London’s East End heaves with child prostitutes, hawkers, beggars and thieves. Constance rescues as many children as she can but feels overwhelmed. A solution is offered that sounds perfect – Canadian farmers need workers, their wives want housemaids. Shipping children to this land of plenty offers them a future. Widow, Mary Trupper, is wary, but the promise of a good life for her children is … strong.
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I didn’t find out until the end that this story is based on actual events. It shows how the best laid plans can go off of the rails if no one is manning the door. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!! It broke my heart but I couldn’t put it down until it was finished.
Very historical, pointed out the tragic fate for so many of these children, also the ongoing inability of adults to care for those in their charge.
If you like to read historical fiction I recommend this book. It depicts a time in history when English society was trying to find alternatives for the poor and homeless children of major cities (London). They were seeking ways to improve the lives of these children–to offer education, job apprenticeship, religion and stable homes and nourishment. This novel tells the story of one Religious group removing children from their homes and placing them in homes in Canada where the good people of Canada promise to meet all the requirements. But do they…
“There are none so blind as those who will not see.” This book made me angry. Angry at the deliberate ignorance and blindness of religious do-gooders. Angry at a society that does not value its children. Angry at people who seek only the simple and easy solution. Angry with people who are so puffed up with and enamored of their goodness that vanity replaces reality. The book’s basic premise is that a deeply religious group in England in the late nineteenth century decides that shipping poverty stricken youth to Canada to work as farmhands and housemaids will prove to be a salvation. Preparation? Teach the girls which pan should be used to cook salmon; show the boys a picture of a cow and describe how to milk the cow. Placement? Have people who need laborers (some children as young as seven years old) get a minister to write a letter verifying what good Christians they are. Let any adult choose any child, such as a boy with a clubfoot to work a farm with an older single woman. Followup? None. Yes, I know the events of the book are based on fact, but the book was enormously disturbing to read. It made me embarrassed to be a human.
Constance’s character seemed to deteriorate as the story went on. The story begins with her being so caring and giving to children in need but by the end of the story, she was thoughtless and selfish. And this book ends with a feeling of it being hurried, disturbing, unfinished and tragic.
An excellent depiction of the relocation of orphans from England to Canada and the struggles that they endured.
Interesting historical account of little known events.
This is the story of how good intentions are not enough without detailed planning and monitoring. The lives of the poor are sad, but sometimes better than alternatives. This author did a good job of bringing life to this story.
A tragic and heart wrenching story
Brutal story. Very disappointing ending. Not what happens, but the fact that it just ends. I felt like I missed several chapters or something. It seems like much was missing in resolving the story.
This was hard to read emotionally, but I would want others to read it and get a sense of ownership to help without making problems worse. I wanted to protect all of these children and tell people to quit rushing the process of trying to help because they were missing important clues that the things weren’t always turning out as planned. As we try to help with similar projects in this day and age to stop child traffic rings and such it would be wise to go slow and truly evaluate how effective efforts truly are.
Hated the ending!
A book that once you start reading you do not want to put down. It is heartbreaking but believable! I highly recommend it if this is the genre of book you like.
This work is based on true accounts in the late 1800s into the early 1900s. After reading this fiction, I turned to the internet for the actual events that occurred! I wept for those children whose lives were so horrendous!
Tragic and sad how the care of these children was entrusted to a well-meaning yet naive person. The reality was hard to learn about yet learning about this time is valuable information.
As in our world today,historical fiction provides a social mirror of societies victimizing the economically downtrodden and innocent.
I had high hopes for this book. I felt the author had a great idea for a timely topic—what do children go through when they are removed from their birth family and placed in a completely new environment? Unfortunately, I couldn’t like the main character and most of the remaining characters were so one dimensional. Very disappointing—I struggled to make myself finish.
Historically interesting
Very interesting history about England and Canada and their orphans. I was hoping there was another one to continue the story!
The best of intentions are not always the best action.