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 birthmother. 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.
“Peg’s experience at the industrial school and her struggle to feel worthy in a country that looks down on illegitimate children will move even the hardest of hearts . . . The setting and mature voice of Peg make this a great crossover novel, with appeal for adults and teens alike, particularly fans of Christina Baker Kline’s Orphan Train and J. Courtney Sullivan’s novels.”
―School Library Journal
“An unassuming but riveting tale of the hardships and ultimate rewards of family.” – Kirkus Review
“ . . .authentic account of the oppression and punishment inflicted by the Catholic church and Irish society on unwed mothers and their innocent children.”
―Historical Novel Society
“Peg’s story includes dark themes: the shame of being a House Child in a society that degrades them, the dangers of being a young woman in a period when they had no rights, the struggles to find happiness while hiding who you are . . . however, those who read Peg’s tale are sure to root for her and be drawn in by her determination to secure a better life for herself.”
―Booklist
“The novel, based on actual events, introduces a compelling story line involving a secret that seems unforgivable. Daniele successfully creates a tale with a protagonist readers will cheer for . . . Give this to fans of The Home for Unwanted Girls (Joanna Goodman) or Orphan #8 (Kim Van Alemade).”
―VOYA