The McAlister Family #1
By Carrie Turansky
Following the death of their father, the McAlister family had a difficult time scrapping enough to meet their needs. Edna took in sewing while her oldest daughter Laura went into service sending home her earnings to help the family. But when Edna falls ill and is sent to the hospital her three youngest children - Katie, Garth, and Grace are taken to the Grangeford Children's Home. The stay was only to be until their mother got well or Laura came for them.
But when Laura went to get her siblings she learned that she was forbidden to visit with them and to get them into her care would come at a steep price. With little recourse, Laura seeks help from any she knows but her efforts are too late when she learns that all three have been sent to Canada be employed or, if one of the fortunate few, to be adopted into a family.
Andrew Fraser and his mentor Henry Dowd have been tasked with investigating child emigration between Britain and Canada. With more than 50,000 British children being sent to Canada there were concerns about the children and their ultimate fate. Could there be a dark, hidden side to this beneficial program?
When Laura and Andrew end up on the same ship to Canada he wants her to speak with Henry for his legal opinion. But having received no help from anyone of power Laura fears making her story known to anyone else. But with both time and the law possibly against her plans to reunite with Katie, Garth, and Grace Laura needs help.
This is the first book relating the McAlister family's story. As those around have portions of their stories revealed one can't help but be moved for these poor young souls whose life was so difficult both before and after their emigration to Canada. It is also amazing how money is almost always at the root of most deeds of kindness. I'm interested to see exactly how the rest of the series plays out as Laura's efforts aren't at an end with the last page of this book. This is an attention engaging read and those who love historical fiction will love this newest offering from Carrie Turansky.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
About the Book:
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".
