Between the years of 1869 to 1939 more than 100,000 poor British children were sent across the ocean to Canada with the promise of a better life. Those who took them in to work as farm laborers or household servants were told they were orphans–but was that the truth?After the tragic loss of their father, the McAlister family is living at the edge of the poorhouse in London in 1908, leaving their … 1908, leaving their mother to scrape by for her three younger children, while oldest daughter, Laura, works on a large estate more than an hour away. When Edna McAlister falls gravely ill and is hospitalized, twins Katie and Garth and eight-year-old Grace are forced into an orphans’ home before Laura is notified about her family’s unfortunate turn of events in London. With hundreds of British children sent on ships to Canada, whether truly orphans or not, Laura knows she must act quickly. But finding her siblings and taking care of her family may cost her everything.
Andrew Fraser, a wealthy young British lawyer and heir to the estate where Laura is in service, discovers that this common practice of finding new homes for penniless children might not be all that it seems. Together Laura and Andrew form an unlikely partnership. Will they arrive in time? Will their friendship blossom into something more?
Inspired by true events, this moving novel follows Laura as she seeks to reunite her family and her siblings who, in their darkest hours, must cling to the words from Isaiah: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God”.
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Carrie Turansky’s book, No Ocean Too Wide, is a fascinating look at a little-known slice of history. Compelling and poignant, this is a fictionalized story of a family’s experience with the British Home Children movement which placed British children with families in Canada in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Most of the children were orphans, although some were not, and the placements were not well-monitored. Although some of the children prospered, some placements were disastrous for the children. Turansky’s careful historical research stands out, as do her richly painted settings, in the telling of this family’s experiences.
I quickly gained empathy for Laura McAlister and her family as they came upon hard times. She had some tough and courageous choices to make. Andrew Frasier, an attorney investigating the emigration program, was a wonderful hero in the story, and came along at just the right time to help Laura. I admired his integrity and determination and the support he was to Laura. It was interesting to see the story from the different points of view of Laura, Andrew, and Katie. Turansky is a gifted writer with a knack for developing colorful, authentic characters. The secondary characters are also carefully drawn and enrich the story.
Powerful themes of courage, faith, hope, and the importance of family are woven through the story and give it an added depth. A few loose threads remain to the tale, which will be addressed in the author’s next book. I would recommend this to those who enjoy fiction based on historical events.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
EYE-OPENING!
NO OCEAN TOO WIDE by Carrie Turanksy is an eye-opening look into the more than 100,000 poor British children who were sent across the ocean to Canada. The promise was for a better life but unfortunately, that wasn’t always the reality for these innocents. The people who took these children in planned to use them as household servants or farm laborers. Some treated the children as if they were their own. Some treated them as if they were slaves, confining them to doing extreme manual labor for a child their age and then making them sleep in barns and go without proper nourishment, etc. This is one family’s story, the McAlister Family. This family found itself in dire straights after the father died and the mother came down with pneumonia. The three youngest McAlister children have been taken in as “orphans” and sent to Canada. By God’s providence, the oldest daughter Laura works on a large estate owned by a family whose son Andrew is a litigator. Andrew learns of the McAlister Family plight and he & his mentor agree to look into the case as they are already investigating the Britain/Canada child exchange. What they find astounds them and causes them to to take action that will cause sweeping changes throughout the whole system. The Big Questions: “Will the McAlister Family be reunited?” “Will all the children be found in good health and in good situations?” I was provided an ARC of this book by Waterbrook&Multnomah & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
I fought tears throughout the journey the siblings embarked to Canada. The trials Kate and Laura endured broke my heart and as a mother I was weeping mess. I can’t say enough about this gem with unexpected ending. The many twists kept me engaged and thirsty for book two!
This book was given to me by publisher and I was required to give a good review.
Can you imagine being a little seven-year-old girl and wondering when you will see your mommy again? How about fourteen-year-old twins who are separated from each other and feel like they are missing half of themselves? What does a young woman do when she discovers that her two younger sisters and brother have been sent to another country and now appear to be lost to her? These are the situations that the four siblings of the McAlister family encounter in No Ocean Too Wide and it is a story that will remain with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
This is a sad story but it is also a story of hope, faith, and determination. The McAlister’s and Andrew Fraser were all believers and even though there were times when they wondered why God was allowing this to happen, they still believed in the power of prayer.
Even though this book is set in 1909 it will surely cause today’s readers to think about the children who are currently in foster care or awaiting adoption. I recommend No Ocean Too Wide to anyone who enjoys historical Christian fiction and I am looking forward to the next book of the McAlister Family series to learn if this family can finally be reunited!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and I was under no obligation to write a positive review. These are my own opinions.
Such a wonderful book! I love how Carrie really draws you in to each of the characters lives and feelings. It’s a real page turner!
I have had the opportunity to read and review several books over the past few years that featured unfortunate children who were poor and/or orphaned and became victims of unscrupulous organizations who exploited them in the name of charity. I was familiar with the Orphan Trains as well as the infamous Georgia Tann and her Tennessee Children’s Home. I was not aware of the thousands of British children who in a similar manner were shipped to Canada and a new life there.
Carrie Turansky’s No Ocean Too Wide features a family who became caught up in the system from which there seemed to be no escape. When Laura’s mother became gravely ill and hospitalized, her younger siblings were taken to an orphan’s home, then quickly sent to Canada despite Laura’s desperate attempts to bring them home.
No Ocean Too Wide is the riveting tale of one young woman’s brave journey to find and bring home the sisters and brother she loves even when all seemed hopeless. Helped by a young lawyer who was sent to research the orphan homes, they discover just how unethical the system has become. I was heartbroken at the treatment of the McAlister family and angry that something like this could be allowed to happen over and over again. The author brought the story to life with each page and I found myself holding my breath at crucial points, hoping for a positive resolution.
Vivid imagery and strong characterization along with an unexpected twist or two made this book difficult to put down. A compelling Christian thread was woven deftly throughout which offered encouragement and hope to a dark, hopeless narrative. A bit of romance also added a bit of hope and light. A very well-researched novel, No Ocean Too Wide is a must read for those who love historical fiction. This book will definitely be added to my keeper shelf.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
This is my first book I’ve read by Carrie Turansky and I’m hooked! The story captured my interest from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. This is a poignant story of four children during the era of the early 1900’s when children’s emigration from London to Canada was a very real event. In the same vein as Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, the author explores the sometimes horrifying situations these children were put through, all through the efforts of “Christian charity”. This novel follows the journey of Laura, Katie, Garth, and Grace after the death of their father and a severe illness of their mother. I found myself falling in love with the children – I can’t wait until the sequel to learn more of their journeys to reunite.
Thank you NetGalley and Multnomah for the ARC of this book. I was under no obligation to write a positive review; all opinions are my own.
No Ocean Too Wide, by Carrie Turansky captured my heart right from the start and never let me go. Ms. Turansky has done a marvelous job bringing to life a piece of the history of the British Home Children emigration to Canada, their hope for a better life and the heartbreak as well. Readers are introduced to the McAlister family who, through one thoughtless choice that set off a terrible chain of events, was caught up in a British social system and torn apart. I loved the courage and strength portrayed as the family encounters setbacks, disappointments, and difficult situations. And their faith in God—each of them, even the teenagers—is depicted realistically, whether it be wavering or strong as they learn to hold on to hope and trust God to reunite their family. The author expertly crafted characters who are well defined and well rounded with attributes and flaws. Laura, the older sister, determined to find her siblings; Andrew, passionate about helping those in need; Mr. Dowd, bold and honest regarding spiritual matters; Katie, alone and abandoned, yet so brave, feisty, trying so hard to do what is right—she broke my heart! And then there are the characters that you want to smack—the nasty matrons at some of the children’s homes and the self-centered guardians who took the children in and exhibited prejudice, neglect, and abuse. Along with a rich historical element to the story, and wonderfully compelling characters that evoke powerful emotions, there is a sweet romance that also touches the heartstrings and captures the reader’s interest. No Ocean Too Wide is a captivating story of the strong bonds of a loving family and the mercy and kindness of God who leads and guides, and promises never to leave His children. Readers who love historical fiction will not want to miss this one. I cannot wait until the next book in this series is released.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
This was a fascinating piece of history about which I knew nothing. Taking children that aren’t wanted or are living on the streets, to a new world with parents waiting for them. It sounds like a wonderful idea, but with some involved it became a scary time for children and parents.
This book follows several characters in this backdrop of history. The characters are well done, and I enjoyed getting to learn about this time in history through their eyes. I found myself wondering what choices I would make in certain situations. It wasn’t exactly black and white for those who so very much wanted to right the wrongs that had occurred.
So take yourself on a journey through an interesting time in history…think of why your emotions, feelings, and mind would have suffered.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A beautiful story!
Oh my! I loved this beautiful story so much. It touched me deeply. “So, what was it about the story that made for the quick connection?” you may ask. Well, let me tell you.
It opened with the plight of the younger McAllister children. They were scared because their mother was very ill and they were hungry. She had been unable to work for weeks while the illness ravaged her system. I immediately cared about their plight. When Mrs. McAllister was taken to the hospital, the children faced an impossible choice, they were dragged from their home, and Garth was separated from his sisters. Oh, my heart!
Then there was Laura, the older sister. When she discovered the children had been taken, she assumed it would be simple to recover them. Yet not only time but even the law conspired against them. Her heartbreak and determination to bring them back made me love her so much. I completely understood the choices she made and the guilt she felt over them.
The struggles, legal, spiritual, and physical, and the prejudices the children faced conspired together to have me caring in every moment, every word of this story. Although my heart was broken, I was given hope. Despite some tragic and reprehensible situations, the love of God shone through. The Christ-like choices and behavior of several of the characters through tough times was inspiring. (The situations were not described, only the results.)
I will warn you, though. While I hoped for a miraculous ending (yeah, I’m a dreamer!) where Andrew and Laura gathered up all the children who had ever been placed wrongfully or were mistreated in their new lives and brought them back to Andrew’s estate to live happily ever after, that didn’t happen. In fact, as you possibly guessed with this being book one of the series about Laura’s family, the family was not reconciled completely. There are still more stories to be told. Don’t fear, though. While you will probably be sad about those left behind, you won’t need to fear for them. It is clear they will be okay. (And while I may have mentioned to my husband that it was unchristian of the author to leave those poor children behind, I was kidding. Mostly.)
I highly recommend this moving story to all who love historical fiction.
Read my review of No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
o Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky is a story about a family of orphans transported to Canada by the English in 1909.
One of the reasons I enjoy historical fiction is that I learn something. I had read books about the orphan trains in America but had not heard about the English “home children”. This book shows how the same orphan problem was handled very differently. It is a heart wrenching tale of a family that is split apart through death and illness. This book has many layers and delves into the motives behind sending children out of the country. It also shows how the protagonists want to live for God and how they grow spiritually.
Laura McAlister is determined to find her siblings who have been shipped off to Canada without her mother’s knowledge or consent. She agrees to accompany a group of girls to Canada in hopes of finding out where her sisters and brother are.
Andrew Fraiser will inherit a title and his father wants to groom him to take over the estate. Andrew has other ideas. He has a heart for the underdog so he becomes an attorney. He and his law partner are charged by the government to investigate the methods by which the orphans are chosen and make their way to Canada. They are also to see how the children are placed and if it is successful.
Laura and Andrew’s paths cross. Will they ferret out what happened to Laura’s siblings? Will they find other things in common?
The author builds tension: “She took one faltering step, then another. Dizziness washed over her, stealing her strength. She reached for the barn wall and opened her mouth to cry out, but her voice failed her.”
Ms. Turansky puts her characters in bleak situations but shows how their faith sustains them. This book resolves some issues but leaves plenty unanswered for another book or two. I look forward to reading the next installment.
*I was given a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the publisher. I wasn’t required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
The author has given us a story that will linger long after the last page is turned, and rightfully so. By the Grace of God, we could have been one of those children, orphans, or no parent to take care of them. I can’t even imagine the poverty and living on the streets, but the solution?
We put faces to these children, but they have a family, and when one of the siblings attempt to retrieve them, well that is what makes this such a great read.
You will find your heart breaking, and yes, I know that this was a different time, but people looking their noses down because of circumstances beyond the control of the child, oh!
I love that there is another book to come and answer some more of my questions, so be sure to read the author’s notes at the end of the book!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Waterbrook Multmonah Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.
Be warned that boxes of tissues will be needed to read this book. I don’t know where to start with how deeply emotional this story is. The author has exceeded my expectations of how gifted a writer she is. The story is one that opened my eyes to the fate of children during a time period that was hard on many people.
I had no idea that children of British descent were shipped away to Canada sometimes without real reason to rip them from their families. I am overwhelmed at the cruelty these children were put through. I’m sure most children believed they were being adopted into loving and caring homes, but that was not always the case.
This story follows Laura as she works away from home to help her family out and how her siblings get caught up in a system that is far more dangerous than most people were aware of. Laura is beside herself when she learns her siblings have been taken away and will do anything to find them. I could feel Laura’s desperation as she travels to Canada to find her siblings. Can she find them before tragedy strikes? I admired her strength to rescue her siblings and how deeply she cared for their safety.
It was hard to read at times the homes the children were placed in. Most of them were treated as servants and had little hope of finding a way to escape their situation. The children in this story offers hope to those that think Jesus has forgotten them. The author gives us a sense of urgency in seeing that justice prevails and the children are returned to their family. I loved Katie, Grace and Garth and how they clung to their faith that God would rescue them.
Andrew is a wonderful character who helps in trying to reunite Laura with her sisters and brother. I loved that he never gave up and wanted to help not only Laura and her siblings but other children who had been abused by a system that only wanted financial gain. As Andrew and Laura band together there seems to be a little romance brewing between them. I liked that the author gives hints of their attraction but doesn’t make it the main theme of the book.
Children are a blessing from God and this story reminds us of how precious that blessing is. I sat on the edge of my seat as I drew to the end of the story. I was captivated by the emotions and the never ending faith throughout the book. I will be adding this book to my top picks for 2019. The author has promised a follow up book to continue this story and I will be anxious to read it. Thank you for writing a story that heals wounds, reunited families and gives us a look at Gods promise “that He will never leave us nor forsake us.”
I received an arc copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion,
What a fascinating story of tragic loss, familial loyalty, and enduring love! Carrie Turansky has a way of creating a hopeful and encouraging tale even in the midst of heart-breaking historical events. This first book in the series details Laura McAlister as she leaves her service position in 1908 England to go after her younger siblings who were mistakenly sent to Canada to fill the roles of indentured servants. Her family has already suffered from the death of their father and severe illness of their mother so Laura, as the eldest, cannot just sit still and let her family be ripped apart by a faulty child emigration process. Laura is determined, resourceful, and tender-hearted. Andrew, the son of Laura’s employer and a lawyer, becomes involved in Laura’s quest for her siblings when they cross paths while she’s looking for their whereabouts and he is hired by the government to investigate the child emigration process. Their journey takes them to Canada and is filled with joy and sorrow, hopes and unfulfilled longings, friendships and lies, great fortunes and misfortunes. Katie, Laura’s fifteen year old sister, has a strong voice in the storyline and gives a different perspective to the plot. Garth, Katie’s twin brother, and Grace, their seven year old sister, will get their voices heard in the next installment of the McAlister Family series.
If you enjoy a well-written historical fiction, you will definitely enjoy this book. I received a copy of the book from Waterbrook & Multnomah and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Carrie Turansky has done it again! She has taken wonderful characters, an intriguing, powerful plot line and blended them with the perfect amount of faith, hope and love. This book, from start to finish, had me absolutely captivated. I had this book finished in less than 24 hours, and I am absolutely dying for the next one already!
The children in this novel will absolutely steal your heart! Laura’s unwavering strength is a true testimony! The emotions she struggled with on the search to find her family, the faith she needed to learn to have was absolutely my own, during this amazing read. And, Andrew! Bless, I fell in love with his character and loved seeing him woven into the story.
This is a stunning, beautifully written, and utterly captivating 4 star read. Turansky takes some serious elements and weaves them into a love story that will forever stay with you. The historical elements came to life for me, and the Godly messages were a refreshing part of this page turner. If you are looking for a book that will keep you hooked until the end, and then leaving you thirsting for the next one, then look no further! No ocean is too wide for this family!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Publisher, Waterbrook & Multnomah and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*Carrie Turansky
No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky is a chase across the Atlantic Ocean to find family. I heard about the orphan trains in America with Jody Hedlund’s series, The Orphan Trains, but I didn’t know London was sending over orphans to work in Canada too. The historical aspect backing this story was fascinating. I really liked the part where Turansky didn’t shade away from the harsh realities of what happened to some of these servants. She was honest and showed the effects on the children as they laid in a hospital. The plot flowed nicely, moving from one part of the story to the next. The characters wanted nothing more than to be together. I liked Laura. The romance between Laura and Alex seemed to move along nicely, but then Turansky ended the novel with the predictable, yet slightly unconventional way, for Alex and Laura to earn their happily-ever-after. I could have done with their romance stringing along a little longer. Maybe into the next book. Overall, No Ocean Too Wide is an original, yet unpredictable story with four siblings trying to complete their family again. I really can’t wait to return and see how Grace and Garth come home. Fans of Jody Hedlund’s series might want to pick this series up and compare the two.
I received a complimentary copy of No Ocean Too Wide by Carrie Turansky from Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own
In No Ocean Too Wide, Carrie Turansky shines a spotlight on the plight of orphaned English children and the practice of emigrating them to Canada. With points of view from an adult sister on a search for her siblings, a lawyer gathering information for a report requested by the British government, and a younger sister processed into the system, readers get both an outsider and insider view of the challenges of this system.
While Turansky shows both the positive and negative sides of emigration, my heart broke for poor Katie and the placements she was assigned. It was her story that moved me most. Her hope in the midst of horrible trials and tribulations resonated with me.
There is a lot of build up to the actual emigrations, but once Laura boards her ship to Canada (about the halfway point), things start to move. This is, coincidentally, when Laura and Andrew finally reconnect after a brief meeting early in the book.
The romance is there but minimal in No Ocean Too Wide. The true heart of this book lies in the journey of Katie as an orphan and of Laura to find her siblings and bring them home. And while Laura takes plenty of decisions into her own hands instead of relying on God to show her the way, He is able to turn them around and use them for good in her search.
Now we’ll have to wait for the next book to find out the rest of the story.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This well researched historical fiction demonstrates different aspects of the plight of British Home Children. How far would you go to keep your family together? In this moving story, an endearing family and their friends go farther than they thought they would ever have to go. As her characters navigate difficult waters, Turansky describes some of the good aspects, as well as, some of the horrors of the system. Along this demanding journey, the author includes lessons of faith. As new relationships begin, good is still found. This novel is the first in this series and it left me anticipating the next book. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
“No Ocean Too Wide,” is a heart stirring journey into the British Children’s Homes child emigration issues of the 1880s. The family at the heart of the book are the McAlisters, and the reader can’t help but fall in love with them. I have never heard of these particular emigration stories and found myself drawn into the history and filled with sadness for the families that lost their children to what basically amounts to slavery by another name.
The eldest sister, Laura McAlister, is the persistent daughter that works tirelessly to reunite her siblings, torn apart by a broken system that assumes their mother has abandoned her children. She finds an unlikely ally in her ex-employer’s son, Andrew, who ends up using his background as a solicitor (also known as a lawyer in the time period of the 1800s) to help find out where the children have been sent. Over the course of their investigation, they uncover both kind and abusive situations, both in the homes they are supposed to be working in and the group homes that host them until placed with a family.
The love story that develops between the two main characters is genuine and honest. I enjoyed the interactions between the people who were fighting for justice for the children abused, but also the fact that they understood that there were often people who meant well but ended up overwhelmed with responsibilities. “No Ocean Too Wide” was an amazing journey that was well researched and hits right at the heart of the reader. This is my first Carrie Turansky novel, but it will not be my last.
I reviewed thanks to an early copy from #NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review.
A book you will not want to put down! I was astonished to learn that in the early 1900s more than 100,000 impoverished children from Britain were taken to Canada sometimes without their parents’ knowledge! Laura McAlister is a caring older sister who is working for a wealthy family and learns that her mother has been hospitalized and her three younger siblings sent to Canada! You will admire Laura as she gets a position as an escort to other children being sent to Canada in order to find her brother and sisters. Andrew, the son of Laura’s former employer, is a strong protagonist who is investigating the practice of sending the children to Canada. Your heart will go out to Katie McAlister as she has horrible experiences with the families she is assigned to. I found the history in this book fascinating and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Carrie Turansky has done a wonderful job of bringing little known history alive! I received an advance copy of No Ocean too wide from the author and Multnomah Publishing. This is my honest opinion.