The Stone Sister

by Caroline Patterson

Spanning the mid to late 20th century and set in the Elkhorn Valley of southwestern Montana, The Stone Sister is told from three points of view -- a father's, a nurse's, and a sister's. Together they tell the unforgettable story of a child's birth, disappearance, and finally discovery in a home for "backward children." Robert Carter, a newly married man just back from World War II, struggles with his and his wife's decision to entrust the care of their disabled child to an institution and "move on" with family life. Louise Gustafson, a Midwestern nurse who starts over with a new life in the West, finds herself caring for a child everyone else has abandoned. And Elizabeth Carter, a young journalist, uncovers the family secret of her lost sister as she struggles with starting a family of her own.

The Stone Sister explores the power of family secrets and society's evolving definitions of "normal"--as it pertains to family, medicine, and social structure. The novel sheds light on the beginnings of the disability justice movement as it follows one family's journey to reckon with a painful past. Incredibly, the novel is based on Caroline Patterson's personal story. As an adult, she discovered she had an older sister with Down syndrome who had been written out of her family history. In fact, that sister's name was also Caroline Patterson.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club

409 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2022

Reviews

[BLDinMT · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waffled between three and four stars on this one, ultimately selecting three stars because of two factors. After a solid foundation of character and place/time development at the start of the book, and then a page-turning dramatic middle section...I thought the ending was rushed and weak. Also, there were a dozen+ typos/editing errors that detracted from my reading experience (but could be remedied in additional printings of the book).

It was a rather fascinating glimpse into a dark phase of Montana's (and, by extension, America's) past treatment of citizens who are different than societal norms.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So moving and heartbreaking. Poignant and sensitive rendering of a incredible true story. The thematic ties of motherhood, pregnancy, and painfully intense love are strong between the three interweaving stories of Louise, Bob and Mary, and Elizabeth and Tom.

[Marina Richie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down--riveting, poignant, loving, tragic, and redemptive--all woven into the Montana landscape. The writing is gorgeous. I agree with Ann Patchett--this book will stay with me for a long time. The characters are finely portrayed and complex. Caroline's research into archives and history is compelling and adds even more depth to the characters and plot. I think my favorite character is Louise!

[Ruth Garcia-Corrales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stone Sister is a story told in different periods of time which makes it interesting and makes you pay more attention. The institutionalization of Down’s syndrome newborns taken from their parents following the rules before the 70s was heartbroken and painful. I was captivated and read to the end. One of my favorites for now. Great reading.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not exactly sure how to rate this one. I appreciate that it's a lot of the author's own story, and I think the story itself it worth thinking about. I enjoyed the descriptions of places in Montana (I live here, so I'm probably biased). I think doctors and nurses have often been vilified for the way patients are treated in places like these, so I think it was refreshing to look at another perspective on why the conditions in places like these were so often terrible. However, the many typos and the discrepancies in the dates, including the one that was a decade off, were distracting and frustrating. I also didn't enjoy the coarseness of the tone. There wasn't anything graphic, but some of the scenes and the way they were written just made the book feel, I don't know, too raw and uncouth or something (and I'm not talking about Lizzy and The Stone House - that would be expected). Montana is kind of that way I suppose, but still. I also wish that we could have gotten to know Lizzy much better - everything we know about her was based off of a couple very small scenes and what people said about her at the end. I feel like it would have been nice to have gotten to know her better through Louise, and to have felt why she loved her so much.

[Amber Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. I loved the uniqueness of this book and the fact that it so closely mirrored her own family history. I also really loved how "Montana" it was. All through the book I was recognizing places and enjoying my own memories while reading hers. The history of treatment for individuals who were not "normal" was fascinating and horrifying all at once. This story also hit close to home as I have a niece who probably would not have survived long and if she had, she would have been in a home such as the ones in this book. Thankfully, she is almost 8 and is being raised in a loving home surrounded by family. It's amazing what a few decades changed in how these people are treated. My only negative thoughts on this book are the errors (kindle version, maybe a physical version is cleaner?) and the set up. I think it would have been easier on the reader to title each chapter with the point of view and year. All the changing up with people and time frames had me a little dizzy at times.

[Lynn Ingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found the initial read a bit daunting with the character development, once I got into the flow with it all, I could not put this book down. Having been raised in Montana, not far from Boulder in Butte, I was aware as a child of both the home for children and also the home for adults, which were two separate facilities back then. The school took students to view both facilities and that trip so terrified me after reports from other children that I convinced my parents to let me stay home/skip that trip. I'm sure the original thought to segregate these children was well intended but Caroline writes so beautifully of all the tragic circumstances that followed that era of institutionalization. It is a heartrending book, an accurate one, and I applaud the author for confronting the demons of her family in such a beautiful way. Definitely a recommended read.

[Eliana Lambros · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stone Sister follows Elizabeth, a young woman who discovers she has a sister she’s never met- one born with Down Syndrome and institutionalized at birth in small-town Montana. The story unfolds through three perspectives: Elizabeth’s, her father’s decades earlier as he wrestles with the secret existence of this daughter, and the nurse at the Stone Home who raised and loved her. The novel paints a haunting portrait of how society has treated people with developmental disabilities, exploring the painful pursuit of ‘normalcy’ and the toll of secrecy, guilt and denial. The Stone Sister is based on true events from Caroline Patterson’s own life, making it both deeply personal and profoundly unsettling. I did feel that it could have been more tightly edited- some sections would have had greater impact and shock-value with more focus.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't stopped thinking about Caroline Patterson's "The Stone Sister" since finishing it a few days ago. That's usually a sign of a writer that can build great characters and keep the reader (me) interested. I loved her character Louise - a hard-working nurse with a hard edge, and a soft spot for her special charge. I don't want to say too much because of spoilers, but I can say that the topic of the warehousing of the developmentally challenged (during the mid-century and beyond) was handled very deftly and by Caroline Patterson.

Note: NOT affecting my review, there were a couple glaring non-edits or mis-edits. But that is a Black Lawrence Press fail, not the author's.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book... it jumped around sometimes in nonsensical ways, sometimes repetitive in a "you already told me that" way.
Also, it is based on the author's own life, so did we need that detail for example of the character that parodied her dad masturbating? Just enough cringe to detract from the story. I didn't appreciate the swearing and sometimes graphic nature.
I did appreciate the Montana setting, my state, I live here and love it.
Also, frustration that she never found her sister despite "looking" for what... 8 years? In the same state? I don't know, I guess, what the 80's were like. That difficult? It seems a few well placed phone calls...
Meh, all around.

[Nicole Beyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was based in Montana loosely based on the author's family experiences with dealing with a downs syndrome baby in the 50's= anyone from MT will recognize that the towns aren't correctly located but the story has really had me thinking... what would I do in Bob and Mary's place? At times I was frustrated to the point of anger with them and at others, I realize it was a completely different time in history where things were just handled differently as a matter of course.

[Margie Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo to author Caroline Patterson! Thanks to her courage, research, beautifully crafted story, characters and prose, I could not put this book down! It is a most gripping story with insights into truths difficult to face. The images and voices of key characters have left a deep impression that will stay with me a long time. A great selection for book discussion.

[Cynthia Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating story of a young couple and the difficult choice they make--and how that choice affects their family over the years. Montana is not only the setting but a way to see into the feelings of the characters. My favorite passage in the book: "She wanted to drive west forever. It was a direction she believed in." I loved it.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for 2023 Missoula Library challenge-book with 400 or more pages. Book was pretty good but timeline got confusing at times. Chapters jumped all over the place with no clear year indicated. Other than that it was good. Based on true account of author which was also very interesting to read about.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Baby with downs is entered into a institution in the mid 50s. The town knows, and the parents, esp the mom, do not talk about it. The girl winds up being adopted by a nurse who cares for her. Her sister finds out belatedly about her existence and looks for her only to find that she has died. An author who lives in Missoula.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book written by my former neighbor. The editing was poor ( Mis-spellings or typos), but the story is very engaging. In addition, two of my children are mentioned, not by name, but by characteristic activities.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written! I found this book thought-provoking and well researched. What an injustice was done to the children who were sent away as well as the families who have them up. Let us hope that history never repeats itself.

[Susan Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story about a family who has a baby with Down’s syndrome back in the 1950s. It was the couple’s first child and their doctor advised them to put her in an institution for the mentally retarded. It’s a story that will stick with me.

[Kate Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took awhile to get into it…but it was a very well done. Based on a true story…true to the author. Many difficult decisions that affected the whole family and an entire lifetime. it made you think… What is the right thing to do?

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this book so I hesitate to say much. I only hope mistakes are corrected before publication.

[Halley Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much. A compelling and compassionately told story.

[Sally Lentz]

Heart wrenching, complicated and full of emotion in so many ways.
A look into the wrong doings of the times.

[Gary Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally absorbing, very hard to put down...characters, plot, and history all melded together beautifully into a beautifully written novel. Highly recommended.

[Rita Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the authors life. A little slow and too much from multiple POV.

[Madlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t dislike it but it gave me weird dreams and it’s kind of a bummer all the way through. But it is well written and I didn’t get bored reading it.

[Barb Asleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the content which was based on a true story was very interesting, I didn’t think the book was very well written. It was very slow and sluggish especially in the beginning.

[Amy Tykeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is hard to imagine finding out as an adult that you have another sibling. Not only that, she bears your same name. This remarkable story, while fictionalized, happened to author, Caroline Patterson. It gives pause to know, not too long ago, children with Down syndrome were sent to poorly funded institutions and the advice to the parents was to “move on” and forget them. This story has stuck with me, I’ve passed it on…

[Tom McNeal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an astonishing story and, given the jacket notes, it's no giveaway that its factual source is astonishing as well. Oddly, the revelation of that source feels critical here--that a couple would give up one child to the state and then give their subsequent child the same name would strain credulity if it weren't for the fact that it actually happened.

Patterson's an accomplished writer and she's satisfied to let the strands of her story spool out and reel us in. There are great details here of the 50's and 60's (who remembers swinging back the doors of the Magnavox to watch TV?), lots of quick humor, and the occasional pearl (my favorite was the earthy hostess who says to a guest who's trying to refuse dessert, "Nonsense. Everyone needs pie. The world needs pie."). Still, this is ultimately a sad book. To her credit, Patterson turns the subject so it's seen from every angle, each as defensible and imperfect as the next.

The sadness and suspense builds, and the ending is powerful indeed.