The Castoff Children

by L.M. Browning

The year is 1850. The Revolutionary War has long since come to an end and the industrial revolution is beginning to build steam, overturning the old ways of home and hearth as it gains momentum. In a desperate hour, in the back alleys of Boston, a group of twelve castoff children come together to care for each other. Plagued by the unanswered questions surrounding their past and grief for loved ones lost, the children attempt to come to terms with the bitter truths that have defined their life thus far. Feeling forsaken, faced with prejudice, hostile gangs and in the hardest winter on record, the children find themselves on the ragged edge. Until a series of mysterious events begin taking place, making them feel that they are not as alone and helpless as they might have thought.

Genres: Poetry, Memoir, Nonfiction, Amazon, Historical, Travel

380 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2016

About the author

L.M. Browning (She/they) is a writer, publisher, and advocate whose work spans over two decades and fourteen titles. They are the founder of Wayfarer Magazine and Wayfarer Books, independent platforms committed to amplifying voices from the margins. Browning’s literary contributions have earned six Pushcart Prize nominations, the Gold Nautilus Medal for Poetry, multiple Foreword Review Book Awards, and the Nautilus Silver Medal in 2022. Their innovative approach to publishing led to two terms on the Board of Directors for the Independent Book Publishers Association, a TEDx talk at Yale University, and a degree from Harvard University through grant programs. A lifelong advocate for mental health, trans rights, and radical authenticity, Browning stepped into national conversations following their 2018 TEDx Talk on trauma, creativity, and survival.

In 2022, Browning retired from writing.

Reviews

[Heidi Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who has found themselves wondering if it's possible to come out on the other side of suffering in one piece. Browning's story is one of honest reflection on what it means to be "radically authentic" and digs deep into what it looks like to discover meaning in that which would otherwise be senseless. A concise and powerful book that is not to be missed.

[Angel Shears · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book off Goodreads, so glad I did. The book started off and I was not sure I was going to like it. The ending was amazing, the book shows how giving of ones self to others can lead to happiness for all.

[Bad Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a copy of this through a Goodreads Giveaway.

This is a very short book, actually just an essay, but has a powerful message and meaning about suffering and recovery. I would love to read more memoirs from the author.

[Stacy McRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This raw, candid, guttural and beautiful book had so many amazing levels. It was deeply personal and split into four equally astonishing sections. Beautiful photographs were interspersed with gorgeous verse to create a truly moving work of art. I would highly recommend it for anyone who has ever experienced any type of adversity in their life.

[Yvette Fernandez Waldrep · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. This book speaks loudly! I fell in love with each page and the uniqueness of the journey I walked down with the author. Simply beautiful.

[Susan Cope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drive through the night, by L.M. Browning, is a journey in poems and photographs. The words and images do not mirror one another, but form a montage, through which we catch glimpses of an intricate, unfolding path. Browning is both creator and created, reflected and reflecting as she travels backward through trauma, forward through time. Sometimes hurtling through, sometimes pausing in, the rugged land, she finds glimpses of awe, moments of crystalline clarity, and sees her soul, once hostage, roaming free in the wild.

Browning’s supple art may be born of the shattering of the soul, and steeped in all the fixes we try to avoid “doing the work,” but in this volume, she has done the work. Drive through the night is an example of what the Japanese call Kintsugi. Rather than gluing pieces of herself together to disguise the breaks, she has called attention to the fragments with poems of pure gold, set against the raw splendor of the land.

[Heather Durham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as in my favorite books, To Lose the Madness is an author’s manifesto of some of her deepest truths, an unapologetic and articulate exploration of her darkest moments and the touchstones that got her through them. It takes a skillful writer to invite readers into her head and heart, allowing us to witness without asking us to bear the weight of her experiences, and Browning does just that. We need more books like this, more storytellers like this, more radical authenticity to help us reframe our own struggles and feel less alone as we navigate our own darkest times. My only critique is that I wish it were longer. I look forward to more personal nonfiction from L.M. Browning.

[Beth KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sort of book that opens a window into another person's struggles, allowing in the light, inviting in the reader and making the darkness something we can talk about. The subtitle "field notes on trauma, loss, and radical authenticity" is spot-on. This brief book plumbs the depths of loss in a candid and approachable way. Highly recommended, especially when you need something that will hook you immediately, keep you close, and not overwhelm you with either length or extraneous explanations.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was beautifully written. Although I disagree with her on her points about God and suffering, I empathize with her pain because I live with the same disease. I can only sympathize with her pain of miscarriage since I have not experience that. She writes beautifully about coming to terms with the pain she has suffered and the abuse she has experienced at the hands of others. Her poignant writing about subject such as mental illness and suicide is raw and authentic. It is a short read but a good read.

[Amy Nawrocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exciting tale of abandoned children invites you in from the first page. Well-drawn details create a realistic landscape of mid-nineteenth century Boston, a tough, gritty, heartbreaking reality for these castoffs. The characters will teach you much about how to get through in a bitter world. You will not forget them or their story. Highly recommended for middle-grade readers. I plan to get a copy for my nieces for Christmas.

[Katherine Hauswirth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Castoff Children is a book about hope and perseverance, but it is so much more than that. L.M. Browning weaves a tale that stays with you, populated with characters you can see, food you can taste, and empathy that arises from the deftly described defeats and victories that come to a struggling but strong band of children and the people with whom they connect. Read it to be immersed, to be reminded of the power of dreams, and to remember the forgotten.

[Nancy Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really got caught up in this story of a group of orphaned children in 1850 Boston. They found each other, merged into a family, and struggled to survive on the streets and alleys, all the while trying not to be seen by any authorities. Authorities meant a trip on the Orphan Train or being sent to an orphanage. The story is a treasure, and I am so glad I had a chance to read it.
I received my copy free through Goodreads.

[Janet McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overcoming adversityy

Adversity - the theme runs through the story. Orphans bound together not by blood, but their love for each other. Then they met Connor, an adult who could bring their dreams into reality. The book made me cry and laugh. The book is separated into 3 parts. Each part connects with the others. The book is well developed in characters and plot. I will be searching for more books by this author.

[Gloria Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book and I was only going to read a couple pages as I have a couple I am reading and I got so into this book I really couldn't put it down.. its a heartfelt , soul searching novel. A very good read and just reading what these poor orphans went through was totally heartbreaking. I wanted to save them myself. I stayed up half the night just to finish it. Thanks so much for a good book.

[Susan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good story about unwanted children living in Boston in 1850. The children band together to take care of each other. The story keeps the reader invested in how these children came together and what will happen to them.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of my new favorite stories. It is historical fiction and totally involving. This story is very emotional and keeps you turning the pages till all hours of the night. I felt very connected to these children and loved them all.

[Melissa Yow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful. It took me a while to read even though it was really small and short. Highly recommended to those who would like to read what's it like to have self doubt, massive loss in their life and suicide.

**win this in a goodreads giveaway**

[Shirleon Sharron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was raw and open and told of great tragedy and acceptance. A few points jumped out at me but not many. I do wish that there was more because I feel as though there is more to her story.

[Yvonne Brossette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story from despair to hope and the love we give to each other

From despair to hope and the love we give to each other
Love and support is what really matters in life

[Lenora Siblal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I chose this rating because I love reading about lost poor children. And someone finding the means and the heart to help them.

[Lucy Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

L.M. Browning’s Drive Through the Night is a powerful poetry and photography collection that traces the collapse of one life, the claiming of another, and the wilderness in between. Browning’s deeply personal poems are organized both thematically (The Taming, The Breaking, The Bolting, The Reclaiming) and geographically (based on where they took place or were written). They are also paired with photographs, many taken by the author on their travels through western landscapes. Imagistic and emotive, the collection’s poems confront difficult topics directly—recalling childhood traumas, pregnancy loss, divorce, an abusive relationship, addiction, and a suicide attempt. As a reader, I found ballast in both the white space offered by the collection and the beauty of the images throughout. And ultimately, I found hope in Browning’s ability to build an empowered life and a new identity out of the shards of a shattered self. In the book’s closing note, Browning reflects on “doing the work,” which they describe as “gathering the trauma within me and alchemizing it into something of use and purpose.” That’s exactly what this collection does. It is alchemy. It is healing. And it is sure to inspire anyone seeking transformation.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Goodreads giveaway recipient**

Eking a way forward to truest self from aching disaster and disappointment. Not every poem spoke to me (not that my opinion in that amounts to much if it meant a great deal to the author), but I appreciate Browning’s journey and raw spirit-telling. The black-and-white wanderlust photographs are a delightful addition that add just the perfectly needed extra layer.

Thank you for sharing your story with us!

[Heidi Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been eagerly awaiting LM Browning's next poetry collection, and Drive Through the Night doesn't disappoint. I love the pairing of photographs and poems, and the way the author mines for beauty and meaning even during the long, hard parts of the journey. Highly recommended.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very personal work, but you must look close. There is a synchrony of the thoughts, the words, and the environment she finds herself immersed in. The writing is sparse but why are so many words necessary. Browning only chooses the ones that matter.

[Stephen Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique collection of stunning photographs and beautiful, often devastating verse was unforgettable. I did not, could not put it down until I was finished. Highly recommended.

[Meera Gudavalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads give away. My review is not influenced by this.

I have to start by saying that this is a depressing yet uplifting book. If this is not the genre for you then this is not the book for you. Personally this is not normally a genre I would gravitate towards, yet I am very glad to have gotten a chance to read it.

The story is about a group of orphaned children struggling to survive on the streets of 1850 Boston which was a time of hardship for everyone with low wages, few jobs, and little food. This was the period of immense Irish immigration into the city, which serves as the crux of the story.

What surprised me was the pertinence of this story to American society today. We are struggling with the same problems of underemployment and shaming of immigrants that existed in 1850 America. While as a fairly well read 20 something, the book's narrative is predictable, it doesn't take away from the important discussion it undertakes.

This book has allowed me to reflect on all the blessings my life has to offer. I believe we each need such a reminder from time to time.

I encourage all to read it and reflect on how this book is relevant to society today. You do not need to be an American to appreciate this book.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of an essay, this memoir reveals a very personal struggle. It conveys the idea that not all trauma can be worked through or simply left behind. Browning stresses the importance of being able to carry one’s trauma with grace. Readers who have experienced similar losses or attempted to overcome their own mental health issues will certainly be able to relate to many of the passages in this text. It is a well-written, thought-provoking, quick read.

Incorporating beautiful photographs from her travels to the Southwest, Browning’s mini-memoir focuses on her experience with post traumatic stress disorder. To Lose the Madness reveals events that led up to Browning’s breaking point and discusses ways she tried to work through her trauma, ultimately explaining what it all meant to her. Without asking for sympathy, this account lays undergone hardships bare for the reader in a manner the author terms “radical authenticity”.

I received a copy of this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author/publisher for participating in the giveaway.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about 12 children orphaned or abandoned in Boston in 1850. they form a close-knit group and look out for each other. The conditions are awful and the outlook bleak. Their dream is to go West and own a piece of land. Probably not a realistic dream when just surviving day-to-day takes all they have.. Fortunately, they meet a man, Connor, and a farm family who help them. A twist totally bonds Connor to the group. Read the book to discover the twist and if their dream comes true.

[Marie Cataquet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the book as a Goodreads giveaway. I recommend it is for middle schoolers and up. It is about 12 orphans living in Boston in 1850 and trying to survive living on their own. Life is cruel for the children and Joseph the eldest child steps up and try to be the leader and tries to help the children survive.

[Deborah · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the description of the book was intriguing, I just couldn't get past the schmaltz, the awkward writing style, the anachronisms, and the MANY grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the book. It definitely needed more editing. I found it to be like reading a very poorly written Hallmark movie script.