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Secret Child

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The shocking true story of a young boy hidden away from his family and the world in a Catholic home for unmarried mothers in 1950s Dublin. Born an 'unfortunate' onto the rough streets of 1950s Dublin, this is the incredible true story of a young boy, a secret child born into a home for unmarried mothers in 1950s Dublin and a mother determined to keep her child, even if it meant hiding him from her own family and the rest of the world. Despite the poverty, hardship and isolation, the pride and hope of a community of women who banded together to raise their children would give this boy his chance to find his real family. A wonderfully heartwarming and evocative tale of working class life in 1950s Dublin and 1960s London.

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2015

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Gordon Lewis

41 books6 followers

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5 stars
104 (15%)
4 stars
219 (33%)
3 stars
251 (38%)
2 stars
69 (10%)
1 star
11 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Bev Walkling.
1,421 reviews50 followers
January 7, 2018
This is the memoir of a boy born out of wedlock to an Irish Catholic woman in the early fifties. It starts out as a boys search for his past as he returns to Ireland and then turns into a memoir that begins at a home for unwed mothers where the women are allowed to keep their child. "Gordon" doesn't realize that there is life beyond the home or that his mother is keeping the knowledge of his existence a secret from the rest of her family. Their life is not an easy one and is made more difficult by Gordon's undiagnosed dyslexia which makes school challenging. When an opportunity to marry an old love and move to England will lead to a better life for Gordon's mom, they leap at it, but all does not turn out as planned.

Their lives were not easy at all but mother and son were both hard workers who had a way with people.

The memoir could have been improved by having a more coherent flow to it and a more detailed resolution. Pictures would have added to the story as well. It does give a picture of the life and times in Dublin and London as Gordon is growing up.
Profile Image for Emily Cook.
73 reviews
May 14, 2021
I enjoyed most of the book. It was as expected for a true story but the ending felt rushed and abrupt. I enjoyed the book until the final chapter.
Profile Image for Jayde Ganz.
4 reviews
March 2, 2021
Since it is based on a true story, I was expecting this book to be a bit on the slower side, but I couldn’t put it down.
Profile Image for Rick.
387 reviews12 followers
January 30, 2016
This story has the potential to be very interesting. A man goes back to Ireland to uncover some secrets that his mother has told him never to ask about. Unfortunately, rather than writing the events like a story they are written like a documentary. Not only that, but a documentary written through the eyes of a young boy. I was left feeling as though I was reading a local newspaper that had written an article for the masses rather than reading a book about a very interesting life which took place in a very difficult time.
Profile Image for Jill Robbertze.
720 reviews8 followers
April 30, 2016
This was a true story about a Catholic boy born "out of wedlock"in Ireland in the 1950's. He tells the story of his childhood, being born and raised in a home for unmarried mothers. The memoir goes on to tell of his life after leaving the institution when his Mother remarries. It's a mildly interesting story told from the young boy's perspective, which plodded along but was not particularly memorable.
65 reviews
May 16, 2016
The book tells of his life growing up with his single mom, then later on with her and her husband. Life wasn't always easy for this young boy and his single parent, however he always had the love of his mom.
It was a good book, however it would have been nice to find out what he did with his life afterwards (after growing up) - did he get married, have a family of his own ? What type of career did he end up choosing ? How he turned out / what he did with his life once he was grown up.
130 reviews2 followers
April 3, 2021
So I got this thinking that there would be a gut wrenching story about how he was hidden away and lived through hard times but it never happened... from what I could tell although he was at the lower end of the caste system of the 1950s he was actually fairly comfortable compared to most. The synopsis and the cover does enough to make you think that you are getting one thing, when you are actually getting a pretty normal and boring tale of a single mother in the 50s.
Profile Image for Kivalina Mauck.
375 reviews
December 23, 2017
Great book ,

Very strong Mum in this book. I have deep respect for the Mum in this book . She was a very strong lady to do what she did in those times. Wonderful lady. I recommended you read this for yourself and see. You are a lucky boy Gordon .
457 reviews4 followers
January 18, 2019
I’m shocked by the low rating. I quite enjoyed the book. I felt it was written well and very much like a story. It wasn’t blunt. Overly scattery like other memoirs I’ve read.

I was shocked about the dad. I want more. Like how did his mother eventually pass. Did they ever buy a house or move from that last place? I’d like to know more.
Profile Image for Katrina.
210 reviews
September 21, 2015
Okay, not great. Lots of questions left unanswered.
693 reviews5 followers
July 9, 2016
A quick read, and a nice appreciation of the Beatles. A moving true story, which I wish had continued, I later found out a sequel is planned, so good. I thought the last few chapters were the best.
Profile Image for Lorraine.
726 reviews
December 21, 2016
Story was good but not great. A lot of unanswered questions.
Profile Image for Annette.
276 reviews
March 2, 2022
A heartwarming and evocative true story conveying the struggles of life in the 1950 Dubin. The Catholic Church considered unwed mothers as sinners and their children as bastards. Aware that she was pregnant, Cathleen made her home in Reging Coeli Hostel for women. A home that enabled the moms to keep their children.

The majority of the mothers worked outside of the home and some looked after the children. In his youth, Francis(preferred to be called Gordon) lived in the confines of a large piece of land surrounded by walls. Cathleen's family never knew about her secret child. She worked long hours, six and a half days to provide Gordon with few extras, but she hardly spent any time with him.
Profile Image for Marj.
157 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2024
Catherine, a young Irish woman leaves her small village to work in Dublin. She meets Bill, a charismatic handsome man and they fall in love but cannot marry. Catherine is Catholic and Bill is Protestant and their families are horrified. A few years later Catherine finds herself pregnant and single. It's the 50's and unwed mothers are not accepted. She goes to live in a Catholic run home for unwed mothers where she can live and keep her son, Gordon. This is his story and how he lived as a young boy.
925 reviews3 followers
January 18, 2018
What amazed me the most about this book is the dates....1958 through the 60-70s. Life was so different just "across the pond " & included many prejudices that effected lives for their lifetime. A single mother out of wedlock attempts to make it in a poor, judgemental world. This is the story of a young man looking for his heritage & the center of the conflict is protestants vs. Catholicism. Deep & emotional.....excellent read....
660 reviews3 followers
November 9, 2018
The story behind this book is that of a single mother and son in the 1950's making a life in Dublin and then beyond. While today this might be such a big deal, it was at that time and families, the church, etc; took a very dim view of these circumstances. Very interesting but the author is not gifted with words. He tells the story clearly and well from his point of view but this is not a literary masterpiece by any means.
Profile Image for Mindy.
6 reviews
April 11, 2021
Learned a few interesting things about Ireland/England during the time the book took place (1950’s) but other than that by two thirds through I started losing interest. Hate to say that, especially about a true life book. It did have two or three surprises in the last thirty pages so I guess that made up for the middle drab.
717 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2021
Loved it! A bit Mills and Boon at times but really a lovely story full of true emotion and of what life was like at the time, which made the book fascinating. Very easy to read. The characters in it are well - sketched and "human" , especially his lovely Mum and he himself. Tugs the heartstrings indeed 😁. Would love to know the rest of the story.
283 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2020
An interesting read. It must be difficult for a child to grow up surrounded by so much secrecy. I felt a bit disappointed at the end when the author failed to explain his life as an adult. It made the story seem incomplete.
34 reviews
April 14, 2022
I had read so many good reviews of this book. But it just didn't live up to my expectation. Most of the book is dedicated to life before after the Mother's home, and only at the very end do we get a glimpse of his birth father.

Disappointing.
34 reviews
May 8, 2022
Good story and look into 1950’s Dublin and London. So disappointed in Bill! Wonder if she would have left him in today’s opportunities for women. And at the end of the book… when Gordon talked about the moment he was most proud of them… at the wedding. What was the moment? The dance at the end??
144 reviews3 followers
July 3, 2023
I’ve read and enjoyed quite a bit about Ireland in the 50’s. This was a page turner for me because of my interest. But I could see how some thought it “slow”. She was a very sting and independent mom and do I kept hoping/thinking she would leave Bill. I didn’t like him much at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
July 8, 2023
Overall, it's a good read. It was a bit dry in the middle but picked up in the later half. I like how his character started to bloom more in the back portion of the book. You really start to gain a better understanding of who he is and how his early childhood defined him.
Profile Image for Kay.
3 reviews
May 27, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but found it to end abruptly. There was some loose ends that left you hanging regarding the meeting with his biological father. If he didn’t end up meeting his biological father that could have been stated with a small reasoning to tie the book up.
417 reviews
May 30, 2017
An okay read. This is a true story told through the eyes of a child born out of Wedlock in Ireland during the fifties.
Profile Image for Alisha.
510 reviews6 followers
June 18, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and it was very interesting to know what life was like while the main character was growing up.
Profile Image for Christine.
334 reviews
July 21, 2017
Excellent story about the hidden children in Ireland, one boy who didn't know his own family, but found an other family, who helped him and his mother.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews

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