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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Mother and Child by Alexa Kingaard primarily revolves around two women, seemingly on opposite ends of the fertility spectrum. Emma, a young woman living in 1950s Canada, unexpectedly becomes pregnant and faces the social and legal issues of being an unwed mother in that era. Emma is given very little choice but to give up her child for adoption. Meanwhile, Ruthie and her husband James, an American couple who have suffered multiple miscarriages, are struggling with their inability to conceive. They discover that Canadian adoption laws offer them a potential solution, and despite their initial uncertainties, they pursue the chance to adopt. Fate brings Emma's and Ruthie’s paths together in a heartbreaking but necessary resolution for Emma, and the chance to finally have a child for Ruthie, but all is not as it seems.
Mother and Child by Alexa Kingaard is an interesting portrayal of the emotional and societal issues of women maneuvering through motherhood, identity, and expectations in 1950s America and Canada. The plot feels familiar—an unwed pregnancy, a couple pursuing adoption—but Kingaard has a twist that makes the story feel a little more singular. The writing is straightforward and simple, with good mid-century details and two female protagonists we definitely want to root for. Ruthie and Emma are both fully fleshed out and a pleasure to spend my reading time with. It did cross my mind why Ruthie and James only discussed the possibility of adopting a Caucasian baby, but a quick online search led me to find that, legally, it was the only option for them. The ending wraps up tidily and is as surprising as it is happy, and I think readers who enjoy quick and easily digestible stories will appreciate Kingaard's pacing and resolution. Recommended.
