the defenseless.
A social worker from the Eugenics Office embodies oppressive forces, guided by a dehumanizing system that targets those deemed "inferior," adding urgency and tension to the narrative. Each character contributes to the story's emotional depth, highlighting marginalized communities' struggles and resilience.
While the novel occasionally dips into familiar tropes of social injustice, Wiseman's captivating storytelling and faithful recreation of history make for a gripping read. The universal themes of survival, hope, and resistance against oppression are poignant and timely.
Ellen Marie Wiseman is renowned for her conscientious research and talent for resurrecting overlooked historical episodes.
A truly exceptional novel about a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in American history, one that should never be forgotten.
September 2, 2025
Set in early 20th-century America, "The Lies They Told" tells the story of Lena, a young woman who arrives at Ellis Island full of the American Dream, only to immediately collide with the dark realities of the eugenics movement and the forced displacement of immigrants and families. I went into this book with high expectations, having enjoyed Wiseman's work in the past, and she delivered. This is another solid story that pulls back the curtain on a piece of history rarely discussed, told through characters who feel as real as your neighbors.
I’ll admit, it took me longer than I’d like, and longer than I expected, to get going with this story. But once I did, the characters absolutely won me over. Their voices are distinct and deeply felt, and the audiobook narration only strengthens that — with Elisabeth Rodgers delivering an impressive range of convincing accents. Despite having read several other novels involving the eugenics movement, I still found Wiseman’s take fresh and impactful. I had no idea that something we consider such a national treasure — the establishment of our national parks — came at such devastating human cost.It’s appalling what was done to these families. This is the kind of hidden history every American student should encounter: painful, eye-opening, and yet approachable through tender, character-driven storytelling.
Readers who love immersive historical fiction, especially those who want a break from yet another WWII narrative, or those who enjoy stories that engage with difficult social truths will likely find "The Lies They Told" both compelling and necessary.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, and Ellen Marie Wiseman for an advance copy of the book for honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I’ll admit, it took me longer than I’d like, and longer than I expected, to get going with this story. But once I did, the characters absolutely won me over. Their voices are distinct and deeply felt, and the audiobook narration only strengthens that — with Elisabeth Rodgers delivering an impressive range of convincing accents. Despite having read several other novels involving the eugenics movement, I still found Wiseman’s take fresh and impactful. I had no idea that something we consider such a national treasure — the establishment of our national parks — came at such devastating human cost.It’s appalling what was done to these families. This is the kind of hidden history every American student should encounter: painful, eye-opening, and yet approachable through tender, character-driven storytelling.
Readers who love immersive historical fiction, especially those who want a break from yet another WWII narrative, or those who enjoy stories that engage with difficult social truths will likely find "The Lies They Told" both compelling and necessary.
Thank you to NetGalley, RBMedia, and Ellen Marie Wiseman for an advance copy of the book for honest review. 4.5 stars rounded up.
October 19, 2025
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 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.
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 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.
September 7, 2025
I have been telling everyone about this book. It was so, SO good!
When Lena comes to America, the golden hopes and dreams are quashed when her family is separated at Ellis Island, leaving Lena and her daughter alone. These dreams are further demolished when she finds herself in a small shanty helping a distant relative with his children, a living that is incredibly precarious for so many reasons.
This book was riveting, powerful and heartbreaking with fabulous narration by Elisabeth Rodgers. I recommend this to fans of historical fiction, especially those who love moving stories.
When Lena comes to America, the golden hopes and dreams are quashed when her family is separated at Ellis Island, leaving Lena and her daughter alone. These dreams are further demolished when she finds herself in a small shanty helping a distant relative with his children, a living that is incredibly precarious for so many reasons.
This book was riveting, powerful and heartbreaking with fabulous narration by Elisabeth Rodgers. I recommend this to fans of historical fiction, especially those who love moving stories.
September 14, 2025
This book has solid bones and an intriguing synopsis. Unfortunately it wasn’t a complete home run for me. I found the writing very dry and the characters one dimensional. The overall plot kept me reading though.
August 8, 2025
The Lies They Told is the second book of Ellen Marie Wiseman's that fits so well with current events it's like she predicted the future while writing about the past. (The previous time was when The Orphan Collector released during the pandemic.)
This historical fiction novel is about the eugenics movement that started in the US in the 1920s. The novel opens with Lena and her family immigrating to the US and how poorly they are treated upon arrival. Eugenics plays into this part, as well. From there, Lena is faced with a lot of challenges when she goes to live with her distant cousin Silas and his children.
The story is really well-told and I cared so much for the characters. I was extremely angry and horrified on their behalves when people accused them of being feebleminded and promiscuous, just to take their home and livelihood away. I wish this had been published prior to last November so people could learn that this may be a possibility again. Especially with someone who knows nothing about health and medicine saying that autism is a disease and claiming people who are autistic can't lead normal lives. If that angers you, the situation in this novel will too...as it should!
This novel pairs well with Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland, as that novel talks a lot about Carrie Buck, who is mentioned briefly in The Lies They Told. Both would be great for a book club discussion.
Ellen has once again proven what an amazing historical fiction writer she is and I encourage you to get this one as soon as possible, and read her others as well! I recommended this to a friend recently and she told me that she can't stop thinking about it.
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting suggestions (you can see Ellen's suggestions here):
This historical fiction novel is about the eugenics movement that started in the US in the 1920s. The novel opens with Lena and her family immigrating to the US and how poorly they are treated upon arrival. Eugenics plays into this part, as well. From there, Lena is faced with a lot of challenges when she goes to live with her distant cousin Silas and his children.
The story is really well-told and I cared so much for the characters. I was extremely angry and horrified on their behalves when people accused them of being feebleminded and promiscuous, just to take their home and livelihood away. I wish this had been published prior to last November so people could learn that this may be a possibility again. Especially with someone who knows nothing about health and medicine saying that autism is a disease and claiming people who are autistic can't lead normal lives. If that angers you, the situation in this novel will too...as it should!
This novel pairs well with Counting Backwards by Jacqueline Friedland, as that novel talks a lot about Carrie Buck, who is mentioned briefly in The Lies They Told. Both would be great for a book club discussion.
Ellen has once again proven what an amazing historical fiction writer she is and I encourage you to get this one as soon as possible, and read her others as well! I recommended this to a friend recently and she told me that she can't stop thinking about it.
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting suggestions (you can see Ellen's suggestions here):
Lena: Izabela Vidovic
Silas: David Harbour
Bonnie: Avery Tiiu Essex
Teensy: Chrissy Metz
Miriam Sizer: Molly Hagan
George Pollock: Tim Rozon
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TW: Forced sterilization, forced institutionalization, suicide, death of parents, medical descriptions, arson, forced separation of family, death of children/babies (off page), death from childbirth (off page)
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TW: Forced sterilization, forced institutionalization, suicide, death of parents, medical descriptions, arson, forced separation of family, death of children/babies (off page), death from childbirth (off page)
July 30, 2025
I went between the physical and audiobook for this one. The audiobook, which was narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers, was really well done and I really enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of Ellen Marie Wiseman's books. This is the third book I have read by her and it is definitely another winner.
In the 1930’s, Lena Conti, is an unwed mother and immigrant from Germany, who has come to the US to stay with a widowed family relative in Virginia. She wants to give her young daughter the best chance at a better life, free of poverty.
The descriptions of the process these immigrants went through sound so rigorous and tough on them. And then the social injustices that happened like the eugenics program. The state of Virginia paints these people as ignorant , immoral and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.” Lena's daughter is then taken from her by the eugenics office. They accuse Lena of promiscuity and feeble-mindedness and send her to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics. Now, Lena faces impossible choices to try and get her daughter back, and to protect her family and the land she has grown to love.
The author did a fantastic job depicting this time period and showing how hard it was to survive poverty. It made me SO MAD reading about these people in power taking advantage of their position and treating the people so horrible. Such a well written historical fiction book. I have been loving HF lately. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Uplitreads for the gifted copy.
In the 1930’s, Lena Conti, is an unwed mother and immigrant from Germany, who has come to the US to stay with a widowed family relative in Virginia. She wants to give her young daughter the best chance at a better life, free of poverty.
The descriptions of the process these immigrants went through sound so rigorous and tough on them. And then the social injustices that happened like the eugenics program. The state of Virginia paints these people as ignorant , immoral and backwards so they can evict them from their land, seize children from parents, and deal with those possessing “inferior genes.” Lena's daughter is then taken from her by the eugenics office. They accuse Lena of promiscuity and feeble-mindedness and send her to the Virginia State Colony for the Feebleminded and Epileptics. Now, Lena faces impossible choices to try and get her daughter back, and to protect her family and the land she has grown to love.
The author did a fantastic job depicting this time period and showing how hard it was to survive poverty. It made me SO MAD reading about these people in power taking advantage of their position and treating the people so horrible. Such a well written historical fiction book. I have been loving HF lately. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Uplitreads for the gifted copy.
November 8, 2025
2.5 stars- This book filled me with anxiety and horror. I have read a lot of historical fiction lately and I have read about a lot of awful things that people have done in the past, but I have to say that this one takes the cake.
Lena travels from Germany with her family to start a new life. Unfortunately things go wrong once they enter Ellis Island and she is separated from some of her family. She settles into her new life in Virginia but then finds out her new home is not as secure as she thought. Things go from bad to worse as people's land is being taken as well as their children. This is not a bad book in terms of the writing. I think it is very well written. I just found that the subject matter was hard for me to deal with at this point in my life. It was just horribly tragic and I didn't feel like the ending really improved the situation much. I know it is based on real events and I do think books like this are important but I think sometimes when you read too many books like this it does begin to affect you.
Lena travels from Germany with her family to start a new life. Unfortunately things go wrong once they enter Ellis Island and she is separated from some of her family. She settles into her new life in Virginia but then finds out her new home is not as secure as she thought. Things go from bad to worse as people's land is being taken as well as their children. This is not a bad book in terms of the writing. I think it is very well written. I just found that the subject matter was hard for me to deal with at this point in my life. It was just horribly tragic and I didn't feel like the ending really improved the situation much. I know it is based on real events and I do think books like this are important but I think sometimes when you read too many books like this it does begin to affect you.
August 16, 2025
Amazing. Stories like this one is what makes historical fiction so very good.
I took advantage of an audio version and the production was stellar. The narrator truly brought the characters to life. Emotions were palpable
This story was so emotional and heartbreaking. I felt torn in two, numerous moments that gave me the chills and a single jaw dropping moment that crushed my soul.
The heartbreak was counter balanced by hope and love
I took advantage of an audio version and the production was stellar. The narrator truly brought the characters to life. Emotions were palpable
This story was so emotional and heartbreaking. I felt torn in two, numerous moments that gave me the chills and a single jaw dropping moment that crushed my soul.
The heartbreak was counter balanced by hope and love
February 27, 2025
I just finished The Lies They Told and I'm speechless. Speechless because of this story. There are few books that I have read that permeates my whole being. This story while dealing with tough but true historical facts made me fall in love with the characters.
Ellen Marie Wiseman creates stories from historical events that have been long forgotten. I can't even imagine how she is feeling while researching these tough topics but she brings to light in such a delicate manner these lesser known events and not only that but she creates her characters as if they were real.
Trust me when I say this is a must read and is going to probably be my favorite book this year.
Ellen Marie Wiseman creates stories from historical events that have been long forgotten. I can't even imagine how she is feeling while researching these tough topics but she brings to light in such a delicate manner these lesser known events and not only that but she creates her characters as if they were real.
Trust me when I say this is a must read and is going to probably be my favorite book this year.
July 13, 2025
This is a beautifully written, well-researched historical fiction novel. It has a likable and sympathetic female protagonist, and vividly depicts the horrors and degradations experienced by some immigrants upon arriving at Ellis Island, and the brutality suffered by many people from the disturbing practice of eugenics in the 1920's in the United States. This novel also offers a message of hope and healing. I found the song to be especially moving. The author's notes and discussion questions are interesting and enlightening, and are truly appreciated. I won an advanced reader copy of this fabulous historical fiction novel as a member of Kensington Books Between The Chapters Book Club. This is my honest opinion.
July 25, 2025
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.
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.
June 11, 2025
I honestly wasn’t prepared for how much this book would get to me.
I don’t usually read a lot of historical fiction or literary fiction…. and this was my first time reading anything by Ellen Marie Wiseman.. but wow, I’m so glad I picked this up. It completely pulled me in and left me thinking about it long after I finished. It was heartbreaking, eye-opening, and just… powerful.
The story follows Lena, a young German woman who comes to the U.S. in the early 1930s with her little girl, Ella. She’s hoping for a better life, but things start to fall apart almost immediately. At Ellis Island, her mom and brother are sent back to Germany, and she and Ella are allowed to stay — and from there, things get dark fast.
The book dives into America’s history with eugenics — something I honestly didn’t know much about going in. And when I read the author’s note at the end, I was stunned. This is one of those stories that makes you want to pause and just sit with it. It’s heavy. At times it was really hard to read — especially the last quarter — but it also felt important. And real. And very human.
There were moments I had to stop and take a breath because the pain these characters go through is just that intense. But I’m really glad I stuck with it. This is one of those stories that lingers.
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing for the ARC — I won a paperback copy through a Review for Between the Chapters.
If you’re in the mood for something emotional and based on a heartbreaking piece of real history — this is one I absolutely recommend. Just… maybe have tissues nearby.
I don’t usually read a lot of historical fiction or literary fiction…. and this was my first time reading anything by Ellen Marie Wiseman.. but wow, I’m so glad I picked this up. It completely pulled me in and left me thinking about it long after I finished. It was heartbreaking, eye-opening, and just… powerful.
The story follows Lena, a young German woman who comes to the U.S. in the early 1930s with her little girl, Ella. She’s hoping for a better life, but things start to fall apart almost immediately. At Ellis Island, her mom and brother are sent back to Germany, and she and Ella are allowed to stay — and from there, things get dark fast.
The book dives into America’s history with eugenics — something I honestly didn’t know much about going in. And when I read the author’s note at the end, I was stunned. This is one of those stories that makes you want to pause and just sit with it. It’s heavy. At times it was really hard to read — especially the last quarter — but it also felt important. And real. And very human.
There were moments I had to stop and take a breath because the pain these characters go through is just that intense. But I’m really glad I stuck with it. This is one of those stories that lingers.
Huge thank you to Kensington Publishing for the ARC — I won a paperback copy through a Review for Between the Chapters.
If you’re in the mood for something emotional and based on a heartbreaking piece of real history — this is one I absolutely recommend. Just… maybe have tissues nearby.
May 11, 2025
This is a heartbreaking story about the Eugenics program that was implemented in the United States in the early 1900’s. I was shocked to learn that “the United States was the first country in the world to undertake forced sterilization programs, and that the Nazi party in Germany took many of its policies, procedures, and theories from American eugenicists.”
Ellen Marie Wiseman has written many well researched and interesting historical novels and I have enjoyed and learned from them all. This story’s main character is a young German women named Lena Conti, who was seeking a better life when she immigrated to America with her baby, mother and brother.
Lena’s suffering started at Ellis Island and continued as she resettled in the Blue Ridge Mountain area with a distant relative. What happened to her and that family was very disturbing. The Eugenics Program not only separated mother’s and children but also sterilized them to prevent future “unfit” children from procreating. I found this historical story to be disturbing and informative and Lena’s story needed to be told. .
Ellen Marie Wiseman has written many well researched and interesting historical novels and I have enjoyed and learned from them all. This story’s main character is a young German women named Lena Conti, who was seeking a better life when she immigrated to America with her baby, mother and brother.
Lena’s suffering started at Ellis Island and continued as she resettled in the Blue Ridge Mountain area with a distant relative. What happened to her and that family was very disturbing. The Eugenics Program not only separated mother’s and children but also sterilized them to prevent future “unfit” children from procreating. I found this historical story to be disturbing and informative and Lena’s story needed to be told. .
August 10, 2025
I really wanted to love this book. And I think the history is so important. But the writing was truly awful. The main character constantly had to “grasp on to something” in order to avoid falling in most scenes. It caused my eyeballs to roll so hard by the end. And it was quite racist, ableist, and even antisemitic. Yeah, no. I don’t understand the gushy reviews.
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