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The Home for Unwanted Girls

The heart-wrenching, gripping story of a mother-daughter bond that could not be broken - inspired by true events

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The Home for Unwanted Girls

Written by: Joanna Goodman
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld
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About this listen

Philomena meets The Orphan Train in this suspenseful, provocative novel filled with love, secrets, and deceit—the story of a young unwed mother who is forcibly separated from her daughter at birth and the lengths to which they go to find each other.

In 1950s Quebec, French and English tolerate each other with precarious civility—much like Maggie Hughes’ parents. Maggie’s English-speaking father has ambitions for his daughter that don’t include marriage to the poor French boy on the next farm over. But Maggie’s heart is captured by Gabriel Phénix. When she becomes pregnant at fifteen, her parents force her to give baby Elodie up for adoption and get her life ‘back on track’.

Elodie is raised in Quebec’s impoverished orphanage system. It’s a precarious enough existence that takes a tragic turn when Elodie, along with thousands of other orphans in Quebec, is declared mentally ill as the result of a new law that provides more funding to psychiatric hospitals than to orphanages. Bright and determined, Elodie withstands abysmal treatment at the nuns’ hands, finally earning her freedom at seventeen, when she is thrust into an alien, often unnerving world.

Maggie, married to a businessman eager to start a family, cannot forget the daughter she was forced to abandon, and a chance reconnection with Gabriel spurs a wrenching choice. As time passes, the stories of Maggie and Elodie intertwine but never touch, until Maggie realizes she must take what she wants from life and go in search of her long-lost daughter, finally reclaiming the truth that has been denied them both.

Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt Tearjerking
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I picked this book knowing I like the narrator and interested in the synopsis - very glad I did.

A very good & moving story

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Felt a few details were skipped over and the story rushed ahead but generally a good but tragic story. Makes you feel angry along side the daughter. would have liked to see the nuns get theirs! Can never tell if characters are supposed to be speaking French.

Good but a little rushed

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This was ultimately the best book I have ever come across. Great story about love, regret, family and strength. Bravo Joanna Goodman!

Must read!!

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The characters in this story could be anyone of my Aunts or Uncles. There were so many hardships for the poor french canadians... And so many influences because of church and government.
My family is still trying to find each other and put back all the pieces.

It really hits home being part French Canadian.

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As someone who lived in Quebec during this time, it reminded me of many girls who left school and we didn't know where they went.

Quebec in 1950's

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