Mama's Babies

by Gary Crew

"By the time I was nine years old I had begun to doubt that Mama Pratchett, the woman with whom I had lived for as long as I could remember, was in fact my mother..." So begins Gary Crew's chilling fictionalized account of a "baby farmer" who, for profit, takes in unwanted children that later mysteriously disappear. Based on the facts revealed at the criminal trials of three women during the 1890s, Crew presents the story of young Sarah and her horrific realization. Sarah is the eldest child in the Pratchett family and finds herself treated more as a maid than as a daughter. She looks after her younger brothers and sisters -- all under the age of five -- cooking their meals, washing their diapers, and generally keeping them out of the way of Mama Pratchett. Mama is a stern woman and doesn't like children who are "all full of beans." She guards her family closely from the prying eyes of strangers, moving from town to town every few months. Her meager earnings as a seamstress do little to keep the children fed and clothed, and they often go to bed with rumbling tummies, their mattresses padded with old newspaper to keep out the drafts. Mama, however, always seems to have enough for her own little luxuries. Sarah is made suspicious by the sudden appearance of a new baby following one of Mama's visits to the train station. Shortly afterwards, young Robbie, only a toddler himself, falls mysteriously ill and dies while Sarah and her siblings are away on a rare outing from the house. But Robbie is not the only child of Mama Pratchett's to disappear. With the help of her friend Will, Sarah finds the courage to testify in court against Mama Pratchett on the charge of murder. In a simple and telling introduction, Gary Crew describes the social background of the late-nineteenth century that led unwed mothers to give up their babies to unscrupulous strangers. Tragically, Crew's story is derived from real in the 1890s, Amelia Dyer in England, Minnie Dean in New Zealand, and Frances Knorr in Australia were sentenced to death for murder, following the testimony of teenage girls.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Crime, Fiction, Mystery

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Dr Gary Crew, author of novels, short stories and picture books for older children and young adults, began his writing career in 1985, when he was a high school teacher. His books are challenging and intriguing, often based on non-fiction. As well as writing fiction, Gary is a Associate Professor in Creative Writing, Children's and Adult Literature, at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland and editor of the After Dark series.

He lives with his wife Christine on several acres in the cool, high mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland, Australia in a house called 'Green Mansions' which is shaded by over 200 Australian rainforest palms he has cultivated. He enjoys gardening, reading, and playing with his dogs Ferris, Beulah, and Miss Wendy. In his spare time he has created an Australian Rainforest Garden around his home, filled with Australian palms. Gary loves to visit antique shops looking for curios and beautiful objects.

Gary Crew has been awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the year four times: twice for Book of the Year for Young Adult Older Readers (Strange Objects in 1991 and Angel’s Gate in 1993) and twice for Picture Book of the Year with First Light in 1993 (illustrated by Peter Gouldthorpe) and The Watertower (illustrated by Steven Woolman) in 1994. Gary’s illustrated book, Memorial (with Shaun Tan) was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book in 2000 and short listed for the Queensland Premier’s Awards. He has also won the Wilderness Society Award, the Whitley Award and the Aurealis Award for Speculative Fiction.

In the USA he has been twice short listed for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe Mystery Fiction Award for Youth and the Hungry Minds Review American Children’s Book of distinction. In Europe he has twice been and twice the prestigious White Raven Award for his illustrated books. Among his many Australian awards is the Ned Kelly Prize for Crime Fiction, the New South Wales Premier’s Award and the Victorian Premier’s Award. He has been short listed for both the Queensland Premier’s and the Western Australian Premier’s awards for Fiction.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's face it: the cover of this book is off-putting ("Mama" is scary, and the children appear haunted). But it does go with this creepy story based on true events. In the 19th century, the practice of "baby farming" (providing full-time childcare for illegitimate children) was not uncommon. For a fee, some women would take on the responsibility of rearing babies born to unwed mothers. While some baby farmers were honest and goodhearted, others were unscrupulous, in business only for the money, and willing to kill a child in order to make way for another "adoption" (and another payment). This story is based on facts revealed at the trials of three baby farmers who were found guilty of murder and put to death. It's also pretty short (about 160 pages), so it might be a good one to recommend to a reluctant reader or a student trying to finish a book report at the last minute.

[Caitlin Lichtenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This...is an eerie book. It hits creepy on all new levels. The picture on the front just gives you a nasty feeling in your stomach. Here's how it basically goes: Sarah is 9 years old and she lives with Mama Prachett, who is a "baby farmer." Essentially, women who had children out of wedlock offered to give up their babies often for a lump sum to nurses or families who would informally "adopt" them. But people like Mama Prachett (who is fictional, but based on the lives of real women) took advantage of this situation. Sarah didn't know at first what was going on, but she started to think that Mama Prachett wasn't really her mother. She had so many little siblings who were just a year or less apart in age. Mama would bring babies home from the train station and then a toddler would get "sick" and die. Sarah, who is put in charge of the children's welfare pretty much, starts to get suspicious of what Mama has been doing with the newspaper ads and why she seems so calm when one of the toddlers passes away. The rest of the story, without giving anything away, covers what happens to Sarah and Mama.

I didn't like the ending of the book because it all seemed a little too fortunate for the main character (and if you read the book, you would definitely understand what that means. A little too much like the author just made up the best ending he could think of.) But this book covers a topic in history that very little people know about or care to think about. I certainly am not a fan of how everything went down with baby farming and these precious infants. That's probably why this is considered a young adult novel. The whole book is just creepy, like bone-chilling creepy. I guess it almost deserves an over-the-top happy ending to make readers feel better at night. It has a lot to do with psychological damage as well. So if you're not up for something creepy that would mess with your mind and make you feel like calling your mom and telling her "I love you," then don't read this book.

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gary Crew writes a one of a kind eerie and haunting novel. The book is filled with unexpected twists and turns. Sarah is a strong female lead who I liked from the start. As the mysterious tale unfolded, I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

The story follows Sarah and her 'Mama'. Sarah knows that 'Mama' is not her real mother, but 'Mama' is all that Sarah has ever known. It is Sarah's job to care for her many younger 'siblings'. These siblings come and go at a strangely rapid pace. Sarah never really knows where they come from but she knows not to question it. She also knows not to question the sudden decline into sickness that all of her brothers and sisters eventually go through that lead to untimely deaths. That is, until her mysterious existence and life begin to unfold to reveal a dark and terrifying truth.

When Sarah finds that 'Mama' is picking babies up from the trains, she is shocked. Then, when she finds a large sum of money in 'Mama's' purse, she get suspicious. They are poor. So where did 'Mama' get the money?

With help from the train master's son, Sarah begins to unravel 'Mama's' secrets and soon fights to bring closure and justice to the murderous and unlawful acts that 'Mama' performs.

[Miyah Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miyah


Sarah from the book mamas babies lives with her foster mom and the youngest kids seem to be dying mysteriously. The foster mom said it was because they were sick. Sarah thinks but how could that be they were perfectly fine a day ago. Sarah finally comes to realize every time a new baby comes one dies previously from before. She meets a new friend named will who helps her get to the bottom of this mystery.Sarah finds out that the foster mother never did take the kids to the hospital like she said she would.


This book though it was really sad to think about something like this happing to innocent kids that couldn't defend themselves.Makes me really upset and angry. Although it is informing us that things like this really does happen. I think it's a good read and I would read more of his books. But if your a type of person that can't deal with any type of abuse to a kid I wouldn't recommend it for you.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Sarah struggles with herself as she comes to realize what her "mama" does for a living. Mama is the only mother-like figure she has ever known and although Sarah does love her, she gets no love in return and finds it difficult to cope with the sudden deaths or illnesses that come upon her perfectly healthy "brothers and sisters." When she makes a secret friend who encourages her to stand up for herself and who helps her realize what is going on with her "mama," things take a turn--either for the better or for the worse...

This book was absolutely horrifying as I realized what was going on. It's a complete horror story. Horrible. But it is based on true events and it was emotionally provocative. I cried. I hope I can completely forget all the horrible, horrible, things in this book and never, ever think about it again.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very strange book. It was found in the J section and my co-worker wanted me to read it to see if it should be in a different area of the library. Yes, Yes it should. Story is about a 9 year old girl living with a "baby farmer", a woman (or family) that takes in single mother's children for profit. Many times the babies did not survive under suscipious means in order for the "baby farmer" to make a profit. Weird but also based on a true story of three women that were arrested in 1890 of this practice. Definately should be in the YA section.

[Alisa]

Reader’s Review – Fiction

How to write a book review.
Please follow these instructions to write your book review on goodreads.com.
Please remember that your book review is a commentary, not only a summary. Your review shall consist of at least three paragraphs:

In your first paragraph, the introduction, you should include:
The name of the author, the book title and if the book is fiction or non-fiction. Please include relevant details about the author and the genre of the book (Adventure/ Poetry/ Fantasy/ Folk Tale/ Mystery/ Realistic Fiction/Fairy Tale / Play/ Science Fiction / Historical Fiction/ Myth/ Legend/ Fable/ Tall Tale). Perhaps you can explain why you chose to read the book.
The book that I have started reading is called “Mama’s Babies” and is written by Gary Crew. The book is fiction but I am sure it is based on real life history. The author seems to be popular, as I learned from Ms. Spencer. The genre of the book is, so far, mystery and realistic fiction. I did not particularly choose to read this book, as it was my blind date book but then I actually chose to read it because I heard very good things about it that made it sound very interesting to me.

In the second paragraph, start with describing what the book is about. What is the setting: when and where does the story take place? Identify the central characters. What is the character’s challenge? How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What is the general plot? What is the conflict? Give a concise summary of the plot but try not to reveal too much detail and avoid spoilers.
So far the book is about a girl who I suspect is adopted and is treated like a maid by her mother. The setting is mostly hurstville, but to be precise, I suspect it is in England, in the late 18s. The central characters are Will, Sarah, and Sarah’s Mama. The characters challenge is to so far, take care of her mother and her adopted children. According to the book, some characters change by disappearing, and some by becoming either sad, happy, and sick. THe general plot is that as Sarah tries to keep being a daughter and still have a friendship with her friend Will, she might unravel a mystery about how “Mama” gets her children and where they go when new ones seem to come. The conflict is that “Mama” treats Sarah like a maid. So far, a summary of the plot would be Sarah catching up well on her work, being friends with Will and managing to spend time with him while still taking care of her strange family.
In the third paragraph you must analyze and evaluate the book. How did the story make you feel? Was the plot exciting and believable? Did the characters seem real? Were there funny or scary bits? What did the story make you think about? Did you learn anything from the story? What was your favourite part of the book? As a conclusion talk about your opinion about the book. If you didn’t like the book can you think why? Would you recommend the book to a friend and why? What is the recommended reading age? (10-12, 12-14 and so on). You can also give the book a rating out of 10.

The story makes me feel interested and impatient for the book to reveal the scary truth about the “Mama”. The plot is exciting and unfortunately, in a way, believable. The characters, unfortunately, do seem real. There were no funny or scary bits so far. Kind of. The story made me think about how bad of a slow reader I am. I did learn something from the story, which was about the old times where the mothers would practically let other women rent their children for them to have better lives until they were ready to take their child back again. My favorite part of the book was when I kind of read the conversation between Will and Sarah,because it was probably one of the most interesting and light to read moments so far. I mostly love the book. I didn’t like some of the book because it is taking a very long time to reveal “Mama’s” true identity and the dirty secret that he might have. I would recommend the book to a friend because it is interesting and light in some ways. I don’t think that there is a reading age however I would give it an 11+. So far, I give this book a rating of 9 out of 10.

[Abigail Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"By the time I was nine years old I had begun to doubt that Mama Pratchett, the woman with whom I had lived for as long as I could remember, was in fact my mother..."

So begins Gary Crew's chilling fictionalized account of a "baby farmer" who, for profit, takes in unwanted children that later mysteriously disappear. Based on the facts revealed at the criminal trials of three women during the 1890s, Crew presents the story of young Sarah and her horrific realization.

Young Sarah discovers the woman she has been told is her mother has a dark secret, and so Sarah and her friend Will set off on a dangerous mission to find out the truth.

In a simple and telling introduction, Gary Crew describes the social background of the late-nineteenth century that led unwed mothers to give up their babies to unscrupulous strangers.

Tragically, Crew's story is derived from real events: in the 1890s, Amelia Dyer in England, Minnie Dean in New Zealand, and Frances Knorr in Australia were sentenced to death for murder, following the testimony of teenage girls.

[Amanda Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book still haunts me… I had to track it down after reading it in high school and thinking about it all these years since. Really interesting, captivating and devastatingly sad (especially since it’s all based on true events).

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy and sad.
Sadder still that it's based on real cases.

[Jayna Pomsyda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had seemed to make think it was just and orphanage. Then the story line led to just be a regular home with children dying. This story is very dark and depressing. I liked it and it always got suspenseful.

[Jennifer Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice book

[Lisa Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned what a baby farmer is.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very quick read. Mama's babies is a very interesting and fictional book that talks about the life of Sarah who lives with a "baby farmer".

[Booksgalore]

i am speechless liturally i am caus i have nothing to say but this:child abuse!

[Anne Williams:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the faint hearted, this story is based on a truth. A woman is buying illegitimate babies and they are disappearing.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you see something perpetuated against the most vulnerable in our society it is most heart breaking.