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Listen to the Child
It's 1875 and London's East End heaves with children who work as prostitutes, hawkers, beggars and thieves. Constance rescues as many as she can but feels overwhelmed. Then a solution is offered that sounds perfect - Canada, with its wide green plains, has farmers who need help, while their wives want housemaids. Shipping children to this land of plenty offers them a future far from the temptations of London's overcrowded streets. Widow, Mary Trupper, is wary, but the promise of good food and an education for her children is strong.
Are the fields green? Is the food plentiful? For some, yes. For others, the harsh winters reflect the welcome.
Based on the true story of the British Home Children who were shipped to Canada in the 1870s.
Regular spikes into top Kindle sales ranking when mentioned in British Home Children historical research groups and blogs.
Are the fields green? Is the food plentiful? For some, yes. For others, the harsh winters reflect the welcome.
Based on the true story of the British Home Children who were shipped to Canada in the 1870s.
Regular spikes into top Kindle sales ranking when mentioned in British Home Children historical research groups and blogs.
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 26, 2016
822 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Howard
105 books26 followersElizabeth Howard (Mizner) was born in 1907 in Detroit, and spent most of her life in Michigan. Descended from a noteworthy historic family, she loved history herself and enjoyed sharing her strong sense of the past in historical novels for teenage girls.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 4, 2018
This is a beautifully written book, based on true events of the 1870's when orphaned children were shipped to Canada in the hope of a better life. Sadly after leaving a bad situation in London, most of them ended up as child labour in Canada.
The book is lovely and very quickly drew me in as I got to know the children, I found it hard to put down as I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. It is quite sad in places, but a very interesting look into historical events I knew nothing about previously.
The book is lovely and very quickly drew me in as I got to know the children, I found it hard to put down as I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. It is quite sad in places, but a very interesting look into historical events I knew nothing about previously.
May 12, 2017
Based on the true story of the Home Children, a child migration scheme under which poor and orphaned British children were shipped to Canada to work for families on farms or as housemaids, this is the fictional story of six of these children.
Starting in London's overcrowded East End in 1875, Elizabeth Howard describes vividly the dire conditions in which the children's families struggle to survive. The opportunity to send a child to Canada, which Christian charity workers proclaimed to be the land of plentiful, "the paradise", is a tempting opportunity to give children a chance at a future. But as the story follows the children's journey to Canada and their dispersal among Canadian families, the reality is often much harsher.
Historical fiction is still a genre that I only pick up occasionally, but I was really intrigued by the book's premise because I didn't know the first thing about this very extensive program. The book is well written and seems very well researched (I actually looked up more information about the Home Children after reading this). It was fascinating reading, but I wouldn't go as far as saying that I 'enjoyed' it because I found the subject matter incredibly sad. There's little humour in this. I also really disliked Constance, a young charity worker, who prepares and accompanies the children to Canada. Her attitude and reasoning were infuriating at times.
However, Elizabeth Howard portrayed all the characters, including the children, in a very credible manner. Their behaviour and their thoughts were completely believable. It took a little while to get fully invested, as there was a lot of switching about at the beginning when the characters were introduced. Once the small group of children was established, it turned into a heart-wrenching story as it became clear that the advice to Listen to the Child was unfortunately not often followed.
Well worth reading, but keep tissues close by.
My thanks to Yvonne at Hookline Books for giving me the opportunity to read this moving story.
Starting in London's overcrowded East End in 1875, Elizabeth Howard describes vividly the dire conditions in which the children's families struggle to survive. The opportunity to send a child to Canada, which Christian charity workers proclaimed to be the land of plentiful, "the paradise", is a tempting opportunity to give children a chance at a future. But as the story follows the children's journey to Canada and their dispersal among Canadian families, the reality is often much harsher.
Historical fiction is still a genre that I only pick up occasionally, but I was really intrigued by the book's premise because I didn't know the first thing about this very extensive program. The book is well written and seems very well researched (I actually looked up more information about the Home Children after reading this). It was fascinating reading, but I wouldn't go as far as saying that I 'enjoyed' it because I found the subject matter incredibly sad. There's little humour in this. I also really disliked Constance, a young charity worker, who prepares and accompanies the children to Canada. Her attitude and reasoning were infuriating at times.
However, Elizabeth Howard portrayed all the characters, including the children, in a very credible manner. Their behaviour and their thoughts were completely believable. It took a little while to get fully invested, as there was a lot of switching about at the beginning when the characters were introduced. Once the small group of children was established, it turned into a heart-wrenching story as it became clear that the advice to Listen to the Child was unfortunately not often followed.
Well worth reading, but keep tissues close by.
My thanks to Yvonne at Hookline Books for giving me the opportunity to read this moving story.
September 7, 2018
I recommend the book
Other reviewers have done excellent jobs of telling what the book was about. Please read those four and five star reviews before reading mine bdcause the book put me on my high horse.
Times were bad in London in the latter part of the nineteenth century, especially for poor children of down and out parents. Christian do gooders rounded up these children to take to Canada where the air was clean and the water sweet. The children were promised a literal Utopia in foster homes. The do gooders promised to make face to face contact with each placed child on a regular basis. That did not happen, and most of the placed children were treated cruelly.
It took the author over half the book to finally write four or five star material. The first half was so slow, I nearly quit this book. My mother taught me to finish what I start, so I must, must, must ! finish books or surely something bad will happen. Thank you, Mother, because the last half of the book was five star material. (The author's writing mechanics were good from the beginning.). Some of the lessons gleaned from this book were do not believe hearsay information, keep promises, and do not press do goodism onto people who do not want it. Main character Constance lacked life lesson knowledge to the extent that I wanted her to get washed overboard instead of Harry, one of her charges. If I was supposed to like her and believe in her mission, then I failed. At the end she recognized her failing these children, but it was too late.
I am Christian and believe in doing good works, but I take umbrage when good works taste a lot like castor oil. I shy away from imposing my will on others in the name of Christ.
Thank you, Ms. Howard, for a good read.
Other reviewers have done excellent jobs of telling what the book was about. Please read those four and five star reviews before reading mine bdcause the book put me on my high horse.
Times were bad in London in the latter part of the nineteenth century, especially for poor children of down and out parents. Christian do gooders rounded up these children to take to Canada where the air was clean and the water sweet. The children were promised a literal Utopia in foster homes. The do gooders promised to make face to face contact with each placed child on a regular basis. That did not happen, and most of the placed children were treated cruelly.
It took the author over half the book to finally write four or five star material. The first half was so slow, I nearly quit this book. My mother taught me to finish what I start, so I must, must, must ! finish books or surely something bad will happen. Thank you, Mother, because the last half of the book was five star material. (The author's writing mechanics were good from the beginning.). Some of the lessons gleaned from this book were do not believe hearsay information, keep promises, and do not press do goodism onto people who do not want it. Main character Constance lacked life lesson knowledge to the extent that I wanted her to get washed overboard instead of Harry, one of her charges. If I was supposed to like her and believe in her mission, then I failed. At the end she recognized her failing these children, but it was too late.
I am Christian and believe in doing good works, but I take umbrage when good works taste a lot like castor oil. I shy away from imposing my will on others in the name of Christ.
Thank you, Ms. Howard, for a good read.
September 26, 2018
Check references throughly
"Listen to the child" is a an extremely sad story about a good concept that turns out to be very bad. Children were taken from the slums of London and brought to Canada for a better life. The children were distributed among "good Christians" who had good references from their pastor. Many of these children were treated as slaves and were beaten and abused by the "good Christians" who took them. Once placed in homes the agency that brought them to Canada did not follow up on the placements but believed the pastors that said they were doing well. In some cases when they were aware of abuse, they chose to ignore it.
The author has thoroughly explained the children's back ground and the limited choice they had to escape from their poor lifestyle. The author has also drawn a comparison to what they left behind to the situation they found themselves in. They were thousands of miles from home, in a strange land, with no-one to turn to. The book made me feel sad and angry!
"Listen to the child" is a an extremely sad story about a good concept that turns out to be very bad. Children were taken from the slums of London and brought to Canada for a better life. The children were distributed among "good Christians" who had good references from their pastor. Many of these children were treated as slaves and were beaten and abused by the "good Christians" who took them. Once placed in homes the agency that brought them to Canada did not follow up on the placements but believed the pastors that said they were doing well. In some cases when they were aware of abuse, they chose to ignore it.
The author has thoroughly explained the children's back ground and the limited choice they had to escape from their poor lifestyle. The author has also drawn a comparison to what they left behind to the situation they found themselves in. They were thousands of miles from home, in a strange land, with no-one to turn to. The book made me feel sad and angry!
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Blurb:
It's 1875 and London's East End heaves with children who work as prostitutes, hawkers, beggars and thieves. Constance rescues as many as she can but feels overwhelmed. Then a solution is offered that sounds perfect - Canada, with its wide green plains, has farmers who need help, while their wives want housemaids. Shipping children to this land of plenty offers them a future far from the temptations of London's overcrowded streets. Widow, Mary Trupper, is wary, but the promise of good food and an education for her children is strong.
Are the fields green? Is the food plentiful? For some, yes. For others, the harsh winters reflect the welcome.
Based on the true story of the British Home Children who were shipped to Canada in the 1870s.
Blurb:
It's 1875 and London's East End heaves with children who work as prostitutes, hawkers, beggars and thieves. Constance rescues as many as she can but feels overwhelmed. Then a solution is offered that sounds perfect - Canada, with its wide green plains, has farmers who need help, while their wives want housemaids. Shipping children to this land of plenty offers them a future far from the temptations of London's overcrowded streets. Widow, Mary Trupper, is wary, but the promise of good food and an education for her children is strong.
Are the fields green? Is the food plentiful? For some, yes. For others, the harsh winters reflect the welcome.
Based on the true story of the British Home Children who were shipped to Canada in the 1870s.
May 20, 2019
An interesting and sad tale of orphans and poor children from the London slums sent to Canada for a better life. Very reminiscent of the book Orphan Train.
May 20, 2018
The book is well written and seems very well researched but I wouldn't say I enjoyed it because I found the story and the end incredibly sad. I’ve never read a book, which explores the subject of child labor before, on how children are mistreated, without laws and protections. It was an emotional and very powerful glimpse at Victorian history. I think that you need to take your time while reading it to really grasp everything that is going on. Glad that I read it.
September 8, 2018
Could have been an important book.
I thought about my review for several days. The story was important. The treatment was so biased. People who at first were depicted as very helpful were later depicted as not only naive but irresponsible. Then the Christians were depicted as almost evil, especially the pastors. Very slanted depiction. Too bad. It could have been educational!
I thought about my review for several days. The story was important. The treatment was so biased. People who at first were depicted as very helpful were later depicted as not only naive but irresponsible. Then the Christians were depicted as almost evil, especially the pastors. Very slanted depiction. Too bad. It could have been educational!
February 16, 2019
Wish I hadn't read this one
This book was very brutal. English "do gooders" take orphaned and indigent children to Canada for a better life. Instead the children become slaves. Starved, beaten and worked to death was most of the fates awaiting them. What was the purpose of this historical fictional? Don't read this.
This book was very brutal. English "do gooders" take orphaned and indigent children to Canada for a better life. Instead the children become slaves. Starved, beaten and worked to death was most of the fates awaiting them. What was the purpose of this historical fictional? Don't read this.
June 11, 2019
I truly enjoyed this book. Well written. Possibly a little slow at the beginning, but picked up speed as it went along. It is up to the reader to decide if the project of taking children out of desparate situations in the slums of east London and dropping them in rural Canada, was the right thing to do. Was it really well- intentioned or just something to bring glory to the organizers? In this book, the organizers were Christian missionaries. Their ignorance and arrogance were put on display. But it could have been any group implementing what they think is the right without due diligence to confirm that their solution is the correct solution. In this particular case, they did not and it was not.
May 28, 2019
This is a novel of historical fiction. Ms Howard tells the story of English children brought from London to work in Canadian homes and on Canadian farms in the late 17th century. While I do feel the novel sparked an interest in the actual events that took place, I believe the research that went into this novel was somewhat lacking.
I would rather be able to say this is a novel everyone should read but I can't. The problems are so numerous that I lost count. Not only are the characters flat but the story itself is disjointed making it at times difficult to follow. The grammatical, and typographical errors were distracting. The verbiage and syntax switched from modern to 17th century sometimes within the same sentence. I almost felt like I was reading a draft rather than a finished product. I definitely do not feel that this novel was professionally edited.
My honest recommendation? Ms Howard should return to this novel and write a revision, painting a clearer picture, developing her characters, researching her story, and having the novel professionally edited. I would be interested to re-read a revised edition.
I would rather be able to say this is a novel everyone should read but I can't. The problems are so numerous that I lost count. Not only are the characters flat but the story itself is disjointed making it at times difficult to follow. The grammatical, and typographical errors were distracting. The verbiage and syntax switched from modern to 17th century sometimes within the same sentence. I almost felt like I was reading a draft rather than a finished product. I definitely do not feel that this novel was professionally edited.
My honest recommendation? Ms Howard should return to this novel and write a revision, painting a clearer picture, developing her characters, researching her story, and having the novel professionally edited. I would be interested to re-read a revised edition.
November 30, 2018
Depressing. Not great writing and no resolutions.
December 7, 2018
I think the worst thing you can say about a person is, "He/She meant well". It implies desaster, but the person causing it "meant well".
In the 19th century, missionaries decided it was for the best of the children of London's poorer parents, "sinful" parents, or of orphans, to be sent to Canada where they, so was the thought, would be working for families in towns and on farms, be paid a wage, learn a trade, so that, when they turn of age, the could venture out into the vast country and get homesteads for themselves. Unfortunately, the reality looked nothing like that, or at most in very rare cases.
This book tells the story of some of those children who are in one way or the other connected to Constance, devout believer and "do-gooder", who wholeheartedly embraces this project, and herself brings children to Canada, going against the advice of her own mother who thinks it would be more beneficial to make sure to help the families in London find jobs and get off the streets, and educate them. Some of the children really find a good home, for some it's worse than it ever could have been in England.
I may be generalising now, but for me, people like this are fanatics - they have blinkers on and ignore anything that might go contrary to their big ideas. The problem is, the idea as such was not a bad one, but they did not have the means, or perhaps the will, to really check up on those Canadians willing to take in foreign children.
The author depicts most Canadians, with a few exceptions, as bad people - which I am sure is neither true nowadays nor was it then. Time were different, life was a lot harsher to survive, but I would hope the ratio of good versus bad families was not as told in this book.
Also, the narration, the choice of words itself seemed a bit naive to me occasionally, and maybe not decisive enough as to whether this book was to be like a documentary, or a "story" with more suspense etc., historic fiction (sorry I do not know how to express it better).
The book definitely piqued my interest to read up more on this topic, and the author listed some possibilities at the end, thank you for that.
The book left me annoyed at people like constance, the complaceny of this type of so-called Christians who always know best, and definitely better than poor people. I could cry for those poor children.
In the 19th century, missionaries decided it was for the best of the children of London's poorer parents, "sinful" parents, or of orphans, to be sent to Canada where they, so was the thought, would be working for families in towns and on farms, be paid a wage, learn a trade, so that, when they turn of age, the could venture out into the vast country and get homesteads for themselves. Unfortunately, the reality looked nothing like that, or at most in very rare cases.
This book tells the story of some of those children who are in one way or the other connected to Constance, devout believer and "do-gooder", who wholeheartedly embraces this project, and herself brings children to Canada, going against the advice of her own mother who thinks it would be more beneficial to make sure to help the families in London find jobs and get off the streets, and educate them. Some of the children really find a good home, for some it's worse than it ever could have been in England.
I may be generalising now, but for me, people like this are fanatics - they have blinkers on and ignore anything that might go contrary to their big ideas. The problem is, the idea as such was not a bad one, but they did not have the means, or perhaps the will, to really check up on those Canadians willing to take in foreign children.
The author depicts most Canadians, with a few exceptions, as bad people - which I am sure is neither true nowadays nor was it then. Time were different, life was a lot harsher to survive, but I would hope the ratio of good versus bad families was not as told in this book.
Also, the narration, the choice of words itself seemed a bit naive to me occasionally, and maybe not decisive enough as to whether this book was to be like a documentary, or a "story" with more suspense etc., historic fiction (sorry I do not know how to express it better).
The book definitely piqued my interest to read up more on this topic, and the author listed some possibilities at the end, thank you for that.
The book left me annoyed at people like constance, the complaceny of this type of so-called Christians who always know best, and definitely better than poor people. I could cry for those poor children.
November 25, 2020
Incomplete and strained
This book jumps from one issue to another without really making many connections. It's jumbled chapters leave the reader with incomplete information and vague statements that just don't make reading it pleasurable. Quite often the narrative begins to develop a little depth but then the story goes off the rails and wanders into some sort of tragic fatalism. It left me feeling the story had much more to say but the dialogue and exposition didn't quite match up. Throughout the book the focus was always on the character of Constance and her particular conviction that the "work" she was doing in p!acing children of poor fortune or dismal circumstances was the only thing they could expect, but it struck me as grievous and flawed. The "work" was all that mattered regardless of its efficacy or its appropriateness. There were serious and I'll put layed situations regarding how the children were placed and it became very clear that little thought or investigation was ever taken into consideration as long as the children were housed somewhere other than at the placement home base. It felt clunky and weak even though historically we do know placements such as these were a common issue for the times. Having said that, it just seems poorly planned and executed, and sadly it was always the children who suffered. I wasn't invested in the story enough to read more. These adoptions were society's terrible answer and solutions to the inequities of the period but they certainly weren't the best by any means. Sad reading.
This book jumps from one issue to another without really making many connections. It's jumbled chapters leave the reader with incomplete information and vague statements that just don't make reading it pleasurable. Quite often the narrative begins to develop a little depth but then the story goes off the rails and wanders into some sort of tragic fatalism. It left me feeling the story had much more to say but the dialogue and exposition didn't quite match up. Throughout the book the focus was always on the character of Constance and her particular conviction that the "work" she was doing in p!acing children of poor fortune or dismal circumstances was the only thing they could expect, but it struck me as grievous and flawed. The "work" was all that mattered regardless of its efficacy or its appropriateness. There were serious and I'll put layed situations regarding how the children were placed and it became very clear that little thought or investigation was ever taken into consideration as long as the children were housed somewhere other than at the placement home base. It felt clunky and weak even though historically we do know placements such as these were a common issue for the times. Having said that, it just seems poorly planned and executed, and sadly it was always the children who suffered. I wasn't invested in the story enough to read more. These adoptions were society's terrible answer and solutions to the inequities of the period but they certainly weren't the best by any means. Sad reading.
September 19, 2018
The description of the novel mentions Mary Trouper's decision about making a new start in Canada for her children. Mary is a side character in the story, hardly one on which to base the story's description. The story took a great deal of time to get rolling, but did engage you in the children's lives. Once the tiny character arc of the main character, Constance, appeared--the book rushed to a conclusion. One part of the plot involving a missionary brother in Africa, offered little to the progress the story other than to demonstrate the family's commitment to Christian proselytizing. I kept waiting for him to arrive and remonstrate Constance for her remiss, although well intended, behavior. Or for the mother to do something more than hand-wringing. The story was heart-breaking but without a real resolution. One is left without a conclusion to the children's lives, unless death was involved.
Don't read this if you are thinking it is about pioneering in Canada, or a mother escaping the slums. It does portray an ill sought, yet well intended, venture to remove children from English slums. The venture was not adequately monitored and naively presented to families who were often looking for free/slave labor and complimenting themselves for 'providing' for an orphan child. The portrayals are often graphic and sad. But the story--is slow and without real resolution.
Don't read this if you are thinking it is about pioneering in Canada, or a mother escaping the slums. It does portray an ill sought, yet well intended, venture to remove children from English slums. The venture was not adequately monitored and naively presented to families who were often looking for free/slave labor and complimenting themselves for 'providing' for an orphan child. The portrayals are often graphic and sad. But the story--is slow and without real resolution.
October 12, 2018
What a heart-breaking fiction of what was a true story for so many lost and forgotten children who were shipped off to Canada from England for what was to be a better life in the 1800's. I grew up in Prince Edward Island and have always been a fan of Anne of Green Gables which, of course, was one of the true and happy ending stories, but we all know that many children didn't have happy endings to their stories. This is the first book that I have read by Elizabeth Howard and I appreciated how well she made a number of the children 'come alive' in my mind as she described poor little Lawrence with his club foot, Junie who couldn't concentrate on mundane things like matchbox making, George who longed to care for his little sister, Junie, and Beryl who had to take on the responsibilities of an adult woman to help her family and to care for little sister, Ruby. I found the story ended a bit abruptly, but the details behind the story will stay in my mind for many months to come, and I will forever 'Listen to the Children' in my life.
Thanks Elizabeth Howard for making this misuse nd abuse of children very real to me.
Thanks Elizabeth Howard for making this misuse nd abuse of children very real to me.
October 11, 2021
LISTEN TO THE CHILD by Elizabeth Howard tells of a well-meaning project to relocate young children from London's East End into families settling and living in Canada. At the time, London is filled with poverty, child prostitution, rape, theft, abuse, murder, and exploitation, with children suffering from all of these. A church group ("do-gooders") offers to resettle children with families in Canada who are to feed, clothe, educate, and provide family life to them as they work. The church group see it as a mission and ministry, while the Canadians see it as a way to obtain workers. The children, once relocated and placed, are continued to be abused and exploited, unknown to local pastors and the "do-gooders." It's a sad and troubling tale of actual events, but the book does not disclose how the project ended. The books end is abrupt. The Kindle edition is filled with errors, missing and truncated text, and desperately needed proof reading.
October 25, 2018
A sad book but it makes me angry. All those so called Christian do gooders in the Uk had the right idea but the plan lacked substance and thought. It really was a horrible plan to uproot children and dump them thousands of miles away with strangers who abused and beat them. The worst of them were the so called Canadian ministers who went confronted with the children saw only what they wanted to see and disbelieved what they were told to the detriment of those children.
I dont personally know of any home children or their families but every once in a while a tv program is aired and we learn of them and what went wrong. The Canadian nAmes of Belleville, galt and others are as familiar to me now as London, Liverpool and Manchester. In fact galt is a mere 20 minutes away from where I live now.
Rest In Peace little ones. Gone but not forgotten.
I dont personally know of any home children or their families but every once in a while a tv program is aired and we learn of them and what went wrong. The Canadian nAmes of Belleville, galt and others are as familiar to me now as London, Liverpool and Manchester. In fact galt is a mere 20 minutes away from where I live now.
Rest In Peace little ones. Gone but not forgotten.
January 2, 2020
Based on a history about which I knew nothing, this book was revealing. The story of the “orphan” children and the “Christians” who thought they could bring them a better life than found in the squalid streets of London was compelling. One’s heart goes out to these children plucked from the frying pan into the fire, so to speak. So much grief caused by people trying to do a good thing.
However, the ending left so much unresolved. Did Constance give up her mission? Were there consequences for the people who mistreated and even brought death to the children? Did any of them grow up and find the place in the world that was promised them? Or were these innocents simply left as slaves to those who took them in? What became of the two boys left off at the first stop? Do these questions foretell a sequel?
However, the ending left so much unresolved. Did Constance give up her mission? Were there consequences for the people who mistreated and even brought death to the children? Did any of them grow up and find the place in the world that was promised them? Or were these innocents simply left as slaves to those who took them in? What became of the two boys left off at the first stop? Do these questions foretell a sequel?
February 8, 2023
Well that was horrifying and derivative. 2 stars for pulling me through but only because I felt like I was watching a train wreck the whole time and couldn't look away. The story felt incomplete. I know Howard was trying to show that it wasn't a happy ending for most children. But she didn't really finish with Constance, Helen and the Home of Industry. I felt like she just dropped their story lines. Constance never really has any dynamic change. She was a broken record. No depth. She was annoying. She only changes her tune when the ship captain randomly talks to her at the very end and tells her exactly the same thing her mother had been screaming at her the whole time. Even then, she doesn't really change. By then it's too late. Don't read this book. It is heart breaking, but not in a good literary way. Ugh.
September 22, 2018
Too Goodie-Two Shoes/ Harshness Flip-Flop
No one is as perfect as Constance, no Christian even. The plot goes on and on about her goodness, and yet, she was not concerned enough about each child to check out where she placed them? Having taught school I can tell you, that with a dedicated Christian teacher , this is not possible. Everything in this story was too predictable, too easy, not one set of parents were good where they were placed? I was sorely disappointed. The story is true, it sounds like, but also is written as if the author had four lines of history to go by, and just did not make the characters real...either all good or all bad. None of us are that. Disaplointed!!
No one is as perfect as Constance, no Christian even. The plot goes on and on about her goodness, and yet, she was not concerned enough about each child to check out where she placed them? Having taught school I can tell you, that with a dedicated Christian teacher , this is not possible. Everything in this story was too predictable, too easy, not one set of parents were good where they were placed? I was sorely disappointed. The story is true, it sounds like, but also is written as if the author had four lines of history to go by, and just did not make the characters real...either all good or all bad. None of us are that. Disaplointed!!
January 9, 2020
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was the ending. Or lack of an ending. It was shocking to be literally in the midst of a paragraph and realize the book is over. That said I could hardly put it down. I was fascinated by the story and, horrified as well. This is one part of history I did not know existed. The Christian charity helped children of the streets and orphans of London and Liverpool. When the number of children became unmanageable the Christian people thought they had the answer. Hopefully there were more people who accepted these children out of love and not those depicted in the book. We are left wondering about a sequel since it ended so abruptly. However this book was published in 2016 so a sequel may be doubtful.
September 8, 2018
Sadly moving...
Until I began reading this book, I had no familiarity with "Home Children" or Annie MacPherson's crusade to get London's poor waifs "a better life" by shipping them off (in this book's case to Canada). Ms Howard tells her story thru the eyes of a small handful of children and adults. Reading this sadly moving tale made me research the movement and gave me an explanation why I've found so many young "non-family" members in genealogical research using the census in Canada. ie: 10 y/o females listed as domestic on farms in PEI or .
Lovely telling of such a sad story told in a way making me want more.
Until I began reading this book, I had no familiarity with "Home Children" or Annie MacPherson's crusade to get London's poor waifs "a better life" by shipping them off (in this book's case to Canada). Ms Howard tells her story thru the eyes of a small handful of children and adults. Reading this sadly moving tale made me research the movement and gave me an explanation why I've found so many young "non-family" members in genealogical research using the census in Canada. ie: 10 y/o females listed as domestic on farms in PEI or .
Lovely telling of such a sad story told in a way making me want more.
November 28, 2018
A tragic and pretty disgraceful episode in British history is told here. The immigration process was, I am sure, undertaken with the best of intentions, however there is little doubt that many children were subjected to extreme neglect and abuse.
I would have liked to give this book a higher rating, given the subject matter, but I actually found it a bit light weight. The characters came over as stereotypes and there is no real ending. I understand that the author couldn’t wrap it all up nice and neat and there wasn’t a happy ending for many of the children but I ended up feeling a bit cheated.
I would have liked to give this book a higher rating, given the subject matter, but I actually found it a bit light weight. The characters came over as stereotypes and there is no real ending. I understand that the author couldn’t wrap it all up nice and neat and there wasn’t a happy ending for many of the children but I ended up feeling a bit cheated.
December 14, 2018
Some sections of London was filled with all kinds of vices and the children were the ones to suffer the most. The heroine of the story was a sort of social worker who cared for the children of the street and favored the idea of sending them to families in Canada where they would be cared for, in exchange for working on the farms as helpers or in the houses to learn how to become housemaids or
cooks. It seemed idyllic but not all the children were so fortunate. Some had to still bear the burdens of life.
This story really tore at my heart as I had to often grab for a hankie. A lesson to learn. Listen to the children.
cooks. It seemed idyllic but not all the children were so fortunate. Some had to still bear the burdens of life.
This story really tore at my heart as I had to often grab for a hankie. A lesson to learn. Listen to the children.
May 1, 2019
Too much truth
Wrapped within the lines of a gripping description of an often overlooked part of Victorian London are many lessons still applicable today. Good intentions sometimes work out, but often the cost of naivety on the part of the ones with those intentions is paid by those they intend to help. A very well written book based on history with well developed characters and a strong story line. Your heart will be torn as the different perspectives are revealed. Moments of happiness interspersed with descriptions of poverty, greed, and the diversity of human nature. The title of this book matters.
Wrapped within the lines of a gripping description of an often overlooked part of Victorian London are many lessons still applicable today. Good intentions sometimes work out, but often the cost of naivety on the part of the ones with those intentions is paid by those they intend to help. A very well written book based on history with well developed characters and a strong story line. Your heart will be torn as the different perspectives are revealed. Moments of happiness interspersed with descriptions of poverty, greed, and the diversity of human nature. The title of this book matters.
June 10, 2019
Very sad, depressing story
I wish I would have never read this book. I thought it would be a happy story, one that would leave me wanting to read this author again. It was so difficult to finish but I had to continue with it to the end just to see if had some sort of happy ending. Spoiler....it does not! This is one of the saddest books I have read in a long time and I leave with a sick feeling in my stomach, wishing it wasn’t the middle of the night when I read the final words. The book ended without complete closure. The writing was good and very few grammatical errors. I have rated 1 for being so incredibly sad.
I wish I would have never read this book. I thought it would be a happy story, one that would leave me wanting to read this author again. It was so difficult to finish but I had to continue with it to the end just to see if had some sort of happy ending. Spoiler....it does not! This is one of the saddest books I have read in a long time and I leave with a sick feeling in my stomach, wishing it wasn’t the middle of the night when I read the final words. The book ended without complete closure. The writing was good and very few grammatical errors. I have rated 1 for being so incredibly sad.
October 22, 2018
Good book
This book is about sending orphans from England to Canada to solve the problems of families that needed help. Lots of the story is based on events that happened, as far as children being shipped to Canada for work and adoption. Most of the children in this book that were adopted out were terribly abused and neglected. I am hoping there is a sequel to find out if the children that were placed were checked on and the abused ones were saved. The book just kinda ended abruptly and left a lot of questions.
This book is about sending orphans from England to Canada to solve the problems of families that needed help. Lots of the story is based on events that happened, as far as children being shipped to Canada for work and adoption. Most of the children in this book that were adopted out were terribly abused and neglected. I am hoping there is a sequel to find out if the children that were placed were checked on and the abused ones were saved. The book just kinda ended abruptly and left a lot of questions.
May 7, 2019
A grim tale. I didn’t finish it. Although this sounded promising especially being founded in truth, it was all just a bit too mean to be enjoyable reading, and there was no redemption. The telling seemed rushed and descriptions a bit too repetitive and simplified. The lead character was annoying. After making it just over a third of the way through it became just too gloomy. I flicked to the end and after reading the final pages decided there was no point in continuing and was content to give up.
October 25, 2021
I had a difficult time with the format. 250 pages in one chapter. An occasion space up separate major changes. The storyline is fictional; as I read I prayed it could never have been true. In hopes of helping children to a better life the opposite occurs. Children are forced to do manual labor beyond their capabilities and beaten and starved when they fail. Two children die in this book. I finished the book hoping for a positive ending.I suppose the woman's plan to do better is the best that was offered. To me it was too little too late.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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