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The House Children
In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway.
At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland.
Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.
At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland.
Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2019
71 people are currently reading
3814 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Daniele
2 books101 followersHeidi Daniele's passion for history and genealogy opened the door for The House Children, which is her debut novel. She has a degree in Communications and Media Arts and has worked on several short independent films. She earned the Learning in Progress Award for Excellence at a Dutchess Community College Film Festival for coproducing, writing, filming, and editing the film Final Decisions. She also volunteers at The Lisa Libraries, an organization that donates new children's books and small libraries to organizations that work with kids in poor and underserved areas. An empty nester who lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, Heidi enjoys gardening, photography, and exploring her family tree.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
September 16, 2019
Mary Margaret Joyce was born at the Tuam Home in Ireland. This institution was one of the few options for unwed mothers during the 1930s. Abandoned by her mother, she spends time in foster care until moving to an industrial boarding school at age five. There she was renamed Peg because too many children were already named Mary. She learns skills at the industrial school and eventually develops deep bonds with a group of friends. Her simple life takes a turn when she discovers she was placed there as an illegitimate child.
By accident, Peg finds out the identity of her birth mother. She is both angry and sad that she missed out on being raised in a loving home and struggles on how to move forward. Peg slowly begins to understand the shame of an unwed mother during this period and makes moves to mend her broken ties.
The House Children is a debut novel by Heidi Daniele. This book is based on real events, giving a glimpse into Irish life during a conservative period. I am hoping this story sprouts a sequel.
By accident, Peg finds out the identity of her birth mother. She is both angry and sad that she missed out on being raised in a loving home and struggles on how to move forward. Peg slowly begins to understand the shame of an unwed mother during this period and makes moves to mend her broken ties.
The House Children is a debut novel by Heidi Daniele. This book is based on real events, giving a glimpse into Irish life during a conservative period. I am hoping this story sprouts a sequel.
December 4, 2021
Ireland, 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce was born and abandoned in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. This story is kind of his diary. Mary's memory starts after an uncaring foster home in an industrial school, the House Children, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27.
This was a very heartbreaking and heartwarming story about a little girl who start a hard life while growing! Life in an orphanage and shame in society, knowing her real mother who abandoned her, so heavy that she couldn't understand. Even so, she dreams of a new life, which will be built by her love, forgiveness, and hard work.
The House Children by Heidi Daniele and Narrated by Lauren Reilly was an engaging story about love, family, caring, and selfishness. I really enjoyed it. I sympathize with the characters and got angry to them. Overall this was a beautiful story highly recommended for historical readers. Let's do not forget the excellent narrator with a lovely Irish accent.
Many Thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for the ARC, I have given my honest review.
This was a very heartbreaking and heartwarming story about a little girl who start a hard life while growing! Life in an orphanage and shame in society, knowing her real mother who abandoned her, so heavy that she couldn't understand. Even so, she dreams of a new life, which will be built by her love, forgiveness, and hard work.
The House Children by Heidi Daniele and Narrated by Lauren Reilly was an engaging story about love, family, caring, and selfishness. I really enjoyed it. I sympathize with the characters and got angry to them. Overall this was a beautiful story highly recommended for historical readers. Let's do not forget the excellent narrator with a lovely Irish accent.
Many Thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for the ARC, I have given my honest review.
April 1, 2019
I had the honor of meeting the author and receiving an early reader copy of her debut historical fiction novel. The House Children follows a young orphan named Mary Margaret Joyce from early childhood to age eighteen. When she is five, Mary is assigned to live in an industrial girl and renamed Peg (there are too many Marys there already). Despite the difficult conditions, she forms a makeshift family of sorts with the other girls in the home. Every summer, she is sent to spend a week with Norah Hanley and her frankly. As Peg grows older and wiser, she begins to question who Norah is and why she continues inviting her to spend time in her home.
This is a character driven novel with straight forward, beautifully evocative writing. Peg is a great character and I enjoyed reading along to find out how she would mature and where life would take her. The author did a wonderful job incorporating her extensive research into the story. I knew nothing about the industrial schools beforehand and I came away with a lot of new knowledge about the topic. Fans of Kate Morton and Brooklyn by Colm Toibin will love this book. Heidi Daniele is a wonderful new voice on the historical fiction scene.
This is a character driven novel with straight forward, beautifully evocative writing. Peg is a great character and I enjoyed reading along to find out how she would mature and where life would take her. The author did a wonderful job incorporating her extensive research into the story. I knew nothing about the industrial schools beforehand and I came away with a lot of new knowledge about the topic. Fans of Kate Morton and Brooklyn by Colm Toibin will love this book. Heidi Daniele is a wonderful new voice on the historical fiction scene.
October 26, 2021
Wow what a great book!
I've read non fiction books like this before yet even though this is a fiction book it is still great!
Definitely would read more of this author.
If you like historical books with a take on the times when having a child out of wedlock meant they were illegitimate then this is for you.
I've read non fiction books like this before yet even though this is a fiction book it is still great!
Definitely would read more of this author.
If you like historical books with a take on the times when having a child out of wedlock meant they were illegitimate then this is for you.
August 26, 2019
I so wanted to love this book. I expected a strongly atmospheric, emotionally intense story. What I got was more like a child's journal written in hindsight by the adult. The story has its moments, but I never truly felt it.
The book is written in first person, from the perspective of Mary Margaret Joyce from the age of four through to her later teens. The chapters are divided into multiple short sections, with many no more than a paragraph and others a page or so long. As I mentioned, these read like journal entries but with the distance of an adult's perspective. Consequently, the content feels choppy, slightly removed, and often repetitive, because the child's life in the orphanage is structured and full of repetition.
For me, the story would have worked better if an adult narrator had been added to offer more insight and depth.
My complaints are specific to me. The writing is good, and the story offers an unsettling glimpse into how the children of unwed mothers were once treated.
*I received a review copy from Sparkpress, via a BookishFirst giveaway.*
The book is written in first person, from the perspective of Mary Margaret Joyce from the age of four through to her later teens. The chapters are divided into multiple short sections, with many no more than a paragraph and others a page or so long. As I mentioned, these read like journal entries but with the distance of an adult's perspective. Consequently, the content feels choppy, slightly removed, and often repetitive, because the child's life in the orphanage is structured and full of repetition.
For me, the story would have worked better if an adult narrator had been added to offer more insight and depth.
My complaints are specific to me. The writing is good, and the story offers an unsettling glimpse into how the children of unwed mothers were once treated.
*I received a review copy from Sparkpress, via a BookishFirst giveaway.*
June 26, 2019
I received this book through a Gooodreads Giveaway.
"The House Children", Heidi Daniele's debut novel follows the life of Mary Margaret Joyce while living in an industrial school for girls. In Ireland it was against the law and very frowned upon to have a baby out of wedlock, so the babies were taken from their mothers and put into foster care until they were six years old. That is when they get put in the industrial school. I won't go into too much detail because I refuse to give spoilers! haha
This book is STUNNING. It had me hooked from the very start and it only got better. As someone with Irish blood running through her veins I found myself texting my mother (the full blooded Irish lady) and asking her all these questions about the Nuns are why they treated the girls so poorly. It shocked me but also taught me so much! I've been to Dublin and this book made me want to travel back ASAP.
I can't wait to read Heidi Daniele's future work!
"The House Children", Heidi Daniele's debut novel follows the life of Mary Margaret Joyce while living in an industrial school for girls. In Ireland it was against the law and very frowned upon to have a baby out of wedlock, so the babies were taken from their mothers and put into foster care until they were six years old. That is when they get put in the industrial school. I won't go into too much detail because I refuse to give spoilers! haha
This book is STUNNING. It had me hooked from the very start and it only got better. As someone with Irish blood running through her veins I found myself texting my mother (the full blooded Irish lady) and asking her all these questions about the Nuns are why they treated the girls so poorly. It shocked me but also taught me so much! I've been to Dublin and this book made me want to travel back ASAP.
I can't wait to read Heidi Daniele's future work!
July 31, 2019
Author Heidi Daniele has the power with her writing to transport the reader to another time and place so effortlessly in her premier book The House Children. One can't help but feel like they are on this journey alongside the main character, who is renamed Peg and assigned a number at an industrial school early in the story. I'm only partway into this book so far, but I can already tell it's a winner. I'll update my review if my mind changes by the end, but I don't think it will.
Also, very good cover design, formatting, print quality... ebooks are nice and all, but this paperback is wonderful in its tangible form!
Also, very good cover design, formatting, print quality... ebooks are nice and all, but this paperback is wonderful in its tangible form!
August 7, 2021
I received my copy free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Such an interesting part of Irish history that was very new to me.
Such an interesting part of Irish history that was very new to me.
January 27, 2021
So happy I finally picked this one up after it was sitting on my shelf for a while. I read it in one sitting. It's a highly emotional read that resonated with me as I was a young, unwed mother when I had my daughter.
Full review to come.
Full review to come.
April 9, 2023
I have mentioned before that, these days, I often go into a book “blind” without knowing much of anything about a book.
That was the case here. I joined the #BookSparks pop up audiobook tour for The House Children without knowing what the book was about. I really do like all genres so I don’t have to be too picky. From the cover and the title, I was expecting it to possibly be a horror story. Well…
⠀
That isn’t really the genre, but growing up as an illegitimate child in Ireland in the 1930’s-40’s is a horror in itself. This historical fiction novel is based on actual events and that always gets an extra shutter or two from me.
⠀
Mary Margaret was born in 1938 at a home for unwed mothers. Her early years were spent in a foster home where the dog got scraps of food before she did. Just before she reaches school age, she is sentenced by a judge to an industry school. Her crime? She was found guilty of being destitute and not an orphan.
⠀
The book follows her years growing up under the care of the nuns at the school, as one of the “house children” in the community, a new name and a number to identify her. She gets one week a year as a break from this hard life and a chance to be a “normal” girl at the home of a kind family in Galway.
⠀
Even that respite changes some as she gets older, the host family grows, and long kept secrets are revealed. Mary Margaret is smart and has goals, the things she learns sidetrack her a bit, but she shows wonderful strength and wisdom to make her path forward.
⠀
This is a very simple, entertaining tale that was great to listen to while my hands were doing other things. The Irish accent of the narrator, Lauren Reilly, was easy to listen too and helped me really feel immersed in the story.
⠀
That was the case here. I joined the #BookSparks pop up audiobook tour for The House Children without knowing what the book was about. I really do like all genres so I don’t have to be too picky. From the cover and the title, I was expecting it to possibly be a horror story. Well…
⠀
That isn’t really the genre, but growing up as an illegitimate child in Ireland in the 1930’s-40’s is a horror in itself. This historical fiction novel is based on actual events and that always gets an extra shutter or two from me.
⠀
Mary Margaret was born in 1938 at a home for unwed mothers. Her early years were spent in a foster home where the dog got scraps of food before she did. Just before she reaches school age, she is sentenced by a judge to an industry school. Her crime? She was found guilty of being destitute and not an orphan.
⠀
The book follows her years growing up under the care of the nuns at the school, as one of the “house children” in the community, a new name and a number to identify her. She gets one week a year as a break from this hard life and a chance to be a “normal” girl at the home of a kind family in Galway.
⠀
Even that respite changes some as she gets older, the host family grows, and long kept secrets are revealed. Mary Margaret is smart and has goals, the things she learns sidetrack her a bit, but she shows wonderful strength and wisdom to make her path forward.
⠀
This is a very simple, entertaining tale that was great to listen to while my hands were doing other things. The Irish accent of the narrator, Lauren Reilly, was easy to listen too and helped me really feel immersed in the story.
⠀
April 16, 2019
Disclaimer: I received this book from SparkPress. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 15+ (sexual assault, TW suicide, TW abuse)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 300
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway.
At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland.
Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.
Review: I thought this book was moving and poetic. It was raw and it gave an unashamed look at Ireland’s unfair laws regarding unwed mothers and their out-of-wedlock children. The children, and the mothers, were victims of a system that was so focused on stomping out any and all “sin” that it forgot about the people it left behind in its wake. In my personal opinion, this is a good example of what happens when you have a country that is ruled by a lot of people who think the same way. They don’t have that devil’s advocate to suggest/argue the opposite view and so laws like these get passed. I’m sure it worked some to help statistically take down unwed mothers and “bastard” children, it probably also helped in raising secret abortions and infanticide. I grew up in a very conservative county and being a teenage mother was always (and still is) heavily frowned upon. A girl that went to my school found herself pregnant. She wore baggy clothes and didn’t tell her parents. She had the baby in secret and, from what I heard from friends who knew her, tried to kill the child to hide her “sin”. While having a child at a young age or outside a solid relationship isn’t ideal, the mothers and children shouldn’t fear being punished by others for existing. And, if I’m so frank, teen/unwed sex has happened since the dawn of time. As long as there has been people, there has been sex. You’re never going to create enough laws/policies to rid pregnancy from those society deems “undeserving” of the miracle. It happens and the sooner we all realize it and work to help all pregnant women without prejudice in whatever they need or desire, the better in my opinion.
If I had to say some negatives about the book, it would be the abrupt end of the book and some of the mysteries of some of the other characters. I also wish that the book didn’t play it safe with one character. I wish that the main character was in a bit more danger and that her life wasn’t so coincidental.
Verdict: A marvelous read!
Book Series: standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 15+ (sexual assault, TW suicide, TW abuse)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 300
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway.
At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland.
Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.
Review: I thought this book was moving and poetic. It was raw and it gave an unashamed look at Ireland’s unfair laws regarding unwed mothers and their out-of-wedlock children. The children, and the mothers, were victims of a system that was so focused on stomping out any and all “sin” that it forgot about the people it left behind in its wake. In my personal opinion, this is a good example of what happens when you have a country that is ruled by a lot of people who think the same way. They don’t have that devil’s advocate to suggest/argue the opposite view and so laws like these get passed. I’m sure it worked some to help statistically take down unwed mothers and “bastard” children, it probably also helped in raising secret abortions and infanticide. I grew up in a very conservative county and being a teenage mother was always (and still is) heavily frowned upon. A girl that went to my school found herself pregnant. She wore baggy clothes and didn’t tell her parents. She had the baby in secret and, from what I heard from friends who knew her, tried to kill the child to hide her “sin”. While having a child at a young age or outside a solid relationship isn’t ideal, the mothers and children shouldn’t fear being punished by others for existing. And, if I’m so frank, teen/unwed sex has happened since the dawn of time. As long as there has been people, there has been sex. You’re never going to create enough laws/policies to rid pregnancy from those society deems “undeserving” of the miracle. It happens and the sooner we all realize it and work to help all pregnant women without prejudice in whatever they need or desire, the better in my opinion.
If I had to say some negatives about the book, it would be the abrupt end of the book and some of the mysteries of some of the other characters. I also wish that the book didn’t play it safe with one character. I wish that the main character was in a bit more danger and that her life wasn’t so coincidental.
Verdict: A marvelous read!
October 7, 2021
The Story:
This coming of age story follows the life of an orphan named Mary Margaret Joyce. At the age of six she is sentenced by the judge to live in an industrial school where is renamed Peg and given the number 27. Albeit the rigid and strict rules of the school, Peg always look forward to spend her annual summer holiday with the kind Hanleys family at Galway. As she grows older, she begins to wonder who her birth mother is.
My thoughts: This is a character driven historical fiction that sets in Ireland between 1937 - 1952. I am not aware about industrial schools and glad to learn about them in this book! I enjoyed following Peg's journey as she learns to navigate her new life in the school and also her feelings as she enters into young adulthood. There were some heartbreaking moments especially when she learns what it meant to be called house children and an illegitimate child.
I would say that the plot is light which was calming and soothing with some suspense here and there. But there was no drama or anything like that. The writing was easy to read and it was like reading a journal. I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved the narrator Lauren Reilly with the Irish accent. This truly elevated the listening experience!
In a nutshell, I enjoyed this story which was based on true events. I think what really stuck with me was the way the society treated unwed mothers who not only being shunned by the society but were forced to give up their children. It was heartbreaking.
Pub. Date: Oct 12th, 2021
***Thank you BookSparks and OrangeSky Audio for this gifted listening copy and for having me in this Pop Up Book Tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
My thoughts: This is a character driven historical fiction that sets in Ireland between 1937 - 1952. I am not aware about industrial schools and glad to learn about them in this book! I enjoyed following Peg's journey as she learns to navigate her new life in the school and also her feelings as she enters into young adulthood. There were some heartbreaking moments especially when she learns what it meant to be called house children and an illegitimate child.
I would say that the plot is light which was calming and soothing with some suspense here and there. But there was no drama or anything like that. The writing was easy to read and it was like reading a journal. I listened to the audiobook and absolutely loved the narrator Lauren Reilly with the Irish accent. This truly elevated the listening experience!
In a nutshell, I enjoyed this story which was based on true events. I think what really stuck with me was the way the society treated unwed mothers who not only being shunned by the society but were forced to give up their children. It was heartbreaking.
Pub. Date: Oct 12th, 2021
***Thank you BookSparks and OrangeSky Audio for this gifted listening copy and for having me in this Pop Up Book Tour. All opinions expressed are my own.***
April 9, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book. Set in Ireland in the 1940’s, this debut novel has a Jane Eyre feel - which happens to be my favorite book.
Mary Margaret Joyce was born in a home for unwed mothers. She was cared for in a foster home and later sentenced to an industrial school for girls run by strict nuns. Mary Margaret becomes “Peg” when the nuns decide they have too many girls named Mary.
The unwanted girls are known as the “house children” when mixed with children from the town for school. Education is a precious commodity for the house children and very few are allowed to advance beyond reading and writing.
Every summer Peg is given a one week holiday with a kind family several towns away. Over the years she develops relationships within the family, including two “aunties” and a handsome boy who live in America.
Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birth mother which sets her on a course for finding where she could belong and the overwhelming desire to leave Ireland for America.
I was afraid this would be a difficult book to read. Children suffering are tough plots for me to stick with but the author handled the subject with care, balancing bleakness with small triumphs and friendships.
If you enjoyed Jane Eyre or The Heart’s Invisible Furies, you should also enjoy The House Children.
Thank you to @booksparks and @the.house.children for the chance to read and review this book!
Mary Margaret Joyce was born in a home for unwed mothers. She was cared for in a foster home and later sentenced to an industrial school for girls run by strict nuns. Mary Margaret becomes “Peg” when the nuns decide they have too many girls named Mary.
The unwanted girls are known as the “house children” when mixed with children from the town for school. Education is a precious commodity for the house children and very few are allowed to advance beyond reading and writing.
Every summer Peg is given a one week holiday with a kind family several towns away. Over the years she develops relationships within the family, including two “aunties” and a handsome boy who live in America.
Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birth mother which sets her on a course for finding where she could belong and the overwhelming desire to leave Ireland for America.
I was afraid this would be a difficult book to read. Children suffering are tough plots for me to stick with but the author handled the subject with care, balancing bleakness with small triumphs and friendships.
If you enjoyed Jane Eyre or The Heart’s Invisible Furies, you should also enjoy The House Children.
Thank you to @booksparks and @the.house.children for the chance to read and review this book!
October 29, 2021
4.5*
I really enjoyed this audio by Netgalley. It started off heartbreaking and I wanted to just sit in a corner and cry. This book is based on true events, and that knowledge alone absolutely destroys me. However, in the middle I started to feel hope. Mary/Peg has many obstacles in her life, but what I enjoyed the most was the folks she met along the way. Also she got to confront her demons and it was a delightful and heartwarming outcome. The book flowed nicely and the prose was excellently exucted. Again thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to give my honest review. I will be talking about this book to everyone who will listen.
I really enjoyed this audio by Netgalley. It started off heartbreaking and I wanted to just sit in a corner and cry. This book is based on true events, and that knowledge alone absolutely destroys me. However, in the middle I started to feel hope. Mary/Peg has many obstacles in her life, but what I enjoyed the most was the folks she met along the way. Also she got to confront her demons and it was a delightful and heartwarming outcome. The book flowed nicely and the prose was excellently exucted. Again thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to give my honest review. I will be talking about this book to everyone who will listen.
June 16, 2022
It’s heartbreaking to hear how cruel society, and even more so the Catholic nuns were to innocent children. This story is based on true events from the 1950’s. Harsh.
February 26, 2019
I found this to be a page-turner, and a fulfilling and rewarding read. Given the particular setting, I was worried that it might be a harrowing read - but it isn't. It was a pleasure to read, and easy to become engrossed in.
It's mostly set in several locations around my home town and County - Galway. As an avid local historian, I was delighted by the accuracy and attention to detail. For me, this helped to make it a very authentic portrayal of Galway at that time.
I've read about people whose lives were affected by institutions in Ireland such as Tuam Mother and Baby Home, Industrial Schools, and convent schools. This book has helped me a lot, to understand the plight of people who were in those situations, to understand the social context, and to make an emotional connection with them.
It's mostly set in several locations around my home town and County - Galway. As an avid local historian, I was delighted by the accuracy and attention to detail. For me, this helped to make it a very authentic portrayal of Galway at that time.
I've read about people whose lives were affected by institutions in Ireland such as Tuam Mother and Baby Home, Industrial Schools, and convent schools. This book has helped me a lot, to understand the plight of people who were in those situations, to understand the social context, and to make an emotional connection with them.
February 27, 2019
Once I was able to get a grasp on how the date/time jumped around a bit in the book I found it to be a very compellingly beautiful story! It was definitely a page-turner from beginning to end and a book that made me feel ALL the emotions. I loved how the book started off so dark and hopeless and grew to something full of hope. For me I love books like that where a hopeless situation is turned on its head and becomes one full of hope and joy.
I was given a copy to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
I was given a copy to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 30, 2022
This book was heart breaking and dear at the same time. I listened to the audio book and found the narration to be very good. I have been reading a bit about the "homes" for children of unwed mothers in Ireland in the 40's and 50's. This brought out things I did not know. Historical fiction at it's finest.
January 23, 2020
5.0 Stars: The timeline of this story mirrors my Mother’s teenage departure from her homeland. I still have family in Ireland, and here, across the pond. The voice in this book created a climate similar to what I grew up with in my home. Ask questions, but don’t ask too many times. Do not expect a full answer. “Why do you want to know about all that old stuff?” I think I was 12 before I saw a picture of my mother as a child in Ireland. And even then, it was only 1 photo. No fluffy details.
I enjoyed reading this book, first, thinking it was a simple voice from days long ago, when things were much easier to understand. There were rules, and then there were rules.
But more than anything I’ve read before, this story helped me better understand why there was so little that I understood about my Mother. It wasn’t about her family, her village, her school. She wasn’t an unwed mother. There was a climate, a cultural.....silence.....a whisper.....
I congratulate the author for capturing that climate, culture, and voice and ending the story where each individual could find their own path forward. Excellent read.
Ask anyone who came from the old country before the 1960’s “what was it like growing up there?”. The House Children knew......
I enjoyed reading this book, first, thinking it was a simple voice from days long ago, when things were much easier to understand. There were rules, and then there were rules.
But more than anything I’ve read before, this story helped me better understand why there was so little that I understood about my Mother. It wasn’t about her family, her village, her school. She wasn’t an unwed mother. There was a climate, a cultural.....silence.....a whisper.....
I congratulate the author for capturing that climate, culture, and voice and ending the story where each individual could find their own path forward. Excellent read.
Ask anyone who came from the old country before the 1960’s “what was it like growing up there?”. The House Children knew......
December 30, 2020
Oh! Wow! “The House Children” is based on true stories shared with Heidi Daniele by 5 women raised in St. Joseph’s Industrial School in Ballinasloe, Galway, Ireland, 1940s and 50s. This story holds so much grief and regret, you actually feel the pangs of this absolute disappointment in what happened to the children at this time.
This deeply researched novel is not only absolutely fascinating, you sense Heidi’s sheer and utter passion towards the telling of this story. Reading this you sense this was Heidi’s life’s calling!
This alone makes the book worth the read! Add in all of her writing talents and you have a winning novel!
Be prepared to want to learn more about this story once you’ve finished!
This is a story that needed to be told. Thank you, Heidi Daniele!
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This deeply researched novel is not only absolutely fascinating, you sense Heidi’s sheer and utter passion towards the telling of this story. Reading this you sense this was Heidi’s life’s calling!
This alone makes the book worth the read! Add in all of her writing talents and you have a winning novel!
Be prepared to want to learn more about this story once you’ve finished!
This is a story that needed to be told. Thank you, Heidi Daniele!
I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 2, 2019
My Review: Although to start this one was slightly hard to follow. As it got going it unfolded much better. I finally got a grasp on what was going on and this turned into a very compelling story about hardship and family. When you have nothing you don't really think that you should have anything. This story started out so dark and then became something of hope.
October 22, 2019
I commend Author Heidi Daniele, who has written a memorable book giving insight to a dreadful time in Ireland - for the sentencing of unwed mothers to servitude. Their children were taken away and put in the care of nuns, who were very strict and unloving. This book was very engaging and eye opening! I highly recommend!
April 9, 2019
Mary Margaret Joyce belongs to no one. And no one belongs to her.
The night she was rescued from a shuttered barn by the friendly face of a young woman she vaguely knew, Mary was sure she'd finally found what she yearned for most in the world - family. The young woman who scooped her up was kind, the words she whispered were calming and easily whisked Mary's fears away in the wind.
She felt comfortable in the young woman's home, no matter the cutting looks the woman's parents threw her way. The young woman and her sisters seemed happy to have her their, their soft hands making sure that Mary's hair was devoid of any tangles, their brush strokes loving and tender as they dressed her like a doll.
But it wasn't long before the picture shattered like a glass shoved from a table, leaving Mary sadly gazing from the rear window of a car as it made its way down the long, lonely lane. As the image of the kind young woman and her sisters huddled on the front porch grew smaller and smaller, Mary grew more despondent. Where was she going? Had she not been good enough to stay? Was she worth nothing?
Peg. Her new name.
27. The number she is identified by.
Mary is transformed into one of the House Children, nothing but a number in a line of other numbers. Nothing but a sad girl in a room full of other sad girls. Her new home one with cold floors and stark surroundings, devoid of the warmth that comes with love and affection. The industrial school is run by a pack of nuns, and Mary/Peg will soon find that there is no comfort to be found in their arms.
Within her first few weeks in the industrial school, Peg learns a few key lessons. Don't speak unless spoken to. Don't cry. Be wary when making friends. Don't wet the bed, even in your sleep. Don't expect anything more for your life than poverty and destitution. Don't ever hope for a future anything more than becoming someone's maid or cleaning bedpans at the hospital. House Children are throwaways. They are dispensable, and the fact that Mary has been forced to rid herself of even her own name is irrefutable evidence to that fact. They were unwanted from birth, and they are unwanted now.
She makes a few friends, a few allies - and she finds a few dim rays of sunlight to cling to. Peg's uncanny intelligence does not go unnoticed, and as the months go by, she is called upon by the Sisters to perform special tasks. This special treatment does not go unnoticed by the other House Children, bringing with it a cultivated spread of jealousy and cruelty that Peg cannot avoid.
Deep down, Peg does her best to shut the shadows out ... no matter how difficult it is, no matter the things she bears witness to. The tasks she is assigned hold their own brand of encouragement, but nothing is better than the day Peg is told she will be spending one week of the summer on holiday. It's a curious invitation, and one that the other girls in the school are immediately suspicious of.
When Peg steps off the train at the station, her eyes slowly come to focus amidst the lingering smoke and swirling dust. When it all settles, she sees one thing. One person, standing ... her expression hopeful and kind. It is the young woman from Peg's early childhood, the one who saved her.
As the years pass slowly by, Peg spends a week each summer with the Hanley family, watching pensively as it grows from just Norah and her amiable husband to a son and then a baby daughter. The week is one that she initially spends the entire year looking forward to. It begins full of trips to the beach with friends, long afternoons on the playground, visits to the sweet shop, and a choice of ribbons for her hair. But as Peg grows older, she realizes the precarious situation she is in; as one of the House Children, she is illegitimate. She is essentially a sin, with no hope for redemption, even if the sin was not of her own making. After learning that her mother is indeed the young Mrs. Hanley who takes her in once a year in an attempt to balance her grief and guilt over being forced into giving Peg up, Peg begins to stoke a fire wrought of resentment inside of her. The visits become more stifled and difficult, and Peg struggles to forge her own path.
The saving grace of her annual visits is mostly made up of the growing friendship with Norah's sisters ... exotic imports from America who do their best to evoke hope in Peg. With one aunt in particular comes a nice young man who seems interested in who Peg is as a person, rather than what jobs she can accomplish as a cook or a cleaner. He sees through her illegitimacy to the heart of her, and Peg finds herself even more desperate to find a way out of her situation.
As Peg transitions from young girl into a young adult, she begins to take a realistic stock of her environment and curate dreams for the future. She wants to get out of Ireland and travel to America, a land where she is certain she can find stability and a way to truly shake the stigma of being a House Child. She believes herself capable of receiving an adequate education and takes full advantage of the opportunities at the industrial school that are thrown her way in that regard. Most importantly, Peg begins to realize her own worth and yearns to be in possession of her own destiny, instead of leaving it to the Sisters or Mrs. Hanley to figure out for her.
Under the careful guidance of her aunts and a few well-meaning Sisters, Peg becomes one of the lucky ones. But Peg is never able to forget that she was unwanted, and she never forgets that she is ultimately alone. She must find a way to get out of Ireland and find a way to turn her abandonment in to an opportunity.
Based entirely in Ireland, The House Children is the first novel by Heidi Daniele. The novel is based upon true events surrounding the industrial schools in the area during the 1930's, and their subsequent effect on their inhabitants. In browsing the author's biographical blurb, I would be reasonable in assuming that Ms. Daniele found inspiration for her novel throughout her work with organizations involved with underprivileged children.
The novel was thoughtful and well-researched, and a testament that was oftentimes difficult to read due to the injustices afforded the children at the industrial schools. Placed their under no fault or choice of their own, the children were forced to endure horrific conditions and given no opportunity to grow organically or experience anything remotely resembling a childhood. Peg's voice was oftentimes heartbreakingly despondent, her resentment palpable and her abandonment issues manifesting in realistic and life-changing ways.
The character of Norah Hanley was equally as sorrowful. Forced away and into giving birth in a truly treacherous and despicable environment, the young woman was forced to give her child away and live with the shame of having a child out of wedlock. Norah was lucky enough to live within a reasonable distance to Peg and be able to see her once a year, but the pain involved was no less severe. I often questioned whether it was healthy for the mother and child to see each other each year and rip open the wound, or if it would be more prudent for Norah and Peg to sever all ties and forget about one another ... it was an impossible situation, and well-written.
Giving the novel 3 out of 5 stars, my wish is that the story had been a bit more fluid. It read more like a child's diary than an actual novel. It is, in my opinion, an appropriate novel for ages 13+.
The night she was rescued from a shuttered barn by the friendly face of a young woman she vaguely knew, Mary was sure she'd finally found what she yearned for most in the world - family. The young woman who scooped her up was kind, the words she whispered were calming and easily whisked Mary's fears away in the wind.
She felt comfortable in the young woman's home, no matter the cutting looks the woman's parents threw her way. The young woman and her sisters seemed happy to have her their, their soft hands making sure that Mary's hair was devoid of any tangles, their brush strokes loving and tender as they dressed her like a doll.
But it wasn't long before the picture shattered like a glass shoved from a table, leaving Mary sadly gazing from the rear window of a car as it made its way down the long, lonely lane. As the image of the kind young woman and her sisters huddled on the front porch grew smaller and smaller, Mary grew more despondent. Where was she going? Had she not been good enough to stay? Was she worth nothing?
Peg. Her new name.
27. The number she is identified by.
Mary is transformed into one of the House Children, nothing but a number in a line of other numbers. Nothing but a sad girl in a room full of other sad girls. Her new home one with cold floors and stark surroundings, devoid of the warmth that comes with love and affection. The industrial school is run by a pack of nuns, and Mary/Peg will soon find that there is no comfort to be found in their arms.
Within her first few weeks in the industrial school, Peg learns a few key lessons. Don't speak unless spoken to. Don't cry. Be wary when making friends. Don't wet the bed, even in your sleep. Don't expect anything more for your life than poverty and destitution. Don't ever hope for a future anything more than becoming someone's maid or cleaning bedpans at the hospital. House Children are throwaways. They are dispensable, and the fact that Mary has been forced to rid herself of even her own name is irrefutable evidence to that fact. They were unwanted from birth, and they are unwanted now.
She makes a few friends, a few allies - and she finds a few dim rays of sunlight to cling to. Peg's uncanny intelligence does not go unnoticed, and as the months go by, she is called upon by the Sisters to perform special tasks. This special treatment does not go unnoticed by the other House Children, bringing with it a cultivated spread of jealousy and cruelty that Peg cannot avoid.
Deep down, Peg does her best to shut the shadows out ... no matter how difficult it is, no matter the things she bears witness to. The tasks she is assigned hold their own brand of encouragement, but nothing is better than the day Peg is told she will be spending one week of the summer on holiday. It's a curious invitation, and one that the other girls in the school are immediately suspicious of.
When Peg steps off the train at the station, her eyes slowly come to focus amidst the lingering smoke and swirling dust. When it all settles, she sees one thing. One person, standing ... her expression hopeful and kind. It is the young woman from Peg's early childhood, the one who saved her.
As the years pass slowly by, Peg spends a week each summer with the Hanley family, watching pensively as it grows from just Norah and her amiable husband to a son and then a baby daughter. The week is one that she initially spends the entire year looking forward to. It begins full of trips to the beach with friends, long afternoons on the playground, visits to the sweet shop, and a choice of ribbons for her hair. But as Peg grows older, she realizes the precarious situation she is in; as one of the House Children, she is illegitimate. She is essentially a sin, with no hope for redemption, even if the sin was not of her own making. After learning that her mother is indeed the young Mrs. Hanley who takes her in once a year in an attempt to balance her grief and guilt over being forced into giving Peg up, Peg begins to stoke a fire wrought of resentment inside of her. The visits become more stifled and difficult, and Peg struggles to forge her own path.
The saving grace of her annual visits is mostly made up of the growing friendship with Norah's sisters ... exotic imports from America who do their best to evoke hope in Peg. With one aunt in particular comes a nice young man who seems interested in who Peg is as a person, rather than what jobs she can accomplish as a cook or a cleaner. He sees through her illegitimacy to the heart of her, and Peg finds herself even more desperate to find a way out of her situation.
As Peg transitions from young girl into a young adult, she begins to take a realistic stock of her environment and curate dreams for the future. She wants to get out of Ireland and travel to America, a land where she is certain she can find stability and a way to truly shake the stigma of being a House Child. She believes herself capable of receiving an adequate education and takes full advantage of the opportunities at the industrial school that are thrown her way in that regard. Most importantly, Peg begins to realize her own worth and yearns to be in possession of her own destiny, instead of leaving it to the Sisters or Mrs. Hanley to figure out for her.
Under the careful guidance of her aunts and a few well-meaning Sisters, Peg becomes one of the lucky ones. But Peg is never able to forget that she was unwanted, and she never forgets that she is ultimately alone. She must find a way to get out of Ireland and find a way to turn her abandonment in to an opportunity.
Based entirely in Ireland, The House Children is the first novel by Heidi Daniele. The novel is based upon true events surrounding the industrial schools in the area during the 1930's, and their subsequent effect on their inhabitants. In browsing the author's biographical blurb, I would be reasonable in assuming that Ms. Daniele found inspiration for her novel throughout her work with organizations involved with underprivileged children.
The novel was thoughtful and well-researched, and a testament that was oftentimes difficult to read due to the injustices afforded the children at the industrial schools. Placed their under no fault or choice of their own, the children were forced to endure horrific conditions and given no opportunity to grow organically or experience anything remotely resembling a childhood. Peg's voice was oftentimes heartbreakingly despondent, her resentment palpable and her abandonment issues manifesting in realistic and life-changing ways.
The character of Norah Hanley was equally as sorrowful. Forced away and into giving birth in a truly treacherous and despicable environment, the young woman was forced to give her child away and live with the shame of having a child out of wedlock. Norah was lucky enough to live within a reasonable distance to Peg and be able to see her once a year, but the pain involved was no less severe. I often questioned whether it was healthy for the mother and child to see each other each year and rip open the wound, or if it would be more prudent for Norah and Peg to sever all ties and forget about one another ... it was an impossible situation, and well-written.
Giving the novel 3 out of 5 stars, my wish is that the story had been a bit more fluid. It read more like a child's diary than an actual novel. It is, in my opinion, an appropriate novel for ages 13+.
October 4, 2021
Who's my mother?
In 1937 it was not a good time for unwed mothers in Ireland. The Catholic church was in control and the girls were forced to give birth in a work home and then their child was taken away. Mary Margaret Joyce was one of these children. Her first years were spent in an inadequate non caring foster home and when the mother up and left with the children after her husband was killed Mary Margaret was left behind. She ended up in an industrial school where she was number 27 and they called her Peg.
The home was strict under the nuns and she complied with the work, the prayers and the rules. She made friends at the school. Her one time to escape was a yearly vacation with a family in Galway. She looked forward to these vacations every year.
On one visit she finds out from her Grandmother, that Nora the lady she spends her vacations with is her mother. Peg struggles with the shame of being illegitimate and feels that her mother abandoned her. She plans to move away when she is older. She wants to go to America.
There is much tension and struggles between Nora and Peg as she becomes a young adult and wants some say in her life. Her mother doesn't want to let go and refuses to talk to her about moving out of Ireland. Peg is conflicted, she is just coming of age and she simply cannot forgive her mother for abandoning her when she was born or even now for not acknowledging her as a daughter.
It is a story of the inside of the industrial school, the emotions and conflicts of a young girl as she grows up and comes to terms with life. Her feeling of love and hate for her mother and her dream of going to America. I enjoyed this story and this bit of Irish history.
It was a good story and I recommend it.
In 1937 it was not a good time for unwed mothers in Ireland. The Catholic church was in control and the girls were forced to give birth in a work home and then their child was taken away. Mary Margaret Joyce was one of these children. Her first years were spent in an inadequate non caring foster home and when the mother up and left with the children after her husband was killed Mary Margaret was left behind. She ended up in an industrial school where she was number 27 and they called her Peg.
The home was strict under the nuns and she complied with the work, the prayers and the rules. She made friends at the school. Her one time to escape was a yearly vacation with a family in Galway. She looked forward to these vacations every year.
On one visit she finds out from her Grandmother, that Nora the lady she spends her vacations with is her mother. Peg struggles with the shame of being illegitimate and feels that her mother abandoned her. She plans to move away when she is older. She wants to go to America.
There is much tension and struggles between Nora and Peg as she becomes a young adult and wants some say in her life. Her mother doesn't want to let go and refuses to talk to her about moving out of Ireland. Peg is conflicted, she is just coming of age and she simply cannot forgive her mother for abandoning her when she was born or even now for not acknowledging her as a daughter.
It is a story of the inside of the industrial school, the emotions and conflicts of a young girl as she grows up and comes to terms with life. Her feeling of love and hate for her mother and her dream of going to America. I enjoyed this story and this bit of Irish history.
It was a good story and I recommend it.
April 21, 2019
I just loved this book! It was such a quick read for me as I read it in less than a day. It was written so eloquently and about a subject so many Irish Americans are really unaware of. My own relatives would never speak of that time period and experiences of living in Ireland. The author does a great job portraying the reality of what people suffered without harshly criticizing the Catholic Church. She leaves it up to the reader to decide if they want to delve more into learning about the industrial schools and/or the Catholic Church in Ireland at that time. The story shows how dire it was for so many women during that time period and explains their hope for a better life in America. However, it is not written so sad that you will cry throughout the story (which is something I worried about based on the subject matter.) It is funny, charming, and warm throughout most of the story. The writer describes each of the characters so perfectly! But the story does so much more. It highlights life and the beautiful and not so beautiful relationships people build over their lifetimes. It shows no matter how dire your circumstance, you can have friendships and bonds that will help you bare any circumstance. It shows that there are two sides to every story, Peg who felt abandoned and her Mom who truly thought she was doing the best she could with the situation. I also love that it is written in such a way that the reader cannot clearly take either side. Reading this story, I flipped back and forth in my mind taking different sides at times until the end when you realize it is just people trying to make the best of their circumstance. I hope to see a prequel or sequel some day!
April 6, 2019
[ Synopsis ]
In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway. At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland. Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.
[ Review ]
This is a character driven novel, with a style of writing I really enjoyed. Peg is a great character that you can’t help but root for. I found myself being curious what was going to happen to her in the end, and how she would emotionally deal with all she went through in the industrial school.
Daniele did a great job with her attention to detail of these schools. Being based on a true story, I learned a lot about these schools that I had little to no knowledge of before. It helps you understand the predicament of those who were in the situation, the social context of why, and the hardships the girls faced in the homes. A great historical fiction novel.
In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway. At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland. Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.
[ Review ]
This is a character driven novel, with a style of writing I really enjoyed. Peg is a great character that you can’t help but root for. I found myself being curious what was going to happen to her in the end, and how she would emotionally deal with all she went through in the industrial school.
Daniele did a great job with her attention to detail of these schools. Being based on a true story, I learned a lot about these schools that I had little to no knowledge of before. It helps you understand the predicament of those who were in the situation, the social context of why, and the hardships the girls faced in the homes. A great historical fiction novel.
October 5, 2021
Set in the 1940s and 1950s Ireland, House Children highlights the life of Mary, later known as Peg. She’s never known her mother and, after a terrifying foster care experience, ends up in a home raised by nuns where she’s known as one of the house children. Mary is constantly wishing for a mother and wants a family so badly it hurts. My heart broke for her and I could feel her pain as the narrator deftly described it. What struck me most about this very difficult situation was that her situation wasn’t all bad: there were ups and downs, making her life sad but tolerable with some things to look forward to and take pleasure in. Mary made the most of her life and made herself a family where there wasn’t one. I highly recommend the audio rendition of this. The narrator’s Irish accent is perfection and the story has a nice flow and an abundance of emotion which will keep listeners hooked.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, OrangeSky Audio and Heidi Daniele for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, OrangeSky Audio and Heidi Daniele for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 8, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the author and booksparks, so thanks to them for sending it to me!
The House Children was a fast and easy read for me. I really enjoyed the setting and getting to read about these industrial schools because I literally knew nothing about them! I quickly became attached to “Peg” and often times felt her anger/frustration as if it were my own. It’s so easy to see only your point of view in a difficult situation but I was a big fan of seeing Peg work through her conflicting emotions. All of her emotions felt authentic and valid for what she was dealing with and I enjoyed that the author didn’t rush through them but truly allowed us to see how much she struggled to reconcile those emotions.
Overall, this was a solid 4 star read for me and I’d recommend it if you like books that are centered around family struggles!
The House Children was a fast and easy read for me. I really enjoyed the setting and getting to read about these industrial schools because I literally knew nothing about them! I quickly became attached to “Peg” and often times felt her anger/frustration as if it were my own. It’s so easy to see only your point of view in a difficult situation but I was a big fan of seeing Peg work through her conflicting emotions. All of her emotions felt authentic and valid for what she was dealing with and I enjoyed that the author didn’t rush through them but truly allowed us to see how much she struggled to reconcile those emotions.
Overall, this was a solid 4 star read for me and I’d recommend it if you like books that are centered around family struggles!
April 3, 2019
I received this book from Heidi herself and I was so excited to read it! It was a quick read which I liked and just the whole story was good. It was nice reading Peg (Mary Margaret) grow up each year in Industrial School and spending a week in Galway with the Hanley’s. I always wondered what she would do each week she spent with them. It was sad though that all Peg wanted was a family of her own but couldnt have... but finally she finds out who her real mother is and it is heartbreaking but what had to be done was done in her past. I know for me that would be so hard growing up not knowing who your family is...
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