“From the 1960s, baby brokers persuaded often Indigenous Mayan women to give up newborns while kidnappers ‘disappeared’ babies.”
The Guardian
An English Couple, a Ukrainian Surrogate and a Baby: the Extraordinary Story of How War United Two Unlikely Families
“Anastasia was living in Zaporizhzhia and was pregnant with Dorothy and Charlie’s baby. Then Russia invaded and she knew she had to escape to save the child.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week we’re showcasing stories from Mari Cohen, Brenna Ehrlich, Grace Glassman, Tad Friend, and Imogen West-Knights.
‘How Do You Reduce a National Dish to a Powder?’: The Weird, Secretive World of Crisp Flavors
“Why can you buy lasagne flavour snacks in Thailand but not in Italy? Which country can cope with the hottest chili? And why do Germans like paprika so much?”
One Swedish Zoo, Seven Escaped Chimpanzees
“The great apes at Furuvik Zoo broke free from their enclosure last winter. This is the story of the most dramatic 72 hours of their lives.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Featuring reads from Scott Huler, Sophie Elmhirst, Lauren Smiley, Brian Payton, and Caity Weaver.
Last Love: a Romance in a Care Home
“Mary and Derek weren’t the first couple to get together at Easterlea Rest Home. But those other relationships had been more like friendships – and this was something else entirely.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
“Featuring reads from Grace Glass and Sasha Tycko, Max Graham, Alex Blasdel, James Somers, and Ben Goldfarb.”
A Violent Murder, a Child on Death Row
“Paula Cooper was 15 when she murdered 77-year-old Ruth Pelke in her Indiana home, and was sentenced to death. But a campaign for her life came from an unexpected quarter.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week we’re recommending stories by Zarlasht Halaimzai, Gloria Liu, E. Jean Carroll, Amy Margolis, and Chris Colin.