Home Children in Fiction & Family

Kim McLaughlin

One of my recent reads has been The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham.

This is historical fiction, following the journey of a young girl named Winny,  in England in 1936. She becomes a ward of Dr. Bernardo’s Home Children Society. Ultimately, Winny is sent to Canada, with hundreds of thousands of other young wards, to an unknown future. Her tale is a one of triumph over harrowing tragedy. Certainly a page turner!

I cried at her heartbreak, was outraged by the injustices she faced, and laughed at her candor and sense of humour. In the end I was encouraged by Winny’s resilience and fortitude.

If you like The Forgotten Home Child you might also like Before We Were Yours, by Lisa Wingate.

Did you know that 12% of Canadians are descended from Home Children?

While researching my own family history using MPL’s fantastic resources, I discovered my own paternal grandfather was a Home Child who was adopted through the Salvation Army!

Email me at [email protected] to set up a one on one appointment to find out about your ancestors!