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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
sad
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:
No
An interesting, sad, and important piece of history.
I love books that teach me something new and The Forgotten Home Child taught me about the British Home Children. Destitute children between the ages of 3 and 18 were taken off the streets of England and sent across the sea to work in other countries. This book tells a story of Winny and Jack who end up in Canada as home child to different families, both with their own challenges. Home child were not thought of as members of the family but indentured servants. They were bought from an organization to work on a family farm or household. The story of Jack and Winny is one marked by tragedy but ends with redemption. It was something unlike any other historical fiction story I've read before.
at the beginning it reads like a children's book. but the plot gets better. interesting. (but not amazing.)
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
If you loved Before We Were Yours, you will absolutely fall for this book! I was engrossed from the very beginning and couldn’t help getting emotionally attached to all the characters. This is a heart breaking history of London, Canada and homeless children that definitely needed some much needed attention. I had never heard of the Home Children before and now I know I will never forget them. What an extraordinary historical fiction book! Graham is an incredible storyteller! A solid 5 stars for me! I highly recommend this book.
Just an excellent example of how historical fictional can entertain and inform. I never knew about the British Home Children, and now thanks to Ms. Graham's in-depth research and contact with Home Children relatives, we come away from her book not only with heightened understanding but also keenly aware of yet another shameful chapter in Canadian history. Interview with Ms. Graham here: bit.ly/GenevieveGrahamInterview
I loved this historical fiction novel!
The story follows Winny and Jack throughout two time periods. The first is set in the present, where Winny is telling her story to her granddaughter. The other time period is when Winny and Jack were sent to Canada from England as teenagers in the 1930s. Winny and Jack, along with some other friends, get separated into different homes and have to face some difficult times.
It’s unfortunate that we aren’t taught this part of Canada’s history in school. An estimated 12% of the Canadian population are descendants of the British home children. I recently found out that my own great-great-grandmother was one of them, though she came to Canada in the late 19th century, before this book is set. In the book, Winny’s great-grandson wonders why we aren’t taught about this in school. We aren’t taught much history in school, but this is an important part we should all learn.
This story was heartbreaking at times, but those scenes were quickly followed by optimism. I really enjoyed this story!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Winny and Jack throughout two time periods. The first is set in the present, where Winny is telling her story to her granddaughter. The other time period is when Winny and Jack were sent to Canada from England as teenagers in the 1930s. Winny and Jack, along with some other friends, get separated into different homes and have to face some difficult times.
It’s unfortunate that we aren’t taught this part of Canada’s history in school. An estimated 12% of the Canadian population are descendants of the British home children. I recently found out that my own great-great-grandmother was one of them, though she came to Canada in the late 19th century, before this book is set. In the book, Winny’s great-grandson wonders why we aren’t taught about this in school. We aren’t taught much history in school, but this is an important part we should all learn.
This story was heartbreaking at times, but those scenes were quickly followed by optimism. I really enjoyed this story!
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A fairly quick read that touched me. I cried, I laughed, I got tingles and goosebumps.
While overall a predictable narrative, the actual history and research in this book bolsters the characters to a very believable place.
An important Canadian story.
While overall a predictable narrative, the actual history and research in this book bolsters the characters to a very believable place.
An important Canadian story.
Heart wrenching read by a Nova Scotian author. I had known about British Home children as my Great Grandmother was one of them. Powerful themes of identity, loss, child abuse, coming of age, regret and hope.
I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I knew nothing about this book other than the blurb I read before I started reading it. I highly recommend it. Really well developed characters. A story that pulls you in. They combine to make a book that’s really hard to put down. And the topic - the British Home Children - is one I’ve never heard about before. Great piece of historical fiction.
I knew nothing about this book other than the blurb I read before I started reading it. I highly recommend it. Really well developed characters. A story that pulls you in. They combine to make a book that’s really hard to put down. And the topic - the British Home Children - is one I’ve never heard about before. Great piece of historical fiction.