Gripping story of a mother-daughter bond that could not be broken – inspired by true events

Well written tale of a dark period in Canadian history- when the children of unmarried women were considered to bear sin and even worse, were sent from orphanages to asylums because the nuns running the facilities were paid more to care for the mentally ill. Set in 1950s rural Quebec, Goodman also touches on French-English conflict. The novel tells, in almost alternate chapters, the story of Maggie who becomes pregnant and Elodie, the daughter she thought was dead but who was in fact put into the system after a failed adoption. Maggie's story is one of determination to find Elodie, whose life is nothing but misery. This is a grim tale in many ways but there are bright spots. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. This is good storytelling.

I have not yet read Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate. This is based on true events in Canadian history, most specifically in the province of Quebec. I have not yet read Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, but this also has to do with the treatment of orphans, but in this case a good part of the treatment was due to laws at the time in Quebec. I had never been aware of this, since the United States does not seem to teach anything about Canadian history, as well as Australian history or many other countries, other than that affecting major historical events, such as major wars. This is told through 2 points of view. Maggie, who has a baby out-of-wedlock and the child she had as she grows up in the orphanage/psychiatric institution systems. The story is good one, although rather emotional to hear about, but one that needs to be told. I definitely recommend this book and I listened to it as an audiobook. 4 stars on Goodreads.

Maggie is fifteen when she finds out she's pregnant and her father has forbidden her to see Gabriel, the possible father. Maggie is sent to live with her aunt and uncle until the barbary is born and then will give up the baby against her wishes. Maggie and Gabriel go there separate ways and live different lives. Many obstacles happen and choices are made that may change the outcome of other people's lives. This is the first book by this author, but won't be the last. The book kept my interest and kept me guessing that it was hard to put down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is wanting a good quizitive book.

The French word Elodie [El-oh-dee] means “foreign riches”. It is also a quite hardy type of lily; a suitable name for one of the main protagonists in Joanna Goodman’s fourth novel, "The Home for Unwanted Girls". For, you see, Elodie was taken from, Maggie, her 16-year-old mother at birth, and raised in the cruelest of conditions in a Quebec orphanage rebranded in the 1950s by the government as a “home for the mentally ill”. What young Elodie goes through – Nay, suffers – as her mother spends a lifetime frantically searching for her, proves her profound will to survive. Her own hardy mettle. Just like her apt name.
The child of a mixed marriage between an Englishman and a French woman, Maggie wants nothing more than to work in her father’s garden shop. She dreams of one day owning and running it herself as she counts and packages seeds in the attic. As she grows older, she is enamored of Gabriel, a French lad, whom her father decides is “not suitable” for his daughter. To avoid further contact, he ships her to her uncle’s house, where she is brutally raped. As the resultant baby is ripped from Maggie’s arms just minutes after birth she has only a moment to name her daughter “Elodie” before she is taken away. Sold by her father on the then thriving baby black market. Thus sparkling a life-long dissonance between herself and her once beloved parent.
Elodie, at age seven, too young to understand or know any other home, thrives in the orphanage until it is declared a mental asylum. She is transferred to another institution where she meets the unthwarted and unwarranted wrath of only monetary-minded nuns. Injustice and cruelty prevail until she meets another sister who kindly takes her under her wing… Awaiting the time when Elodie is grown; old enough to be cast out into the unknown outside world on her own.
Based upon real events and seething with exceptionally detailed and exhaustive research, Goodman’s complex political narrative, with several surprising plot twists and intertwining sub-plots, is a can’t-put-it-down page-turner that is guaranteed to keep readers awake at night. Waiting to see what happens next in Maggie’s multi-faceted life as she continues to seek Elodie’s whereabouts. Wanting to scream at the heartless nuns who run the orphanage turned asylum; who consider the young girl and her contemporaries nothing more than sub-humans. The children tolerated only because of government money given them each month for each incarcerated “patient” that fills their coffers.
Yes, folks. Just like our own current political times, the ancient adage has been, is, and will always be perennially true: Money is the root of all evil. And, perhaps, a basic strong theme of this revealing fictional recounting of the devastating damages that unbridled “love of the all-mighty dollar” can wreak. The subsequent evils spawn in Goodman’s literary telling branches out to encompass the very heart as well as edges of the lives of Maggie and Elodie.
Told in the third-person, alternating chapters and sections between Maggie and Elodie, "The Home for Unwanted Girls" is not only a ripping exposé of Canadian government greed and lack of political as well as personal compassion, but a study in misogynistic mentalities; revealing startling insensitivities toward female rights and respect. There is rape, incest, and the turning of deaf eyes and blind eyes. And, yet, Maggie and Elodie somehow survive. The branches begin to wither and die. True compassion and familial love eventually, finally win out.
To tell you anything more would border on spoiling this superbly written and well thought out novel for you. Except to say that the author is, indeed, a master craftswoman. One whose literary works should and must grace the library shelves of discerning bibliophiles.
Enjoy the read!

Social elevations are the worst. They can be caused by money, race, nationality, mental health, almost anything...if you allow it. This book illustrates real, true-life examples of this. A father who thinks he knows best, government who think they know best, churches surrounded by greed who act out what they know best. Maggie and Elodie’s story is a good one. Enjoyed it....while it made me sad.

I absolutely loved this story. It will haunt me for some time knowing that the story is based on fact. Goodman did an excellent job of weaving the stories together. I agree that the ending was to be expected, but I'm a sucker for Hallmark endings. That being said, I so wanted the story to continue. I felt like in many ways the end was a new story just beginning. I am so looking forward to Goodman's next novel!

I was fortunate to win a copy of this wonderful book via Librarything and HarperCollins publishing.
This book is an absolute keeper, I enjoyed it from the fist page to the last. It was is a book well written, based on true events from the 50's.
It is a heartbreaking story at times, to think about what the 'Duplessis orphans' endured!
I loved the ending and had to google Alice Quinton, she was one of those orphans. I would highly recommend this book.

A wonderful book. A story of an orphaned child in the 1950’s. Based on a true story showing the strength, resilience and horror of one child’s experience. Definitely a must read!

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A tale of undying love between a mother and daughter separated at birth. The story switches between Maggie and Elodie in a beautiful, flowing narrative. Their lives are full of sadness and longing to find each other. How nuns could be so hateful to children is appalling. A must read.

This book is just a nice easy read-if not somewhat predictable. Having lived during the 50's, it was a reminder of the differences in what was thought to be the acceptable ways to handle those situations thought to be shameful. Such a different time of life. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It got better and better until I just could not put it down. The characters were interesting, although the love story could be just a tad sappy at times. However that didn't take away from the story or characters. Loved it and would highly recommend it.

This was a very good family saga book. The part I did not like is how long this child had to remain in the home, and the part I liked the best was the family reunion in the end.....hope I didn't give away too much, but trust me you want to read this.....absolutely wonderful!!

This book was raw. It tore my heart out, but it needed to be read and to be written. History is not something you read in a book. It is people and the things that happened to them. Real people. Real heartache. The author did an amazing job telling Maggie and Elodie's story.

This is a heartrenching story of the terrible cruelty people impose on others when they make moral judgements that should only be made by God!

A remarkable positive conclusion that brought many tears to a story I couldn't put down.

Such a fantastic read!!! I started it Saturday night, stayed up half the night reading it, and then finished the last of it Sunday night. I value sleep and for as much as I read it's not often I'm willing to forgo sleep for a book, but this one was worth it! The characters and plot are very well developed and beg for just another chapter and then another and another... I don't want to give anything away here except that the ending is satisfying, although throughout the book it's not clear if the ending you want will come and if so, how we will get there.

This is a heart wrenching story, told from truth when illegitimate children were sent away. The mothers to be were sent away also. And if by chance their lives reconnect, the great hope has been achieved.

beautifully written, searingly honest, a book that informs my understanding of that period in history--1950's quebec--and reminds me of the urgent necessity of ensuring that adults are kind and respectful to all children, especially those who are 'unwanted'

My mother and her 3 sisters were raised in an orphanage bag in the 40's -50's. Both my mom and my aunts told me stories over the years of cruelty at the hands of the nuns. I believe every horrific detail about these nuns - they all should be subject to the beatings and punishments they dolled out to these innocent children. All that being said, this is a great read! I read in 2 days, couldn't put it down.

I loved it, the orphanage stuff was darker than I liked, but I am afraid it is all accurate. The book had great timing and the 2nd half was such a pageturner that I read it very quickly. A great story about a dark period of time in Quebec for unwed mothers, a great read. I am going to try The Finishing School by this author. Recommend!

A good read with a happy ending. Some of the story is horrible. It’s unreal to me when people don’t value children. They are so precious. But I am old and have forgotten the frustrations of being a mother and the fear and responsibility of raising a child.

Wonderful story that gripped me with the love, sadness, loyalty, and cruelty the characters survived through. I learned a lot about Canadian history, and the corruption of government, leaders, and the church. Quick read. Great for a beach vacation.

I enjoyed this book very much and knowing it was based on the author’s mother made it that much more real. It was written well and made you connect with the characters so that you really cared what happened to them. Eloise, Maggie and Gabriel were very real to me. I would definitely recommend this book.

Was totally unaware that this happened in Canada's history - what an awful occurrence! Loved reading this story from the perspective of both mother and daughter and the strength of the characters! A little history along side a based on true events storyline.

I read this book in a weekend, which is a rare thing for me to do with fiction. I couldn’t put down the haunting tale of Elodie and Maggie, and I became completely enraptured in their world. I highly recommend this stunning masterpiece.

I so enjoyed this book. It was heart wrenching and uplifting at the same time. By the last few chapters, I was reading it very slowly because I did not want it to end. To me, that’s the sign of a great read!