Publisher Description
“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 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”.
My Review:
This poignant story of the McAlister siblings touched my heart. It’s hard to imagine children that young being placed on a boat in London; shipped to Canada; and then becoming basically indentured servants for families in Canada. It seems atrocious to us today, but that’s what happened with thousands of children in the early 1900’s. Some were placed in very good homes, but some found themselves extremely mistreated with no one to advocate for them. The author has done a wonderful job of incorporating the facts about these children and presenting their difficult situations to us through the story of the McAlister family. My heart ached for Katie, Garth, and Grace as they found themselves separated from each other and having little hope of being reunited. Their adult sister, Laura, risks much to travel to Canada to find them. Her faith is severely tested, and she has to trust God’s guidance and her friends’ support to accomplishment what seems impossible.
There’s a love story that builds all through the story between Laura and Andrew. Separated by social class and economic status, Laura has no choice but to trust Andrew to help her with her search for her siblings. Their relationship does not always run smoothly, and they both have much to learn about faith and trust. I enjoyed reading this book and since all was not completely settled at the end of this one, I’m eager to continue the McAlister family story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.