The Barefoot Child

The Children of the Workhouse #2

by Cathy Sharp

When Lucy and her brother, Joshua, are orphaned, it falls to Joshua to provide for them both, but he is barely into his teens and in his naivety, falls prey to bad influences and drink. Lucy is desperate to avoid the workhouse, but when Joshua loses their meagre savings they are thrown out onto the street and, in dire poverty, it isn’t long before Lucy finds herself at its gates – almost a fate worse than death. Inside the workhouse, Lucy meets with unkindness and cruelty and she knows she must dig deep within herself if she is to survive, let alone thrive. What Lucy needs is a friend and she is surprised to find one in the most unlikely place…

Genres: Historical Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2019

About the author

Cathy Sharp is happily married and lives with her husband in a small Cambridgeshire village. They like visiting Spain together and enjoy the benefits of sunshine and pleasant walks, while at home they love their garden and visiting the Norfolk seaside.

Cathy loves writing because it gives pleasure to others, she finds writing an extension of herself and it gives her great satisfaction. Cathy says, 'There is nothing like seeing your book in print, because so much loving care has been given to bringing that book into being.'

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved reading Cathy Sharp's books and this is no exception.The Soames family are strugglling after their father is lost at sea.Their mother is a changed woman and takes it out on her children,Lucy,Josh and Kitty.This is a lovely story about the childrens determination to prove they can survive on their own,but there are problems to face and i can highly recommend this book and i look forward to the next.5*

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy is only 16 with a younger brother, Josh who is 14 and a younger sister, Kitty who is only 8. Their father, a sea captain has been lost at sea and without his income, they are struggling to survive. Then their mother dies. Lucy works at a nail factory while Josh is an apprentice. Kitty has been accepted into a nearby local school by their reverend.
With their remaining limited funds, they have to leave their room and find other lodgings. Josh decides he is now the man of the house and locates another place but when they arrive, they discover the living conditions are even worse than where they were living before. Lucy tries hard not to make her brother feel bad, she's always trying to find the best of any situation. Josh decides he needs more money and befriends some other young boys who are part of a thief ring but he targets the wrong man and is captured.
Lucy knows where Josh hid his earnings and finds them before she has to flee. Kitty becomes lost returning from school and doesn't know her way home, she ends up at the work house.
A cousin of their fathers sent word to their mother after he heard his cousin's ship had gone down offering assistance but the children's mother refused. Now he's looking for them. The three children have been separated and Lucy is doing her best to find out where her brother and younger sister have disappeared not knowing her father's cousin is also looking for them.
Lots going on! It's a good story about loss, finding strength within one's self without losing hope. I wasn't aware this was the second book in the series but am unaware whether any of the characters in this book were in the first book or not.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Barefoot Child is the second book in The Children of the Workhouse series by Cathy Sharp - there are three books in the series and I love the incredible front covers of each book - they bring you right into the book - and there you stay as they are very hard to put down! It was lovely to be back with the characters from the first book, The Girl in the Ragged Shawl, as well as being introduced to new characters.

After tragically losing their father who worked as a Captain at sea, and their mother too, the Soames family are very sadly orphaned. The three children, Lucy, Joshua and Kitty do their very very best to survive but come across so many very cruel situations and terrible conditions and poverty. Lucy is the most wonderful character who shines through with her determination, courage and bravery. Despite everything Lucy digs deep and fights for her family.

The Barefoot Child has an accomplished and exceptional storyline which is very well researched and gives us such an insight into the immensely hard lives of those living in London in the 1800s. The characters are so realistically portrayed and you feel like you are there with them.

If you enjoy historical fiction, then I highly recommend The Children of the Workhouse series. I did not want the book to end so am very pleased I had book three ready - The Winter Orphan.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book from the library as part of our library book club subject of family drama. I had never heard of the author before, and it is not particularly a genre I would have selected. However, all that has changed. I loved it.
The story is of a family whose Dad was lost at sea, whose Mother couldn't cope, and left the children destitute and to fend for themselves. It's a heartbreaking story. It tells of workhouses, children begging and stealing, and of a family torn apart. It's poignant as I know it happened in past times, my own grandfather having been in a workhouse.
It's about a family who triumph over adversity. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author portrayed every character.
I have now ordered the other two books in the series to read too.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each character's personality, especially the three Soames' children, is portrayed so well and their innocence is so blatant but the differences in their maturity levels and their development as a result of their life experiences is so clearly defined and makes for a gripping read.
The link between the first and second book was also very enjoyable and was nice to see Eliza's story, as well as previous characters stories continue.

I'm so emotionally invested in this series and really looking forward to seeing how it ends in the final book of the series.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the first book in the series but this does not live up to my expectations of a second book. There are pages and pages which just aren't needed and don't progress the story this book lost the plot for me!

[Michaela Hollingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favourite book

Loved this book had me gripped waiting for next page had me believing I was in the book fantastic x

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children

Another brilliant book by this author it's lovely to read yet heartbreaking it's definitely worth 5 stars it's like meeting old friends again .

[gaynor rawlings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Love Cathy Sharp.A terrible start to life for Lucy, Josh and Kitty losing their mum when they were so young and having to fend for themselves.

[Donna robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely story and sad in parts.

[Mrs Margaret Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book

I liked this book and the story but I found it a bit slow to begin to get into it. But was an excellent story when it took off

[Laureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard this audio some time ago and and loved it. It gives us a very clear view of what England was like for the poor. I remember being sorry when it finished.

[Lesley Puncher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely sequel to the Girl with the Ragged Shawl. Good to follow the Characters old and new. Look forward to The Winter Orphan next.

[Sheila Timms · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book. Enjoyed every page

[Alejandro Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read of Cathy Sharp and will definately be reading more.

[Lindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this author but just couldn’t get into the story, was disappointed with the book

[Julie Homer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story a good read I enjoyed this 👍