The Museum of Mary Child

by Cassandra Golds

Heloise finds a mysterious doll and is forced to run away,ending up in an orphanage. But one day, she must return to the house where the devastating secret of her past awaits.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Childrens, Fiction, Gothic

329 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2009

About the author

Cassandra Golds was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up reading Hans Christian Andersen, C.S. Lewis and Nicholas Stuart Gray over and over again — and writing her own stories as soon as she could hold a pen. Her first book, Michael and the Secret War, was accepted for publication when she was nineteen years old and she is proud to have been “discovered” by the incomparable Jennifer Rowe (also known as Emily Rodda) who was her very first editor and mentor. In collaboration with the artist Stephen Axelsen, she went on to write a string of flamboyantly themed graphic novels, all of which have been published as monthly serials in the venerable New South Wales School Magazine in Australia.
She wrote Clair-de-Lune after coming upon the fascinating fact that many people have difficulty in saying their own name without 'pulling back' their voice. The Museum of Mary Child, her latest novel, was inspired by a nightmare.
“I dreamed a whole chapter of that book,” she says. “It’s the one where Heloise first sees inside the Museum. But the rest of it I made up while I was awake!”
Cassandra writes in a room with buttercup yellow walls and a poster-sized map of Narnia hanging on the wall above her desk. She has had this map since she was ten years old. Her favourite book is Down in the Cellar by Nicholas Stuart Gray and if a genii gave her three wishes she would use one of them to bring it back into print for the readers of today. If she wasn’t a writer, she would like to be an actor — but only if she could be in a production of Hair or Godspell.
You can friend her on Facebook (where she has started a Nicholas Stuart Gray Appreciation Society), or follow her on Twitter.

Reviews

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that is impossible to categorize. Although it at first seems meant for children, as Heloise is clearly a child, some of the almost spiritual or metaphysical themes of the story would fly way over a child's head - and as Heloise grows older, so do these themes rise to the forefront of the story. The Society of Caged Birds is a charming and fascinating idea that will appeal to children - but the Christ-like prisoner and the themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption require some maturity to appreciate. The tone of the narration is calm and measured for the most part, with a restrained yet hugely appealing sedateness that is on rare occasions (mostly when Heloise is speaking with the prisoner) broken by overwrought and perplexing dialogue.


Readers will certainly guess some of the fascinating twists and turns of the story before they occur, but that does not lessen their magic. The underlying themes - the magic of love and the necessity of letting go of control in order to get and give love - are presented in a truly magical and compelling way. I know I will be haunted for a long time by Mary Child, by those amazing caged birds, by the singing orphans and their choir leader Old Mother, and especially by Heloise.


I don't know to whom I should recommend this atmospheric, understated fantasy. Kids? Teens? Adults? I was swept away. Hopefully you will be as well.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creepy, old-fashioned tale, a mystery, a (non-romantic) love story, a magical fable. Something like that, at least. As someone who reads heavily, I find it particularly refreshing when I have trouble categorizing or describing a book, when I can say it is fairly unique and different. (Not every book has a secret pet network formed to do good called the Society of the Caged Birds of the City, after all.) Particularly when it's a good book that I enjoyed. If you want to be pleasingly intrigued, I suggest you give this one a go.

-----

In any case," she added, "as you ought to know by now, happiness is a Waste of Time. Let me hear no more about it."

-----

For this - this - was love! This closeness, this affection, this protectiveness, this respect, this cherishing, this friendship, this joy between Maria and herself was not charity but love. And this fear of losing her, and the sadness and loneliness that would come if ever she did - that too was love. Love was joy and love was pain. Love was allowing someone to matter to you. Not for their usefulness to you, or even for your usefulness to them, but for no reason, except that they were they and you were you. Love was everything, all that mattered. And yet, in a strange way, her godmother had been right. for love was a kind of folly, a losing game. The greatest of all Wastes of Time.

But then, that depended on what you thought time was for.

-----

And thus it was that Heloise discovered that there were stories apart from the ones in the Bible, stories of magic lamps, flying carpets and caves full of treasure.

But she was not surprised.

Stories were everywhere, she knew that now.

She was beginning to think that, in all the world, there were really only two things - just two. The stories you knew, and the stories you did not know.

-----

"How do stories that begin with 'Once upon a time' end?" she asked. . . .

"With and they all lived happily ever after," he said huskily.

"I don't know the end of the story," said Heloise. "Or at least, I don't know how to get to 'and they all lived happily ever after.' But you do. I know it. Please. Tell me how."

[Charlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always fun to read something that's different from anything else you've read. The description the back cover calls it eerily atmospheric, in turns part fairy tale, part romance, part mystery. And I would add it's the right kind of creepy to get delightfully wound up in your brain. Heloise is raised by a cold godmother without love. She longs for a doll and one day finds one hidden under the floor boards. Her desire to keep the doll, her love for it, leads to her running away and she is taken in by a most unusual choir of orphan girls. Happenstance or part of a bigger plan? There is a mysterious young man in a dungeon with a story to share and the fantastical Society of Caged Birds. And the museum. . .

[Sarah Mayor Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been around for a couple of years but I don’t think it got the recognition that it deserved, beyond being on Honour Book in the 2010 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and being shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards. So I thought I would review it again. I think because this is a very strange and at times disturbing fantasy story – the sort of story that some people find too threatening to even pick up – many judge’s and teachers didn’t know what to do with it. I think its strength is that Golds is prepared to tackle the issue of the dark side of life and human nature within a fantasy context.

Heloise lives with her godmother and their housekeeper Mrs Moth in a little house in the country next to a grisly museum to the memory of Mary Child. The household lives a very disciplined and serious life, making dolls clothes to raise money for orphaned children. Heloise is not allowed to have a doll of her own, so when she finds one under the floorboards of her room, she decides to keep it a secret. Heloise enjoys her first experience of friendship with the doll, Maria, and when Heloise’s godmother discovers the friendship, Heloise runs away.

She finds her way to the city, which has a very pre-industrial Parisian feel to it, and is taken in by a kindly woman who runs a home for orphaned girls. Old Mother also conducts and trains the girls in a 4-part harmony choir that sings for the local church. It turns out that Heloise has a lovely voice and she is asked to join the choir and the orphanage. For the first time she discovers love and experiences enjoyment and friendship.

The story is bookended with a prologue and an epilogue, which at first seem unrelated, but as we read on, we find many characters and story threads, which Golds weaves into a complex story of love and acceptance. The fantasy element is so original and the character development provides a very satisfying read. Heloise finally learns who she is and the identity of her family and the reader is left thinking that understanding oneself is a vital component of happiness and self-love.

This is the sort of book that would generate deep discussion amongst students; it would make a great literature club book and would read aloud well. Recommended for secondary students.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raised by a Godmother who doesn't believe in love, Heloise isn't allowed to play, waste time, ask questions, laugh, have friends, or even own a doll. So Heloise spends her days reading the Bible and sewing clothes for orphans while her Godmother curates the mysterious Museum of Mary Child. In spite of the fact that the museum is next door to their own cottage, Heloise has never been inside. With such a strange and suspenseful beginning, I was surprised when the mystery of the museum was revealed only a fourth of the way through the book! I felt puzzled about where the story could possibly go after that. But after a somewhat uneventful middle section, the surprises kept coming, and--this is going to sound silly, but it's true--they were really surprising surprises! There are at least three reveals at the end of the book that I completely did not see coming, and I found that really satisfying. It more than made up for the fact that the author made some stylistic choices in her storytelling that I wasn't totally crazy about. I can see a lot of teens who like trick endings really enjoying this book, and I think it also has some interesting things to say about love. Finally, it was neat to read a young adult novel by an Australian author and come across words like "junket" and "budgerigar".

I think that readers who liked The Museum of Mary Child would probably also enjoy A Murder For Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner.

[Amy Cummings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely loved this book! It was so enchanting! Heloise is a great heroine, and her story is gripping and real even as it is so much like a fairy tale. Her search for answers, for love, for her history is very hard to put down- I believe because it so closely mirrors what we're all searching for in this life.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odd, but kind of beautiful.
There was one chapter, towards the end, where THINGS were revealed, that was...wow. I couldn't have put the book down then if I'd tried. It was slow to start though, and I didn't really get into it for a long time.

[Isla Went · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was weird and then it got weirder and more confusing and then somebody turned into a ragdoll???? Anyway it was weirder than bunny and it’s a kids book so ya know🪆🪆

[Adzuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassandra Golds is a gifted story teller and she pulls you in because the story is written like it is only being written for you. Mary Child is a strong character and you cannot help but feel for all the characters in the book, especially Heloise. The story is very original and has the framework of a fairy tale wrapped all around it. However love features as the strongest theme in the book - this is a wonderful introduction of the multi varied aspects of love and how interconnected we all are, whether bird, mice, doll or human.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melancholy and generous.

[Lynden Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. I enjoyed every word. Hauntingly beautiful.

[Moonchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute masterpiece and bewitching tale!The Museum of Mary Child was a bit creepy, gothic, but beautiful. This book explains the concept of love better than any other book I've ever read. The best thing about it is that it has lots of different types of love, not just romantic love but also familial love, unrequited love and love we have for friends.It's a bit too deep for very young children, but it's a very good book nonetheless.
The beginning of the story was mysterious and I was so curious to find out about the Museum and its secret, but that was revealed very early in the story and I was confused about what the rest of the book was going to be about. Then,the middle part of the story took quite an interesting turn after Heloise ran away to the city inoder to keep her beloved Maria with her. Halfway through the story, a lot of unexpected things happened, but after a while, it all started to make sense, and I was fascinated by how well those little details at the beginning of the book added up together.

I especially liked the society of caged birds of the city : the concept of talking birds who spend their only free time doing good for others.
Most books I have read didn't end the way I hoped it would end, but this one did. I like books that have a happily ever after, and this one was very promising on that side. I'd give this 100 stars if possible because it's that good and I would recommend it to anyone.

[Candace Ethelston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite!! Still one now 😎

[Andrea Povick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly magical. I've read it several times.

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you reading this for the cover?

Shame on you.

I did the exact same thing.

The Museum of Mary Child actually sort of reminds me of an old china doll. Interesting, creepy, maybe a little sad. You just have to get past the frills.

First of all, there's this sort of aura of subtle, creepy magic. A Society of Caged Birds that flies out at night to speak with caged people. I'm sure the author was going for tragic and beautiful. I'll leave that up to you to decide whether that worked out. Aside from the uncaged birds, there's really no proof or evidence of magic, but you know it's there just by the way the words sound on the page. Ms. Golds knows what she's doing.

Heloise lives in a house supported by a museum dedicated to a girl gone mad. She's never been inside the museum. She spends her days making hideous, sensible clothes for the orphans, whether they want them or not, under her aunt's watchful eye. Heloise desperately wants a doll, but her aunt deems them insensible. This is the same lady who glued all of the pages of the bible shut that had to do with love. “For love was a kind of folly, a losing game. The greatest of all Wastes of Time. But then, that depended on what you thought time was for.”

When Heloise does venture out into the deep wide world, there's no sense of time. It could be anywhere from the sixteen hundreds up until today. My guess is eighteen sixties, but to each their own. It's irrelevant anyway. To make a detail like that irrelevant and obscure takes a great deal of talent and concentration, so let's all take a moment to applaud Ms. Golds. *clapclapclapclapclap*

Final overview: Interesting. Beautiful and lyrical. I only gave it three stars because of how preachy it was, but there are some people who love that sort of thing, it's just that I'm not one of them. This was one of those books that felt more like art than literature, if you catch my drift. Like above all else, it was meant to tell a beautiful story rather than a solid one. This isn't a bad thing, though. Sort of like the difference between an antique china doll and a barbie. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a mellow n' morbid read that's eerie but not frightening. It's like a fairy tale of the bizarre, but at the same time calm and subtle. Like nothing you've ever read before.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, that was strange! So Heloise was a doll in the end, brought to life by her godmother who was Mary Child after all... what a trip. I like how it all came together at the end, and loved the metaphor of Sebastian's prison being the royal castle and he the prince - and loved his happy ending.

What I didn't get though was how he'd seen Mary Child/Heloise's godmother only a year beforehand since it seems implied that Heloise had been living there for more than just a year. Unless she was "born" and aged really super-fast so that a year to her could well feel like ten or so. I guess, since she was a doll...

I have a small gripe too. On the second page: "They are not wild birds. In fact, they are the kind that usually live their lives in cages - canaries, finches, budgerigars and the like." That the author is Australian and would say that budgies are not wild and usually caged just made me go all grrr. That should have been worded slightly differently, because when I read it I just assumed that the author didn't know that budgies are actually wild birds in Australia. A huge surprise to find that of all the nationalities, the author was Australian! Tch.

LOVED the parts with Old Mother and her choir the best, after the very creepy beginning at the house next door to the museum. It was only the last third or so where my interest began to wane a little, thus dropping this down from 4 stars to 3. It's a 3 1/2 though in any case. I like the slightly Victorian feel, though it's given neither a time nor a place. The setting was perfect.

[Tina Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it first came out. The doll and the book cover actually caught my attention and the back description made me want to read it. The tone of the book is very dark, the girl is full of 15 year old angst, lost in a home life that is stagnant and I personally think depressing. Heloise is being raised by her godmother who forbids any toys in the house and when Heloise finds a doll buried beneath the floorboards of the museum next door she keeps it against her godmother's wishes. The doll is tied up in the family past and Heloise (to me) seemed like she was tired of being pushed away and not having her questions answered. You'll have to read the book for yourself. I'd be interested in your thoughts and whether you liked the book.

I can tell you that the teen that purchased my copy seemed intrigued with the cover, the doll (even though she said dolls "creeped" her out) and the mystery within the story. I've had a few other teens ask about the book too. This genre seems to appeal to a certain group of readers - those that like creepy, vampire dark type of books - if you like that type of story you'll love this book!

This book has earned the Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year and the CBCA 2010 notable Books List - Young Readers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a very uncanny gothic-ish orphan story. Without telling too much it follows a girl who is never allowed anything frivolous, especially no dolls. Eventually she must run away from her harsh Godmother and is taken in by some pretty darn great people. However, before she runs away her Godmother takes her into the Museum of Mary Child a seriously f'ed up place. The Museum is the livelihood of the Godmother, and is shrouded in mystery.

This is a good tale, part fairy tale, part orphan tale, part mystery and some horror. It is described as having a little romance but it really does not qualify as romance. It is also not historical fiction, although it has the tone of that a little. It is truly creepy at parts but never scary. I would suggest it to teens 12 and up who like creepy, strange tales, and scary fairly tales. If you know anyone who liked The Red Necklace it would be good for them as it has kind of an automaton/doll tie in or even The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs for the creepy adults, and the mystery surrounding origins.

What does it say about me that I am drawn to the truly strange books?

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awards Won: Aurealis Award Nominee for Best Young Adult Novel (2009)
Reading level: Young Adult

This book was fairly different than anything that I have ever read. The cover is misleading, and I thought that the book was a true story, or at least based on one. I have since found that there is another addition of the story with a different cover, which I feel is far more suited for the story.

Surprisingly, The Museum of Mary Child is a mix of both fantasy and realistic fiction. The two genres almost seem like separate entities until the climax of the story. Also, I feel that the story was definitely too macabre for middle grade students, though I feel that the plot might not be very appealing to young adults. The story centers around dolls, which would appeal to a younger audience.

As an adult I quite enjoyed the story of Mary Child, though I am not certain that most children or young adults would share my opinion. This book is definitely designed for a special type of reader.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a strange book for me to pick up - libraries aren't quite the same as bookstores in terms of book fondling, but I still do it. Sometimes I pick up a book that just feels like I should read it - sometimes it works out well, and this one did.

The story is very Dickensian only without the factories, though there is a Prison and Madhouse. I felt the time and place of the story to be 1848-ish, and possibly that Scrooge might be hanging out in the next town over. Even with this suggestion of a when and where, there was a sense of unreality - I wasn't sure about timelines of events. It also has a fairy tale flavor, only you don't know who the princess is or where the prince is. And the evil fairy isn't really evil, just sad and full of self-hate but you really don't know that either - its more about feeling. The author lets you feel things like loneliness, and the confusion of moving from isolation to being surrounded by people who love you.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me forever to finish this book---I've found over time that I really don't warm to the sort of didactic fairy-tale voice that this type of story is written in. However, it is a fairly tale about one girl's search for love. Heloise grows up in a restrictive environment where she is allowed nothing frivolous, and is expected only to work and give to charity. However, as Heloise follows her heart, it leads her to all kinds of forbidden pleasures, like dolls, singing, and even a magical society of caged birds, that can help her find a new life for herself.

I did enjoy some of the scarier details of the book (like the faceless dolls), but at times the messages, and that voice, seemed a little too heavy-handed and important for me to be fully drawn in and lose myself.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very creepy/cool read. I am now terrified of my daughter's dolls.

Heloise has had a very quiet childhood. She stays at home with her godmother and the housekeeper, keeping to her studies and her charitable sewing, all while avoiding anything deemed A Waste of Time. But when the discovery of a hidden doll leads to a secret happiness, Heloise's world must change. Her godmother shows her the museum that she has never been allowed to set foot inside, shows her the madness of Mary Child.

And that's not really a good summary if you actually read the book, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers. Interesting tale with some pretty far-fetched ideas, but interesting ones. Gripping ending, too! I would really love to see what was the idea the author first had that sparked this book.

[Keri · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is beautiful and the prose flows like effortless poetry. However, despite the very original plotline, I just couldn't stay focused on the story itself. The characters never came to life for me. Heloise remained a flat character even after her life-changing discovery. She was supposed to be a character discovering the world she never knew, but I never got any true sense of curiosity and urgency from her. It wasn't until the very end of the book and the introduction of Sebastian, a prince locked in a dungeon, and an explanation of a years' old curse, that the story really started to pick up. But by that point, I felt it was already too late for my disinterest in the story to be changed.

[Rebecca Santelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up The Museum of Mary Child based on the cover - which I thought indicated a YA horror novel, perhaps in the spirit of Shirley Jackson. What I got was something completely different and almost impossible to classify, and all the more rewarding and marvelous for being not what I expected. Sometimes this feels like a Dickensian historical fantasy, and yet the actual time-period remains elusive. The intended audience could be middle-grade, YA, or adult - mirroring the strangely accelerated maturation of the heroine. There are horror elements (I hesitate to describe them as I worry it would rob them of their full impact on a new reader), but ultimately the novel is a lyrical meditation on the nature of self-sacrificial love. Highest recommendation.

[Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a serendipitous find at my local used book store. I'd never heard of it, and because it's by an Australian author, it's likely I never would have unless doing one of my Goodreads surfing searches.

This was very different from what I've been reading lately, which really made it stand out. Haunting and atmospheric, it has a heroine (Heloise) who for long periods of time in the book reminds me a little of Jane Eyre--who has become accustomed to living without love for so long that the manifestation of it changes her life. It's something of a Gothic fairy tale romance mystery, and shares a beautiful message about the redeeming power of love.

Really beautifully written.

[Madeleine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rich writing from one of my favourite authors, I was enchanted by this book right from the very first page. As usual, Cassandra Golds writing is pure and surreal, and I fell in love with this book as can be expected. However, I don't believe that this was as intriguing as some of her other work, but I loved it none the less. Cassandra's writing skates a thin line between adult concepts and childrens stories, something that I admire most because I haven't seen many authors capable of such a feat. I highly recommend this book to fans of any of her other work, and fans of novels with a touch of surrealism.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book when I saw the cover (yes, we DO judge books by their covers!) and I thought it would be really creepy, and good. I was right. I stayed up ALL night reading this book at home, and laid awake at night, wondering what was going to happen to Heloise next. I love these gothic stories, because they are so full of deeper meaning and romantic imagery. I soaked this up. I then pushed it at my mom and told her to read it, and she loves it as much as I do. The only flaw? I wish there was a sequel!

[NZBook Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An astounding book. Reads like a classic fairy tale except you've never read it before. Full of unusual characters with very definite morals and routines, a continuous discovery of what makes each one the way they are, and revelations that surprised me the whole way through the book. Even when I thought I could predict what was going to happen there was a twist to it I hadn't expected. Touching, surprising, a very special read.

[Miffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Museum of Mary Child is a complex book. Golds makes you work hard to keep track of what's happening, but there is a huge payoff at the end - an open-mouth, OMG, ending!

Heloise is, well, unusual - as is her family. There is something being hidden, something strange, something sort of creepy. But the creepy feeling isn't apparent at the start of the book. It's only as you read on that you become more and more unsettled.

Recommended for readers who like to be challenged.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a haunting story and very creative. It was so different from the kinds of books I normally read, part psychological thriller, part fairy tale, part fable, and it also reminded me at times of a Dickenson tale such as Oliver Twist. I also really enjoyed the bombshell at the end though it was hinted at very heavily and most people will probably figure it out pretty quickly. I highly recommend it!