I was so unaware that this was going on in North Carolina until 1975 that it pained me! These are characters that I will take with me the rest of my life! I loved this book and everyone I recommended it to loved it too!

Chamberlain reveals a shocking period in our time through the eyes of a young, intrepid social worker. Forced sterilization was a practice utilized for 20+ years under the guise of protecting the poor and feeble from the risk of pregnancy. This book will engulf and outrage you.

Our book club had not heard of Diane Chamberlain prior to Necessary Lies, but fell in love with the authors writing style, especially in the way she brings the characters to life. I grew up in NC and remember the Eugenics program, but then we did not know this is what sterilization of the illiterate and poverty stricken was actually called. We just knew it happened. Upon reading this tough subject, we had no idea how prevalent it really was nor how deceptive. This novel is truly compelling! It will hook you from the first to the last as you read with tears and disbelief and rally hope for Ivy, Mary Ella and Jane! I loved the book so much that I immediately started The Silent Sister. Wow! Another great story by is author. Will be reading more from her!

I didn't realize this was something that happened so regularly in the United States. Glad it is no longer an accepted practice.

The subject was difficult to read about but the story is heart wrenching and comes full circle. We had a great discussion.

Loved the development of the characters in this book, learning about the Eugenics program, Would have loved to know more about Janes character and life after the initial story and through the rest of her life.

Our group liked the characters in this book. We were surprised that such a young women could be so strong in her convictions that she would go against orders from her bosses at work. Several in our book club were unaware of this part of our history.

This was a great story. Diane Chamberlain has done it again touching on very current topics and getting right to the core of human emotions and behaviors. The characters are deep and believable. Highly recommend this book.

What really made this book fantastic was that the author, Diane Chamberlain Skyped with us and it was just like she was in the room with us. That was fantastic. She allowed us to ask any questions that we wanted.

An excellent look into the Eugenics program in rural North Carolina in 1960. Most of us were unaware of the existence of the plan and it led to much discussion of the characters, choices made and consequences.

Fantastic book club read. We were not aware of the eugenics program in North Carolina and to read this and realize the reality was extremely unsetting. The dynamics of this program is heart breaking. Great discussions/

Good insight into the eugenics program, how it was run, and the impact it had on many lives.

The author manages to write a great book about a terrible practice in much of our country involving the eugenics movement. It was enlightening for all of us.

This is a great read! Our club selected it without really knowing anything about the book on a recommendation. It is great to learn of America's history and what has happened in NC. It is about Jane and Ivy. Jane is a social worker and Ivy is very poor living on a tobacco farm. How their lives intertwine and work towards a better life for Ivy. The ending is great.

An engrossing and easy read.