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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
What a beautiful book! But it is hard to read at times so please be aware that this book is full of tough themes like child abuse, orphans, war, and tragedy. Overall, I really enjoyed reading about Winny and her resiliency despite the challenges life threw her way. I'm not Canadian, and had never heard of the British Home Children or Barnardo’s... but the US had similar initiatives and though the initial heart behind them may have been genuine, in actuality they were awful. Especially when I consider this in light as my role as a mom! But there is so much hope in Winny's story, as well as love and friendship, that the book is redeeming. I could see this being a fantastic book to discuss with a book club, and is all and all a great novel to get lost in on a rainy day!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
A genuinely wonderful work of fiction based on the real life Home Children. I enjoyed the different perspectives of young Winny, elder Winny, and Jack. The story brings to life a semi-hidden past of England and Canada that most people are unaware of and leaves the reader wanting to learn more. I was very satisfied with the ending and thought I had made it all the way through without tearing up and that's when the last paragraph broke me and I cried full heartfelt tears. I highly recommend this book.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Child death
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
Meticulously researched and written, Graham has written a lovely novel about British Home Children, which I knew a little of, but nothing like this.
It's a sweet story about resilience and family in its own way. It also tells the true story - as mentioned in the note from the author at the end of the book - about many, many, home children and what they went through.
Why the 3 stars then?
In many ways this novel felt artificial, light, and more focused on tying a nice little bow on things. Is some ways, it almost reminded me of the film Pearl Harbour, in which the romance is brought to the forefront over telling the gritty truth, and the relationship is the biggest takeaway from the movie. You leave satisfied, but it doesn't have the depth of substance that it perhaps should have had. If that makes any sense, haha.
While not my favorite read this year, it has given me some information about these children that I simply had no idea about. I'm glad that someone was able to tell their story as elegantly as Graham has done here.
It's a sweet story about resilience and family in its own way. It also tells the true story - as mentioned in the note from the author at the end of the book - about many, many, home children and what they went through.
Why the 3 stars then?
In many ways this novel felt artificial, light, and more focused on tying a nice little bow on things. Is some ways, it almost reminded me of the film Pearl Harbour, in which the romance is brought to the forefront over telling the gritty truth, and the relationship is the biggest takeaway from the movie. You leave satisfied, but it doesn't have the depth of substance that it perhaps should have had. If that makes any sense, haha.
While not my favorite read this year, it has given me some information about these children that I simply had no idea about. I'm glad that someone was able to tell their story as elegantly as Graham has done here.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was the saddest book I've read in awhile. I'm glad I read it.
Did you know an estimated 100,000 - 120,000 children were trafficked from England to Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere from around the 1860s-1948? And that 4 million Canadians today -- 12% of the population -- are estimated to descend from these kids?
A historical fiction, The Forgotten Home Child takes place during the mid-1930s (so, Depression-era) starting in London, England and then shifting to Ontario. Though the characters themselves are fictitious, they are based on real experiences of the Home Children.
The Home Children were in rare cases actual orphans, but in most cases, children to severely impoverished parents unable or unwilling to care for them. Orphanages sold off a surplus of these children to Canada, where they were indentured as servants until they turned 21. In this story, the kids were trained in various skills (boot making, cooking, sewing, etc) but in Canada, many were needed as farm laborers.
In this book, we follow five Home Children, and the story primarily focuses on Winny and Jack's experiences. These chapters are written in the third person. There are a handful of chapters in present day, told from Winny's perspective in the first person. The story takes us from 1936 to around 1952.
And oh, is this story a heart-breaker.
An excerpt (might be changed during final edits):
I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be so unwanted, so unloved, so unwelcome -- and to be further separated from your siblings and friends from the orphanage. The book made me think of my immigrant ancestors, my children, myself -- just trying to place myself in their situation, and it was rough. And then the shame that these people felt! There, but the grace of God, go I.
The story was beautifully written, and mercifully wasn't over-written (as so many historical fictions I've encountered). I came to know the characters and that time in history. I'd say the book leans more character-driven, with the ultimate plot of surviving/thriving in their circumstances pulling the story along. That, and the healing that can come with telling your truth to loved ones.
Some of the plot points I found a bit too convenient or otherwise unbelievable. But on the whole, I really appreciated this story and I'm glad I read it. These children should not be forgotten to history -- and I'd never known about the Home Children before reading this book.
Triggers abound in this story: child abuse of various kinds, rape (happens off-page), child taken away at birth, child death, World War II death and trauma, alcoholism, human trafficking, suicidal ideation, suicide.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free digital copy in exchange for my review. Pub date: March 2020.
Did you know an estimated 100,000 - 120,000 children were trafficked from England to Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and elsewhere from around the 1860s-1948? And that 4 million Canadians today -- 12% of the population -- are estimated to descend from these kids?
A historical fiction, The Forgotten Home Child takes place during the mid-1930s (so, Depression-era) starting in London, England and then shifting to Ontario. Though the characters themselves are fictitious, they are based on real experiences of the Home Children.
The Home Children were in rare cases actual orphans, but in most cases, children to severely impoverished parents unable or unwilling to care for them. Orphanages sold off a surplus of these children to Canada, where they were indentured as servants until they turned 21. In this story, the kids were trained in various skills (boot making, cooking, sewing, etc) but in Canada, many were needed as farm laborers.
In this book, we follow five Home Children, and the story primarily focuses on Winny and Jack's experiences. These chapters are written in the third person. There are a handful of chapters in present day, told from Winny's perspective in the first person. The story takes us from 1936 to around 1952.
And oh, is this story a heart-breaker.
An excerpt (might be changed during final edits):
“Careful not to touch them,” the other woman replied, placing a gloved hand on her friend’s elbow and turning her attention ahead. “You know what they say about these little gutter rats. They’re all diseased and contagious.” “It’s a travesty,” the first went on. “Shame on England for dumping their garbage on us, and shame on our government for actually paying for it. Can you imagine? I read somewhere that there’s thousands of these creatures infesting the country now, and they’re degenerates, every one of them. Criminals. You just know the girls will all end up as prostitutes, if they’re not already.”
I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be so unwanted, so unloved, so unwelcome -- and to be further separated from your siblings and friends from the orphanage. The book made me think of my immigrant ancestors, my children, myself -- just trying to place myself in their situation, and it was rough. And then the shame that these people felt! There, but the grace of God, go I.
"Only one person in the whole world knows my story, and he has been gone for fifteen long years. Not even my beautiful daughter Susan knew the humiliating truth about her parents. Chrissie and Jamie are watching me, waiting, and my heart races as if I am standing on the edge of a cliff. I am ashamed to tell my story, but now I have no choice. My family deserves a history. As much as I don’t want to talk about my past, I do not want them to wonder, as I always have, about their roots. I am haunted by the truth that I have kept from everyone I know, everyone I love. Everyone but him, of course."
The story was beautifully written, and mercifully wasn't over-written (as so many historical fictions I've encountered). I came to know the characters and that time in history. I'd say the book leans more character-driven, with the ultimate plot of surviving/thriving in their circumstances pulling the story along. That, and the healing that can come with telling your truth to loved ones.
Some of the plot points I found a bit too convenient or otherwise unbelievable. But on the whole, I really appreciated this story and I'm glad I read it. These children should not be forgotten to history -- and I'd never known about the Home Children before reading this book.
Triggers abound in this story: child abuse of various kinds, rape (happens off-page), child taken away at birth, child death, World War II death and trauma, alcoholism, human trafficking, suicidal ideation, suicide.
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free digital copy in exchange for my review. Pub date: March 2020.
This was a heart-wrenching read. I was aware of home children, but I didnt realize the conditions they were subject to. There was so much in here,and I really enjoyed the family connection. It a way to remind us that the older people in our lives have stories to share that can help us understand who we are. And sometimes the younger generation can help heal wounds.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated