Christine Kenneally has written a work that will doubtless set the standard by which others on the subject will come to be judged. In disturbing detail, Kenneally shines a beam of light into the horrid shadows of orphanage abuse. Indeed, as one reads, the immediate, visceral reaction to the stories contained here is to stop reading, unable to contemplate the degree of inhumanity endured by these children, but one also feels the pull of a moral imperative, a duty to finish, to let these voices and stories enter your mind, sit there a while, and reflect on notions of justice, humanity, or the lack thereof. A scathing indictment of systems, legal and community based, that failed in their highest duty: to protect and nurture children entrusted to their care.
The book could be used suitably in graduate level courses in sociology, ethics, law or public policy. One caveat: Instructors adopting this title should consider that students who have experienced abuse, or who know someone who has, might find the book triggering, and should be prepared to respond sensitively to any request for alternative reading.

it's a book I think everyone should a lest give a try and read ,while it's nonfiction and it's also an emotional type read it brings to light the history and crimes that took place in the Orphanages from Murder to sexual assault, even to this day we still don't know what happened to most of this kids since one moment they was there and the next they just disappeared.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a very well researched book. The author did a great job in really helping to depict what life was like in these orphanages.
Orphanages, psychiatric hospitals and sanitariums have always held a fascination for me so this was a book that caught my interest immediately.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and appreciated all of the information the author provided.
I think my only criticism really would be that there was some repetition with some of the people in the book and their personal stories.
But overall great read.

Ghosts of the Orphanage

Thank you so much Netgalley, Publicaffairs, and Christine Kenneally for this gifted copy, in exchange for an honest review! This book comes out 21 March, 2023!

I will always and forever be fascinated with orphanages, insane asylums, and sanitariums, especially when they took place in the mid 1900s. The way that the patients and children were treated during this time will never cease to make me sick. I’ve definitely read more books about asylums (mostly fiction), so I grabbed this to read about orphanages to learn more about what went on. Ghosts of the Orphanage was a 3.25/5 ⭐️ for me. This was chalk full of absolutely horrifying events that took place in orphanages around the world. The first half of this book I couldn’t put down, it was just mind boggling and terrifying what these kids went through that I couldn’t stop. The last half of this book was pretty dry though. A lot of taking with lawyers and investigating what went on in the orphanages. If orphanages and what went on in them in them mid 1900s fascinates you, I’d definitely recommend!!

How I dislike rating books like this. What it entails is horrific but true. So my 5 star rating is for the authors extremely difficult task of researching, interviewing and sharing her findings with us. Not for the entertainment factor. This is not for casual reading.

This is the true story of evil that hides in places throughout the world. More specifically, at Joseph's Orphange that was located in Burlington ,Vermont. The stories that you will read about are not easy to fathom. They are shockingly disturbing, but the victims deserve a voice. After reading this book I dove in deeper and pulled up videos, podcasts and the buzzfeed article that originally posted Kenneally's investigative report. It was a dark hole to be pulled into, however we should be aware of what happens in this world. Especially when the horrors are caused by the "saintly" .


Ten years of investigation and research went into the publication of this book. I can't imagine the mental toll that it must have taken.

WOW! This book really opened my eyes to the lives of those who have lived in orphanages. It is raw and real and so sad. I'm glad that someone has taken the time to increase awareness of situations like these. Sad, but definitely worth the read.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from PublicAffairs and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A depiction of horrific events but it needed to be told. Be prepared for stories of tragedy that are all true.

I received a free copy of, Ghosts of the Orphanage, by Christine Kenneally, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was so hard to read at times. What poor innocent children went through, with people who were suppose to protect them, not kill or maim them.

A real eye opener to the horrific events that occurred in so many Catholic orphanages during the early 20th century. The author has spent a lot (and I mean a lot) of her time and effort researching for this book. She didn't leave a stone unturned. It's so sad that this was these children's reality but at least the author gave them a voice. There is some repetition in this - hence my four star rating. Thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'd like to start off this review by stating unequivocally that this book is excellent, well-researched, fair, and the prose is easy to read. All that said, it is going to ruin your day.

Ghost of the Orphanage by Christine Kenneally chronicles the horrific story of the abuse of children at St. Joseph's orphanage in Vermont. There are some short detours to other areas but trust me, there are enough stories from St. Joseph's alone to ruin your soul. The book is based off an article published by Buzzfeed and penned by Kenneally. I truly appreciated the way Kenneally approached the subject and the people within it. Where a lot of books have a clear agenda from the outset, Kenneally at multiple points will let her own skepticism come through even if the evidence quickly clears it up. She is not afraid to add nuance to the narrative and it makes for balanced but clear story.

It goes without saying that for those who are triggered by abuse stories, this may not be the book for you. But for anyone who wants to read about systemic abuse and those who fought back, it is a must read.

(This book was provided to me as an advance copy by Netgalley and PublicAffairs. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 3/21/2023.)

A tale of unimaginable abuse that lacks the gravity that subject requires. There's lots of telling but very little showing. Nevertheless, any effort to bring light upon such institutional malice is worthy of reading.

I am not usually a nonfiction reader, but this book was a great read. It kept me engaged and told an astonishing story.