The House Children by Heidi Daniele (Orangesky Audio) 5 Stars

Publication date 12/10/21 256 Pages

Just looking at the title and the picture who wouldn't want to read a book like this. I didn't even read the synopsis I had the gut feeling this would be brilliant and I wasn't disappointed. Plus it was a audio book which I am flying Through because if I cant hold a book I can just go round the house doing various things while listening to a really good audio book. And yes audio books do count towards reading challenges, it doesn't matter that someone else is talking the words you are still taking them in. Thanks again to Netgalley and Orangesky Audio for allowing me to read/listen to this book in order to give it my honest review.

Synopsis

In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway.

At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birth mother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland.

Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.

My Review

Wow this book is truly amazing! I was drawn in form the very start. The story follows girls in Ireland that are born out of wedlock or that their family can no longer support and are sent to an industry school to live with the nuns.

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator really added great emotion to the story. I actually listened to it in just one day it was that good. Although this book was a work of fiction it was so believable I actually thought it was a true story or at the least based on a true story. This was an edge of your seat book. It is truly shocking how these girls were treated in the home and at school. However, where is sadness there is always light and the girls often got a weeks holiday every year to another Catholic family. I really enjoyed these sections but there is always a twist in the tale when your least expect it. The ending is brilliant you wont be disappointed and no I am not going to give it way you will have to read it yourself. I loved that the book was a complete contrast for shocking story and very heart warming at times. the characters had such a sense of depth that you will easily form love, hate relationship with each one. The writing flowed brilliantly that totally engrossed you into the story and you will not want the book to end. So much praise goes out to the author and publishing teams for bring us this wonderful well wrote and researched novel.