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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
I remember driving across Manitoba to Russell, Manitoba a few years go and listening to a radio program about the British Home Children and was startled to learn that from about 1890-1940 more than 100,000 children had basically been sold from England to Canadian households and farms. I learned that of the many children that arrived in Canada as indentured servants, many died of neglect, starvation and abuse. If I ever write a book, I think I would like to delve deeper into this topic but am not sure if my heart could take it. Somewhere along the way, I believe the impetus for this movement was to alleviate child poverty but there were no checks and balances and so many children suffered. This story tried to provide a balanced look at what might have become of the youth by focusing on the stories of 6. It was a pretty good story but I was left wanting more. What happened to the toddlers and younger kids? How did this misery end?
This was a truly great book. I enjoyed the characters and learning more of the truth about home children. My great Grandfather was a homechild from Scotland sent to Canada at the turn of the century. But he completely kept his experience to himself. We don't even know what farm he was sent to.
This story was very touching and hit on a lot of points I am sure many home children and their families have experience. Whether it be from the past or right now.
This story was very touching and hit on a lot of points I am sure many home children and their families have experience. Whether it be from the past or right now.
**I received this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review**
The Forgotten Home Child is a gripping story I had to keep reminding myself that this is based off of historical facts. The writing is inspiring, articulate, and flew off the page. It was difficult to read knowing that this was based upon real events that happened to real children.There was no support for the children once they came to Canada, no one checked in on them to see how they were doing, or what their living arrangements were like. They were left to fend for themselves during this time.
This novel mostly focuses on Jack and Winnie in the past from when they were living on the streets in Britain to the homes for boys and girls, their trip to Canada and their lives in their new homes. It alternates between present day when Winnie is 97, and when Winnie was in Britain coming to Canada.
My heart ached for Winnie and her friends throughout the novel. The Forgotten Home Child was thought-provoking, I kept thinking about this novel after I finished it.
See my full review on my blog: https://kaitlynscupoftea.home.blog/2020/05/30/book-blast-the-forgotten-home-child/
The Forgotten Home Child is a gripping story I had to keep reminding myself that this is based off of historical facts. The writing is inspiring, articulate, and flew off the page. It was difficult to read knowing that this was based upon real events that happened to real children.There was no support for the children once they came to Canada, no one checked in on them to see how they were doing, or what their living arrangements were like. They were left to fend for themselves during this time.
This novel mostly focuses on Jack and Winnie in the past from when they were living on the streets in Britain to the homes for boys and girls, their trip to Canada and their lives in their new homes. It alternates between present day when Winnie is 97, and when Winnie was in Britain coming to Canada.
My heart ached for Winnie and her friends throughout the novel. The Forgotten Home Child was thought-provoking, I kept thinking about this novel after I finished it.
See my full review on my blog: https://kaitlynscupoftea.home.blog/2020/05/30/book-blast-the-forgotten-home-child/
This book is based on the true history of hundreds of thousands of destitute British orphans shipped to other countries to work and hopefully lead better lives. Unfortunately, most of them ended up as indentured servants, overworked, unloved, and often abused. The story follows a group of friends plucked off the streets and shipped to Canada. Winnie, the story's main character, alternates chapters between her past as a home child working as a servant on a farm, through her career and married life and the present, as an old woman finally telling the truth of her past to her family.
I was surprised when I started reading this book that it was based on true events. I've never heard of British orphans being sold as servants. Since there were so many children sent to several different countries, the program was impossible to supervise and regulate. The children suffered abuse, rape, malnutrition, and death, yet the program continued for 79 years from 1869 through 1948. Fascinating historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I was surprised when I started reading this book that it was based on true events. I've never heard of British orphans being sold as servants. Since there were so many children sent to several different countries, the program was impossible to supervise and regulate. The children suffered abuse, rape, malnutrition, and death, yet the program continued for 79 years from 1869 through 1948. Fascinating historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!
Genevieve Graham's [b:The Forgotten Home Child|52901474|The Forgotten Home Child|Genevieve Graham|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581258039l/52901474._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71431840] evoked emotions from me that I really wasn't expecting.
I'm a historical fiction buff, tending to lean towards the same topics, including Canadian history. It's been a very long (we're talking maybe 13 years) since I've come across something about the British Home Children in Canada that engaged me quite the way this did.
As I read through the lives of Winny, Jack, Mary, Charlotte and others, I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of dread. You see, my grandmother was one of these children in the 1940s. She spent much of her youth in Canada living two subway stops away from her brother, whom she'd been separated from at Pier 21 and was never reunited with. The first 43 pages of this novel evoked such a strong reaction that I needed to take several days to process, and wonder why I don't know more about my grandmother's life, despite ancestry sites and historical data. Through Winny, Graham perfectly captures what I've seen all my life - adults shaped by the outcome of a government who decided their fate when they were barely old enough to form coherent sentences, and who have been living with various levels of shame, guilt, and PTSD since. Once I absorbed that, I consumed the rest of the novel in one sitting. These are poignant characters, written in a period often overshadowed in Canadian history lessons by other issues, pushed into the background and largely forgotten, but I am grateful for this piece for showing a blunt, not-so-pretty side of our history.
I'm a historical fiction buff, tending to lean towards the same topics, including Canadian history. It's been a very long (we're talking maybe 13 years) since I've come across something about the British Home Children in Canada that engaged me quite the way this did.
As I read through the lives of Winny, Jack, Mary, Charlotte and others, I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of dread. You see, my grandmother was one of these children in the 1940s. She spent much of her youth in Canada living two subway stops away from her brother, whom she'd been separated from at Pier 21 and was never reunited with. The first 43 pages of this novel evoked such a strong reaction that I needed to take several days to process, and wonder why I don't know more about my grandmother's life, despite ancestry sites and historical data. Through Winny, Graham perfectly captures what I've seen all my life - adults shaped by the outcome of a government who decided their fate when they were barely old enough to form coherent sentences, and who have been living with various levels of shame, guilt, and PTSD since.
Spoiler
However, I do know that she was "luckier" than many, living a life closer to Charlotte's than any of the other characters.
When I started this book I really didn’t think I was going to like it, it’s not really my genre, but I was horribly wrong. If you are looking for a good cry this is the book for you, I was near tears the entire time. I would definitely recommend this book.
I always enjoy learning Canadian history I never learned about in school. This is the story of the British home children. A sad story that is part of Canada’s history.
I completely fell in love with this story. The story of Winny and Jack is beautifully written, and is packed with so much history, I didn't want it to end. This was a clear 5 star read for me.
First off, this book tells the story of the British Home Children, who came to Canada in the 1930's to be sold off to Canadian's for farm and house work. Excited for a new life, these children unwillingly face hardships, abuse and terrible conditions. Each child's story is unique about how they got to where they are, and what happens to them while they are there.
Secondly, the story is told between past and present day. It gives off some serious Notebook vibes, only less rainbows and butterflies.
This book was hard to put down, and I am so thankful to Simon and Schuster for the early review opportunity. This is a must read for 2020!
First off, this book tells the story of the British Home Children, who came to Canada in the 1930's to be sold off to Canadian's for farm and house work. Excited for a new life, these children unwillingly face hardships, abuse and terrible conditions. Each child's story is unique about how they got to where they are, and what happens to them while they are there.
Secondly, the story is told between past and present day. It gives off some serious Notebook vibes, only less rainbows and butterflies.
This book was hard to put down, and I am so thankful to Simon and Schuster for the early review opportunity. This is a must read for 2020!
4.5*
I loved everything about this book, and could not put it down! The story of Winny is so heartbreaking and it blew my mind that over 100,000 kids went through a similar story, and I had never even heard of home children before. Even after I’ve finished, I can’t stop thinking about this story.
I loved everything about this book, and could not put it down! The story of Winny is so heartbreaking and it blew my mind that over 100,000 kids went through a similar story, and I had never even heard of home children before. Even after I’ve finished, I can’t stop thinking about this story.
As a historical fiction lover, this book was right up my alley. I love to learn about things from the past that I'm unfamiliar with, and this book was highly informative and well written. I also love when authors give voices to those who have been marginalized, as the "Home Children" certainly were.
The storyline and characters were well developed, yet a little predictable. Graham took a sensitive topic and told the story in a compelling way that blended past and present. I hope that more people will read this book to learn about the plight of these children.
The storyline and characters were well developed, yet a little predictable. Graham took a sensitive topic and told the story in a compelling way that blended past and present. I hope that more people will read this book to learn about the plight of these children.