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Papa, Where Are You?
Abruptly taken from their family, separated from their father, and abandoned in an orphanage, two sisters face their future all alone. Set in the 1920's and based on a true story, Betty and Julie live through six terrifying years of their life and seek to understand their ordeal. It's a story of faith, resilience, and strength of two young girls.
198 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2016
About the author
P.J. Easterbrook
1 book18 followersThis is PJ's first published work. 'Papa, Where Are You?' is inspired by a true story from the 1920's.
PJ has dabbled in writing as long as she can remember, getting serious with her poetry in her 20’s. Never going as far as to seek publication, over the years she kept putting her thoughts to paper.
Several years ago, PJ began writing a series of storybooks for her grandchildren, placing them into each story and using many, many pictures. Every Christmas they now anticipate and ask for them.
The legal documents and actual letters for Papa, Where Are You? were found more than 30 years ago, in the attic of the big family homestead. PJ knew one day she would write the story.
Originally from Pennsylvania, she now resides in Missouri with her husband, and as a mother, is blessed by her two children, their spouses and eight grandchildren. In addition, included in her extended family of blessings are her husband’s four children, spouses, and six grandchildren. As often as possible, she and her husband visit them all.
PJ considers herself blessed through the grace of God.
PJ has dabbled in writing as long as she can remember, getting serious with her poetry in her 20’s. Never going as far as to seek publication, over the years she kept putting her thoughts to paper.
Several years ago, PJ began writing a series of storybooks for her grandchildren, placing them into each story and using many, many pictures. Every Christmas they now anticipate and ask for them.
The legal documents and actual letters for Papa, Where Are You? were found more than 30 years ago, in the attic of the big family homestead. PJ knew one day she would write the story.
Originally from Pennsylvania, she now resides in Missouri with her husband, and as a mother, is blessed by her two children, their spouses and eight grandchildren. In addition, included in her extended family of blessings are her husband’s four children, spouses, and six grandchildren. As often as possible, she and her husband visit them all.
PJ considers herself blessed through the grace of God.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 2, 2017
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (02/17)
Article first published as Book Review: ‘Papa, Where Are You?’ by PJ Easterbrook on Blogcritics.
Based on true events from the early 1920s, “Papa, Where Are You?” by PJ Easterbrook is the story of two young sisters who, by a series of perverse and appalling circumstances, are first taken from their family, then separated from their father, and ultimately abandoned to the care of an orphanage.
When Betty and Julie Colyer’s mother dies while giving birth to their new baby sister, all three girls stay with their grandmother until their father can arrange to properly care for and raise them. Grief washes over the entire family but consumes Papa, who just can’t seem to cope alone.
After some time passes, one of Grandmother’s neighbors tells Papa she will move into their house with him back in the city and help him bring up the girls. Against Grandmother’s objections, Betty and Julie move back to their old home with Mrs. Parkhurst and Papa, while the baby stays with their grandmother. As financial despair troubles the odd new family, Mrs. Parkhurst suggests moving to a new town and starting over.
Things only get worse as Papa moves out, leaving the girls with Mrs. Parkhurst, who wickedly shuts down any hopes of the girls ever returning to their family with a twisted and disgraceful story. When Mrs. Parkhurst exhausts all methods of obtaining the financial situation she feel is due her, she poses as the girl’s mother and gives them up at the Park Ridge School for Girls. With the promise to return for the girls as soon as she is settled, Mrs. Parkhurst threatens the girls to keep her secrets. Betty and Julie ultimately become wards of the State of Illinois and when the secrets are finally exposed, social workers spend the next couple of years in search of the girls’ real family.
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and this bizarre story captured my complete attention, invoking unbelievably strong emotions in me from the very start. The story is well written and captivating, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the two little girls and pray for their well-being.
Told from the perspective of the oldest sister Betty, readers are given direct access into her mind as she tries to make sense of everything, while remaining strong and supportive as she cares for her younger sister Julie. The characters really drive the story. So many times, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at the actions of Mrs. Parkhurst, but most incredible was the behavior of the girl’s father, letting a complete stranger take over their entire lives. How in the world does something like this happen? It really causes one to think how every little decision we make completely alters the course of existence.
Kudos to PJ Easterbrook, for putting to paper a story that needed telling. “Papa, Where Are You?” will remain in the heart and on the mind long after the story is finished.
Article first published as Book Review: ‘Papa, Where Are You?’ by PJ Easterbrook on Blogcritics.
Based on true events from the early 1920s, “Papa, Where Are You?” by PJ Easterbrook is the story of two young sisters who, by a series of perverse and appalling circumstances, are first taken from their family, then separated from their father, and ultimately abandoned to the care of an orphanage.
When Betty and Julie Colyer’s mother dies while giving birth to their new baby sister, all three girls stay with their grandmother until their father can arrange to properly care for and raise them. Grief washes over the entire family but consumes Papa, who just can’t seem to cope alone.
After some time passes, one of Grandmother’s neighbors tells Papa she will move into their house with him back in the city and help him bring up the girls. Against Grandmother’s objections, Betty and Julie move back to their old home with Mrs. Parkhurst and Papa, while the baby stays with their grandmother. As financial despair troubles the odd new family, Mrs. Parkhurst suggests moving to a new town and starting over.
Things only get worse as Papa moves out, leaving the girls with Mrs. Parkhurst, who wickedly shuts down any hopes of the girls ever returning to their family with a twisted and disgraceful story. When Mrs. Parkhurst exhausts all methods of obtaining the financial situation she feel is due her, she poses as the girl’s mother and gives them up at the Park Ridge School for Girls. With the promise to return for the girls as soon as she is settled, Mrs. Parkhurst threatens the girls to keep her secrets. Betty and Julie ultimately become wards of the State of Illinois and when the secrets are finally exposed, social workers spend the next couple of years in search of the girls’ real family.
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and this bizarre story captured my complete attention, invoking unbelievably strong emotions in me from the very start. The story is well written and captivating, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the two little girls and pray for their well-being.
Told from the perspective of the oldest sister Betty, readers are given direct access into her mind as she tries to make sense of everything, while remaining strong and supportive as she cares for her younger sister Julie. The characters really drive the story. So many times, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief at the actions of Mrs. Parkhurst, but most incredible was the behavior of the girl’s father, letting a complete stranger take over their entire lives. How in the world does something like this happen? It really causes one to think how every little decision we make completely alters the course of existence.
Kudos to PJ Easterbrook, for putting to paper a story that needed telling. “Papa, Where Are You?” will remain in the heart and on the mind long after the story is finished.
June 26, 2017
A beautiful story!! Loved it, and would love to read more from this author!
April 21, 2017
During the 1920's, Betty and her younger sister, Julie, go with their mother to live with their grandmother temporarily until the birth of their sister, Teddy. But when their mother dies during the delivery, the girls remain with their grandmother longer as their father struggles to accept the loss of his wife and deal with his financial difficulties. Eventually he decides they need to relocate with a neighbor to Chicago, but the baby is left behind at Grandmother's. But even in a bigger city, their father is unable to make enough money and eventually abandons them with the neighbor, Mrs. Parkhurst, leading to them being abandoned at an orphanage.
The story is told in first person and is very much in the vein of a memoir rather than a novel. There are some mistakes, like shifts in tense, and some places where the action could be shown more rather than told, but the author (Betty's niece) does an excellent job of stepping into her aunt's perspective. I enjoyed the story and was saddened that these events actually happened to real children. Why didn't Mrs. Parkhurst send the children back to their remaining family members??? Fortunately, though, the ending is a bittersweet, happy one. I recommend this for anyone who is interested in the 1920's, historical novels, or faith-based memoirs.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy of the ebook by the author and asked to give an honest review.
The story is told in first person and is very much in the vein of a memoir rather than a novel. There are some mistakes, like shifts in tense, and some places where the action could be shown more rather than told, but the author (Betty's niece) does an excellent job of stepping into her aunt's perspective. I enjoyed the story and was saddened that these events actually happened to real children. Why didn't Mrs. Parkhurst send the children back to their remaining family members??? Fortunately, though, the ending is a bittersweet, happy one. I recommend this for anyone who is interested in the 1920's, historical novels, or faith-based memoirs.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy of the ebook by the author and asked to give an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews