You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
I want to say that I really loved this book but it was bittersweet for me. My great grandmother was a British Home Child, and the idea that she may have suffered the way the characters in this book did breaks my heart. My great grandmother was brought to Quebec, Canada in 1924 at the age of 15, her mother had passed away and her father couldn’t take care of her anymore. She left behind two younger brothers and never saw her family again. Incidentally she was an alcoholic for most of her life, maybe that dulled the pain of the past. This book really brings to light the suffering and trauma of so many innocent children.
Wow. Has been a long long time since a book made me cry. This was a very powerful book and then reading three info at the end. Unbelievable that people treated children that way. Such a happy ending but very powerful book.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Too many disturbing events and violence. Always a feeling of helplessness.
This book was excellent, hard to put down! I finished it in approximately one day. The storyline was interesting (and based on true events) and the writing was well done.
A tragic tale that had ups and many downs, well worth a read.
A tragic tale that had ups and many downs, well worth a read.
This book grabs your heart and doesn't let go! I was immediately pulled in with the story of Winny and her recalling her past with her granddaughter and great grandson.
The book focuses on the story from both Winny and Jack's point of view, while also being narrated by the currently 97 year old Winny.
Winny met Jack and his Sister Mary on the streets of London, where they became a family, only to be scooped up by an orphanage and later taken to Canada to serve as home boys and home girls with families there. The children were put to work and treated so badly.
Throughout the book, Winny opens these painful memories back up and shares them, things they never told anyone.
The way the author wrote it, you already know part of the ending, so you want to read about the events that get them there.
I loved the ending of this book! It was great closure to the story! Part of me wishes it was longer at the end to tell more of Bill and Winnys story, but the focus was not on that, it was on Winny and what happened in her life; overall I'm glad the author kept that as the focus.
Will most definitely be getting this book and reading it again!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback
The book focuses on the story from both Winny and Jack's point of view, while also being narrated by the currently 97 year old Winny.
Winny met Jack and his Sister Mary on the streets of London, where they became a family, only to be scooped up by an orphanage and later taken to Canada to serve as home boys and home girls with families there. The children were put to work and treated so badly.
Throughout the book, Winny opens these painful memories back up and shares them, things they never told anyone.
The way the author wrote it, you already know part of the ending, so you want to read about the events that get them there.
I loved the ending of this book! It was great closure to the story! Part of me wishes it was longer at the end to tell more of Bill and Winnys story, but the focus was not on that, it was on Winny and what happened in her life; overall I'm glad the author kept that as the focus.
Will most definitely be getting this book and reading it again!
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback
Raced through this one. Couldn't put it down. The heartbreaking story is made more powerful by the real history it's based on. In the Author's Note, you can see how carefully Graham recorded the stories of the British Home Children in the novel. Moving.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced