The Forgotten Home Child is a fictionalized account of an important, but little known, segment of Canada’s history. From 1869 to 1948, over 100,000 poor or orphaned British children were sent to Canada. Many were abused or otherwise mistreated.

Winny got to know Mary, Jack, Cecil, and Edward when they all lived on the streets in London. They were all caught stealing and were sent to gender-segregated orphanages, but are reunited on their voyage to Canada. All are hopeful about their fresh start, but their hopes are soon dashed. They are subject to varying degrees of abuse. Mary suffers the most, and Winny is determined to fulfill the promise she makes Mary, despite the personal cost.

Sixty years later, Winny’s granddaughter and great-grandson know little of her past, but as she recounts her tragic personal history, they are determined to help her heal.

The Forgotten Home Child is painful to read at times, probably more tragically due to its accuracy. The novel’s only flaw is the very long build-up, and too hasty conclusion. But it’s an important book that humanizes an episode history books don’t cover. #NetGalley #TheForgottenHomeChild

Between the years of 1869 to 1948 thousands of children were sent to Canada from England and Ireland for a better life...or so it was believed. They were homeless, some orphaned, and poverty stricken children. Families were destitute and desperate and had placed their children in orphanages.

Based on true Historical events, Ms. Genevieve Graham takes us back to a story not openly spoken about... the dark, harsh reality of many of our British and Irish ancestors; The British Home Children.

This is a hard read, and yet beauty and grace finds its way on the pages as we learn the bitter stories these children faced at the hands of "welcoming Canadian Families".
Please be forewarned; Children suffered abuse as
part of this unspoken heartwrenching story.

Told from distinct voices past and present, this is profound "Canadian" Historical Fiction writing. It's an absolute must read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ms. Genevieve Graham is the author of 11 outstanding reads.
Noteworthy Historical Fiction books include; "Come From Away" and "Tides of Honour", both exceptional 5 star reads!
She lives in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and the incredible author, Ms. Genevieve Graham for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Forgotten Home Child". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

I loved this historical fiction novel!

The story follows Winny and Jack throughout two time periods. The first is set in the present, where Winny is telling her story to her granddaughter. The other time period is when Winny and Jack were sent to Canada from England as teenagers in the 1930s. Winny and Jack, along with some other friends, get separated into different homes and have to face some difficult times.

It’s unfortunate that we aren’t taught this part of Canada’s history in school. An estimated 12% of the Canadian population are descendants of the British home children. I recently found out that my own great-great-grandmother was one of them, though she came to Canada in the late 19th century, before this book is set. In the book, Winny’s great-grandson wonders why we aren’t taught about this in school. We aren’t taught much history in school, but this is an important part we should all learn.

This story was heartbreaking at times, but those scenes were quickly followed by optimism. I really enjoyed this story!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham is a gut wrenching historical fiction novel based on very disturbing true facts. From 1869 to 1948 Liverpool, England would round up homeless children and ship them to Canada for adoption. Unfortunately there was no oversight to protect the children and many became nothing more than indentured servants to these adoptive families. They slept in cold barns, missed meals and were often abused physically and sexually.

This novel follows the story of Winnifred Ellis who at 97 years old in 2018 finally tells her grandson the story of her origins from running away at 15 from a cruel stepfather, living on the streets, finding friends who became a family to her and then being taken in by Dr. Barnardo's Barkingside Home for Girls. They taught her how to take care of a home and be a nanny. However, she wound up being nothing more than a slave.

Winnifred's story, sadly, is based on real events and, in fact, one quarter of Canada's population are descendents from this government program.Though Winnifred and her friends suffer they do persevere with an unbelievable resolve to have a life worth living.

There were many events that chilled me to the bone in this book. So many questions like why England didn't take care of their own children, why did no one follow up on the children and why was this program allowed to exist for so long?

I was sad that Winnifred felt so much shame about her start in life when none of it was her fault. This is the third historical fiction book I have read this year that was about events I had never heard of or been taught about it in school. It is very distressing that so many will go on never knowing about these atrocities and that is the quickest way for history to repeat itself. I applaud the author for her diligent research and fortitude to write this book in a manner that would allow more people to want to read and learn from it.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers Simon and Schuster Canada for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have recently discovered my Grandmum was a BHC child. Looking into her history in Canada and reading so many personal stories, this book delves deep into the horrors these children went through when they were shipped over. It is history not talked about and it should. And it should never be forgotten. Very well written. I am so thankful to this author for bringing this subject to light.
Fifteen-year-old Winny has never known a real home. After running away from an abusive stepfather, she falls in with Mary, Jack, and their ragtag group of friends roaming the streets of Liverpool. When the children are caught stealing food, Winny and Mary are left in Dr. Barnardo’s Barkingside Home for Girls, a local home for orphans and forgotten children found in the city’s slums. At Barkingside, Winny learns she will soon join other boys and girls in a faraway place called Canada, where families and better lives await them.
But Winny’s hopes are dashed when she is separated from her friends and sent to live with a family that has no use for another daughter. Instead, they have paid for an indentured servant to work on their farm. Faced with this harsh new reality, Winny clings to the belief that she will someday find her friends again.
Inspired by true events, The Forgotten Home Child is a moving and heartbreaking novel about place, belonging, and family—the one we make for ourselves and its enduring power to draw us home.

#TheForgottenHomeChild #NetGalley

The Forgotten Home Child by Author Genevieve Graham is a book based on the true story of the British Home Children.

Wow, that was one powerful book! As a Canadian - born and raised in this country - I have to say that I was totally unaware of " British Home Children"

This is a book that all Canadians, and all readers whom are interested in Historical Fiction should read.

This is a novel "about a young girl caught in a scheme to rid England’s streets of destitute children, and the lengths she will go to find her way home"

This book is both eye opening, and heartbreaking, to read what these children endeavoured.

A big thanks to NetGalley, Author Genevieve Graham, and Simon & Schuster Canada for my advanced copy of this book to read in exchange for my personal review.

While the book was well written and the story was very engaging, I had a hard time with a big piece of the book, which was Winny’s shame over her past. Why would she be so ashamed? Because she and her friends were orphaned? Poor? Sent to poor houses? Indentured? They were not criminals, they were children, victims of circumstance and bad luck. They survived and ended up with better lives in other countries, many of them.
This issue came up repeatedly throughout the story. Winny spent her entire adult life hiding her background because she was ashamed of it, and she should have been proud, if for no other reason because she lived when some of her peers didn’t.

*ARC via netgalley in exchange for agreement to review*

This book told an amazing story, and I'm so glad I got an ARC of this one. Some stories just stick with you, and this is definitely going to be one of those for me. I couldn't put it down.

I completely fell in love with this story. The story of Winny and Jack is beautifully written, and is packed with so much history, I didn't want it to end. This was a clear cut 5 star read for me.
First off, this book tells the story of the British Home Children, who came to Canada in the 1930's to be sold off to Canadian's for farm and house work. Excited for a new life, these children unwillingly face hardships, abuse and terrible conditions. Each child's story is unique about how they got to where they are, and what happens to them while they are there.
Secondly, the story is told between past and present day. It gives off some serious Notebook vibes, only less rainbows and butterflies.
This book was hard to put down, and I am so thankful to Simon and Schuster for the early review opportunity. This is a must read for 2020!

WInny, Jack, Mary, Edward, and Cecil were street children in London and them they were sent to Canada, as part of the Home Children program. This program sent over 100,000 children from the UK abroad. What should have been a new opportunity turned into a nightmare, especially for the boys and for Nick, another boy who was with them on the Warren farm. The children are abused and over worked on the farms where they find themselves- none of them had even seen a cow before arriving in Canada much less milked one. Winny is used to tell the story of the five (although many chapters focus on Jack and the boys). Graham is a terrific storyteller and she brings the horrors of their lives to light in a way that had me turning the pages. If I have a quibble it's that the conclusion of Billy's story is done in a page and I would have liked to know a bit more. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This isn't always the easiest read but you will definitely find yourself rooting for these kids (and for Billy).

Great book from a true story. Part of canadian history that need to be known. Winny, Jack , Mary and the others are so endearing peoples.

This book was an eye opener for me. I had no previous knowledge of the British Home Children. Though this book is fictional, the historical foundation of it is true....makes for a very intense and heartbreaking read. What the children had to endure is horrendous. Reading this will definitely have you in tears.
A beautifully written story that pulls on your heartstrings.
“May these children never be forgotten”
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest review.

#NetGalley #The Forgotten Home Child #Simon & Schuster

The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham tells the story of the British Home Children. Thousands of orphaned children were sent to Canada from England in the 1930's. The theory was that it was a chance at a better life for these children. In reality many of these children were work slaves for the families that took them in. They were abused and neglected. This is a part of history that I knew nothing about. The story is very well written and tugs at your heartstrings. I felt that I knew the characters and it was heartbreaking to know that many of the things in the book actually happened. At times I found myself with tears running down my face. This is a story that will stay with me for years to come. Well done Ms. Graham, thank you for bringing awareness to the plight of these children.

I don't know why I put this one off for so long. Just like The Orphan Train and The Home For Unwanted Girls I was immediately captivated with the story. I knew nothing about Home Children before reading this, but now I'm heading off to google more.

This book was well written, often heartbreaking (usually when I was reading in public). I finished it over a couple of days but honestly would have read it in one sitting if life hadn't got in the way.

was such an intricately woven story about a life someone wanted to remember yet yearned to forget . was a good read from start to finish would recommend to other 5/5

Genevieve Graham’s THE FORGOTTEN HOME CHILD is historical fiction (based on fact) that transports us back to another time and makes us feel at home in an era into which we have never set foot. Beginning in 1869 and continuing until 1948, destitute British Home Children between the ages on three and eighteen were taken from England and transported to Canada with little more than the homemade trunks each had fashioned to hold their meager belongings. With no oversight, many of these young migrants were adopted while others lived in the harshest of conditions and were often used as “slave labor” on farms and in shops and factories. This novel is similar in subject matter to Christine Baker Kline’s THE ORPHAN TRAIN which features the United States rather than Canada as its setting.

In beautiful precise prose Graham chronicles the life experiences of her characters and those whose lives they touch along the way in their journey of love, hardship, and self-discovery. Some survived the ordeal while others succumbed to an early death.

The author is a beautiful weaver of fact and fiction as she takes the reader on a soulful voyage into the heart of the human condition - - seeking to find redeeming light in a dimming world.

This story reminded me of two books I’ve read recently dealing with the Canadian home children. Both were told by the oldest child trying to locate their siblings. This story was very different in that it was told through the orphans who were selected and sent to Canada. They had no parents they were on their own and were convinced this would be a win win for all parties involved.

It’s unimaginable how these kids were treated, the living conditions and what they were fed was inhumane. The story didn’t get too graphic where you can’t read it but enough to get you teary eyed. Everyone thought this would work out well for all, but it wasn’t for many of these young kids.

This story begins in 2018 the back cover says, “At ninety-seven years old, Winnifred Ellis knows she doesn’t have much time left, and it is almost a relief to realize that once she is gone, the truth about her shameful past will die with her. But when her great-grandson Jamie, the spitting image of her dear late husband, asks about his family tree, Winnifred can’t lie any longer, even if it means breaking a promise, she made so long ago...”

Somethings can’t be erased from your soul, but Winnifred learned to compartmentalize the horrific treatment, abuse and living conditions she experienced back then. She realizes that by telling her story (finally) to her family she is set free from the secrets she has hidden away. The ones that have been eating at her mind and heart. I felt for Winny and her friends. I’m glad they had each other.

I learned so much from this story and appreciated the author notes to readers where she details what actually happened with pictures from the time and other facts. This is the first book I’ve read by this author it won’t be the last.

This novel would be great for your next book club pick. The author includes 21 book topics and questions for discussion in the back. This is a story you won’t soon forget.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

Oh my goodness....so riveting and heartbreaking. The story follows Winny, who at 97 years old is finally opening up about her life. At fifteen she ran away from an abusive home, only to find herself on the streets and then in the Home for Girls. Suffering so many hardships, it is difficult to imagine at times.

The Forgotten Home Child is a historical fiction novel based on the true events of the thousands of British Home Children, who were shipped from England to Canada from 1869 to the 1940s with promises of a better life ahead. Winny, Mary, Jack, Edward and Cecil lived on the streets of England together until they were sent to Bernardo’s orphanage after being caught stealing. They were schooled and taught trades, and eventually became part of the first group of children who were sent to Canada. They were separated and sent to work on farms as indentured servants, poorly mistreated and abused. The story is told from the perspectives of Winny (in past and present time) and Jack, as they struggle to make sense of their difficult lives.
This was truly an eye opening story and learning experience, and I shed many tears reading this through. Before this novel, I had no knowledge of the British Home Children in Canada’s history, bringing to light the uniqueness of this novel. The author has truly put together a heartfelt description of these events. I enjoyed reading the author’s notes of how the characters all came to be through research of the experiences of many, as much as I enjoyed the story itself. The novel is fast paced and it did not take very long for me to become wrapped up in the lives of these vulnerable, yet strong, characters. I highly recommend this story to those who love historical fiction as much a I do.