The Girls with No Names

by Serena Burdick

The Girls with No Names pulls readers into the gilded age of New York City in the 1910s, when suffragettes marched in the street, unions fought for better work conditions—and girls were confined to the House of Mercy for daring to break the rules.

Not far from Luella and Effie Tildon’s large family mansion in Inwood looms the House of Mercy, a work house for wayward girls. The sisters grow up under its shadow with the understanding that even as wealthy young women, their freedoms come with limits. But when the sisters accidentally discover a shocking secret about their father, Luella, the brazen older sister, becomes emboldened to do as she pleases.

But her rebellion comes with consequences, and one morning Luella is mysteriously gone. Effie suspects her father has made good on his threat to send Luella to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she made a miscalculation, and with no one to believe her story, Effie’s escape from the House of Mercy seems impossible—unless she can trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, Mable and Effie must rely on each other and their tenuous friendship to survive.

The Home for Unwanted Girls meets The Dollhouse in this atmospheric, heartwarming story that explores not only the historical House of Mercy, but the lives—and secrets—of the girls who stayed there.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Adult, Adult Fiction, New York

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 7, 2020

About the author

Serena Burdick is the author of the novels GIRL IN THE AFTERNOON, THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES, FIND ME IN HAVANA, and her forthcoming novel THE STOLEN BOOK OF EVELYN AUBREY, out November 2022. She is the 2017 International Book Award Winner for Historical Fiction. She holds an Associates of Arts degree from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in theater and a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in English literature. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

1910-1913, New York: A world where men hold the upper hand. Values are changing with the turn of the century. Women are still fighting for their rights. A young female can be sent away or imprisoned for nearly any act of defilement or unbecoming behavior.

Told from three different viewpoints, the story begins through the eyes of Effie, a twelve-year-old growing up in a wealthy household but constrained to a strict set of principles and rules. Longing to hold on to their Victorian values, her family pushes her older sister Luella away. Attached to Luella, Effie finds herself in the House of Mercy after searching for her sister. Luella and Effie’s mother, Jeanne, struggles to maintain her composure while her family begins to crumble. Her social status and reputation in society as a lady cause conflict in her priorities as she seeks to mend her family. Mable befriends Effie in the House of Mercy, but can they trust each other? Mable recalls her past in flashbacks which reveal a pattern of betrayal and deceit.

“There are girls who get put away for more, if they’re not reformed”
“Or repentant”
“It’s like prison. You get put away for however long fits the crime. There are girls who’ve been in there for ten years, twenty. Some never get out, but I heard three years was the minimum.”
“That can’t be true.”
“I’m just telling you what I heard”

3.5 stars explained: The setting was great, and I found it suitable and well-researched. The start was slow to build, and the story doesn’t begin to climb until 25% (on a Kindle). I highly enjoyed Mable’s chapters. I found her voice and story to be more fitting to the description of the book. Mable was intriguing and enlightening to the era. The other two POV’s, Effie and Jeanne’s, were not as exciting for the reader and sometimes caused the plot progression to be slower. The actual scenes within the confines of the House of Mercy are limited, and I would say are only detailed in about 12-16% of the entire story itself. You will not learn too much about The House of Mercy from reading this novel.
Most of the story focuses on the family dynamics and some gender conflict. I would have liked to have seen more history apart from the setting and a very small appearance from Inez Milholland. The ending was predictable. The very end, the epilogue, was cheesy and cliché for my taste. It's not a story that I continued to think about it after reading. Overall, I liked it and found it to be an average read that was engaging during various times and moderate at other times. For the above mentioned reasons, I rounded down to 3 stars. Thanks to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for this copy. Opinions are my own.

A great article about this topic:
House of Mercy

1932, House of Mercy:

[Bkwmlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Right off the bat, I have to say that I had mixed feelings about this book – which is why, as I sit down to write this review, I’m struggling a bit trying to figure out how best to begin. In reading the summary, I thought this would be a story centered around the historical House of Mercy, which was a sanitorium of sorts that had once existed in the Manhattan area of New York back in the early 1900s. To the public, the House of Mercy was a religious institution whose purpose was to “rescue” wayward girls from a life of vice and sin by putting them on a path of reform and redemption – in reality though, the institution was actually a “prison” where girls of various ages were enslaved and forced to work under harsh conditions as restitution for the “immoral” behavior that had gotten them committed in the first place. The girls at these establishments were often abused and punished for any little infraction and for some, even though their stays were supposed to only be temporary, sadly did not always survive to see their day of release.

Prior to reading this book, I had heard about these types of institutions, but did not know much about the House of Mercy specifically, so I was thinking I would be able to learn more about what went on there through the fictional story of Effie and her sister Luella. Unfortunately, it turns out that the summary is very misleading, as only a small part of the story (I would say around 20% or so) actually took place in the House of Mercy – most of the story focused on family conflict, gender and class politics, as well as what life was like for women in New York society during the 1910s. Narrated by 3 of the main characters – the younger Tildon sister Effie, her mother Jeanne, and one of the girls from the House of Mercy named Mable – majority of the story centered around each of the character’s backstories and, in the cases of Effie and Mable, how they ended up in the House of Mercy and later on, much of the narrative revolved around whether they would be able to escape and whether Effie would be able to see her family again. While the characters’ backstories (especially Mable’s) were interesting for the most part and did keep me reading to the end, I was a little irked at being misled and unfortunately, this did affect my reading experience somewhat. It also didn’t help that the story itself was the “slow-burn” type where nothing really happens until around a third of the way in when things start to pick up a bit – even then though, I had some problems with parts of the plot as well as the way some of the characters were depicted.

In terms of the writing, it actually flowed quite well in that there was a good balance of descriptive prose and dialogue. Despite the plot as well as direction of the story being mostly predictable and contrived, the story kept my interest (as I mentioned earlier) and I never felt the urge to skim or set this one aside in favor of another book -- both of which I tend to do when I feel the book/story is boring -- which in and of itself says a lot about how I felt about this one. With that said however, one area that was a bit lacking with this story was that I didn’t get a strong sense of time and place, which is critical for me when it comes to historical fiction. Most of the historical elements that would’ve established the time period and setting for me were briefly mentioned for the most part (for example – the suffragettes and women’s marches, a brief mention near the end of what would be the start of World War I, the House of Mercy itself, etc.), to the point that I felt like majority of the story could have taken place anywhere and during any time period.

Overall, I would say that the story definitely had potential and the writing was mostly solid, it’s just that the execution wasn’t really up to par with what I expected. Given the premise, I expected both the story and the characters to be ones that I would continue to think about for awhile after I finished reading, but I’m sorry to say that didn’t turn out to be the case with this one -- I liked this one well enough to finish reading it, but not enough to linger on the characters (most of whom I didn’t connect with) or the story. Basically, I’m ready to move on to something better.

Received ARC from Park Row (Random House) via Edelweiss.

[Berit Talks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely made me glad I was not alive in the 1910s! This is not the first book I’ve read during this timeperiod where women are treated abysmally. Sent away to “Holmes“ simply for not conforming too the rules men in Society and their families believe they should live by. These homes are one step away from prison. The women are treated poorly, punished harshly, and worked hard. I’m glad that there are books like this, because the things these women went through should not be forgotten. I do wish this book had spent more time on the story of these women while they were in this horde situation. This book however was more of a story of sisterly strength and love. And the resilience of women.

Effie and Luella are sisters, Luella was the more rebellious sister while Effie is quiet and has struggled with an illness most of her life. After a big fight with her father Luella is gone and Effie is determined to find her. Convinced that her parents sent her sister to the “House of Mercy“ Effie is determined to find her way in. While in the house her path crosses Mable, a young lady who has had a troubled and hard life. The story is told from three alternating perspectives that of Effie, her mother, and Mabel. I found Mable’s story to be the most compelling and I would not have minded if the story was solely told from her point of view. Effie was a sweet girl, but for the most part I found her story sad. And if I’m being honest I found her mother’s story unnecessary to the book. This was a good book not a great book, I will probably not remember the story, but I will definitely remember the history.

🎧🎧🎧 Emily Lawrence, Nancy Peterson, and Amy McFadden narrated the audiobook. I always love when a story has multiple perspectives that there are multiple narrators, it really alleviates the confusion. All three of these narrators did an exceptional job brought some color into this bleak story.

This book in emojis 👭 🗝 🕯 ⏳ 🏚

*** Big thank you to Harlequin and Harper Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

For more of my reviews and bookish thoughts please visit my blog
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[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Effie and Luella lived a privileged life and had to conform to all the strict rules set upon women in the 1910's including being sent away.

Effie was the sister who had a health problem, and Luella was the sister who was beautiful. Both behaved, but were bored with their lives and the control their parents had over them.

One day the sisters were at lunch with their father and witnessed something he did that shocked and upset them. What they found out, made Luella become rebellious.

Luella being the bolder of the two sisters hinted that she knew her father's secret, and this made her father furious. Because of her rebellion, Effie woke up one morning to realize her sister wasn't there.

Did their father take her away or did she go away on her own?

After Luella left, Effie couldn’t function, and she needed her parents to tell her where Luella was. Effie wouldn’t give up, but did she go too far for the love of her sister?

We follow this disjointed family as each member seems to be living a life separate from one another even though they live under the same roof. Having to now deal with Luella gone, things became more difficult.

THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES was an enjoyable, interesting read with characters you will like but will want to tell to think before acting.

THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES will be of interest to women’s fiction fans and those readers who enjoy family tension, life in the 1900's, sisterly love, story line twists, and secrets.

This book is one you won't want to put down. ENJOY!! 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally understood what my fortune meant....I was bone and skin and earth and sky. Death was not literal, Time was infinite, my Existence..eternal.

Set in the early 1900s, a time of great change and social reforms, The Girls With No Names is the story of young girls, some wealthy and other travelers or from among the working poor. It is a brilliant example of all that was wonderful and horrific about "the gilded age."

Luella and Effie Tildon are children from a wealthier family. Their lives are spent in school, wandering the land around their home and obeying the strict rules set forth by their parents. They know that if they don't obey these rules they will be sent to the House of Mercy, a work house wayward girls. The institution was meant to be home for young women without support or who were unmarried and pregnant. What it became was a place for men to send women and girls who didn't conform to the "rules." A house of horror, hunger, torture and worse, the House of Mercy was used as a cautionary reminder for all females to obey. When Luella discovers a secret her father is hiding, she begins to rebel against him to the point that, when she disappears, Effie immediately assumes Luella has been banished to the House of Mercy. Effie, who has a debilitating heart condition, decides she will find a way to get sent to the house so that Luella will not be alone. What transpires is a horror show for the young girl and for all of the girls held captive within those walls.

Serena Burdick has woven together a story of the rich and the poor, of the Suffragette movement, of work houses run by "the church", of an age that glorified the male while subjugating women. The stories of these young women is one of friendship, love, bravery and hope. It is, by far, one of the most remarkable stories I have read and, sadly, it is based on the true stories of the House of Mercy in Innwood Park.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Girls with No Names takes the reader back to a time where women were still fighting to be heard. The Women's Suffrage movement was just starting to make headway. But women were still beholden to the patriarchal standards of society. If a woman did not conform, rebelled or acted "inappropriately" she could be sent away to a sanitorium. One of these houses for wayward women was the House of Mercy on 86th St and 5th Ave. in Manhattan. Its public aim was to rescue women from vice but in actuality it was a Magdalene laundry. The women were not redeemed from their sin, but imprisoned and exploited for free labor.



Effie and Luella are inseparable. Effie, born with a heart defect, has spent her life under her mother's watchful eye and her older sister's shadow. Luella is strong, spirited and outspoken. One day the two sisters are drawn to a field by beautiful flute music. The bonds that they form with the Romani camped here threaten their idle existence. Ignorance and bigotry cause Luella to run away. Believing that her sister was sent to the House of Mercy for her defiance, Luella hatches a plan to have her returned home. It's a rather simple plan - get admitted to House of Mercy herself and her parents will have to come and rescue them both. The only problem is Luella isn't at House of Mercy and no one knows that Effie is there.

Of the three perspectives that this story was told: Effie, her mother Jeanne and House of Mercy girl Mable, I enjoyed Effie's the most. Her innocence was beguiling and I was really drawn to her character. The other women's narrative meshed nicely with hers and fit in the missing puzzle pieces to her story.

My only problem with the book was the repeated use of the word gypsy. I found myself cringing every time the word appeared on the page. Because I felt compelled to hear Effie's story and I recognized that Burdick was not disparaging the Romani people but exposing their detractors, I mentally went about scratching out the word g***y and replacing it with Romani. Although Burdick explains her use of the word in the Afterword, I am not sure if I were a member of the Romani if this explanation would slide with me. I can tell you that when I have seen racial slurs for African-Americans in literature I get highly offended.


Special thanks to NetGalley, Justine Sha at Harlequin/Park Row Publishers and Serena Burdick for advanced access to this book.

[Kerrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick takes place in 1913 New York City. This was a time when women were mostly powerless. Several homes for wayward women were established. The women could be placed in the homes either by a court order or by a parent. Once locked inside, they were prisoners forced to do daily strenuous labor, including laundry and farm work, while the religious institutions that housed them made a fortune.

Effie Tildon, age 13, and her older sister Louella came from a wealthy family that lived not far from the House of Mercy, a workhouse that actually existed in New York City. Their father had once threatened to put the girls in the House of Mercy if they misbehaved. Louella convinces Effie to go with her to a camp of Romani people knowing that their parents did not approve. When Mr. Tildon’s philandering becomes obvious, Louella gets fed up with her father for his conduct and with her mother for not doing anything about it. She continues to visit the gypsy camp as often as possible. She loses interest in ballet, her former passion. One day Louella suddenly disappears. Effie, who has a congenital heart defect, believes that Louella has been sent to the House of Mercy. Without her parents’ knowledge, she manages to get herself admitted to the House of Mercy under a false name. Only Louella isn’t there and Effie can’t get out. Effie’s heart condition worsens, bringing her closer to death.

While imprisoned, Effie becomes entangled with another girl who calls herself Mabel. Mabel’s story of poverty and ignorance is then revealed to the reader. Her upbringing and subsequent crime were a startling contrast to Effie’s pampered life. There is also a third narrator, Effie’s mother Jean, who gives her backstory and provides insight into Louella’s disappearance. The novel is an interesting study of women, class, and society during the early 1900s.

4-Stars. I listened to the Harlequin Audio version which was nicely narrated by the women who were the characters of Effie, Mabel, and Jean. This novel was published on January 7, 2020. The audiobook is 12 hours and 24 minutes and thankfully includes the author’s notes. The paperback is 336 pages.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick. It was well narrated by Emily Lawrence, Nancy Peterson and Amy McFadden. The Girls with No Names was a very well and meticulously researched historical fiction novel about a subject that I had little to no prior knowledge about. It took place in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s in New York City. Serena Burdick expertly wove the plot of The Girls with No Names around the actual House of Mercy and the untold stories of the girls that resided within its walls. At the time, homes like The House of Mercy, existed and they claimed that they actually tried to help these destitute children find their way back to being good law abiding citizens that recognized right from wrong. Those publicly accepted opinions could not have been further from the truth but the workhouses, like The House of Mercy, were socially accepted establishments and few knew what was really going on behind their closed doors. The House of Mercy existed in New York City back in 1910. It was an asylum or workhouse for wayward women and children that was modeled after the better known Magdalene laundries of Ireland. The House of Mercy and other establishments like it were run by the church. The church turned a blind eye to how these children were abused and enslaved. The children and young women were forced to work in the laundries and make lace as the church profited from their work by making millions of dollars. How sad to know that places such as The House of Mercy were allowed to exist and profited from abused and enslaved children who were mistreated and definitely shown no mercy. The Girls with No Names was beautifully written and haunting.

The riveting plot of The Girls with No Names was told from the point of view of three female protagonists. Effie was a young girl of thirteen who had been born with a heart defect and physical disabilities. She was the younger of two sisters that grew up in an affluent family in New York City. Her older sister, Luella, was more like a mother to her than her own mother. The two sisters were extremely close. They accidentally learned about the existence of the Romani settlement one afternoon when they heard their music in the near distance. The two sisters soon forged a friendship with the Romani people that had set up camp not far from their home. Despite the warnings their parents had given them to stay far away from the gypsies, the girls felt themselves wanting to go to their camp at every opportunity they had. The second point of view was told by Jeanne. She was Effie’s and Luella’s mother. Effie’s birth had negatively affected Jeanne’s marriage. Jeanne pushed her husband’s desire for romance away after Effie was born. She became consumed with guilt and worry for her daughter’s health. Jeanne’s husband soon began to neglect her and find solace in other women. Mabel, the third voice in The Girls with No Names, grew up with two loving parents in upstate New York. Her family was quite poor but they got by. When her mother lost yet another child in childbirth, she turned her back on her husband and promised herself that there would be no more babies. Eventually, Mable’s father left her and her mother. Mable’s mother sold their farm and the two traveled to New York City to live with Mable’s mother’s sister, her aunt. All was well for a time until Mabel’s cousin and Mabel became intimate and Mabel found herself in a compromised position. Mabel and her mother moved into their own place and all was fine for a short time. Money was hard to come by. Mabel’s mother worked at a factory and made a meager salary but they had each other. Then there was the fire that killed her mother and left Mabel all alone and pregnant. Mabel ended up being brought to the House of Mercy. That was where she met Effie. Effie had devised an elaborate and clever plan to get herself placed in the House of Mercy. She believed that her father had put her sister there and Effie would do anything to find Luella. That included showing up at the House of Mercy with a fictitious father who helped her get admitted. The only problem was that Effie soon discovered that Luella was not at the House of Mercy. Effie found herself in the most harrowing place she could have ever imagined. Circumstances pushed Effie and Mabel toward each other. Would they find friendship in each other? Could they help each other alter their circumstances?

The Girls with No Names was about sisterly love, hope, courage, resilience, defiance, compassion, survival and strength. It was fast paced and very sad in some parts. It told about the House of Mercy and the stories of the girls that had lived there, women suffrage, the lives of the Romani people living in and around New York City at this time in history and the devastating and tragic fires at the factories in New York City. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of The Girls with No Names. The story that was told from Effie’s, Jeanne’s and Mabel’s perspective will stay with me a long time. I highly recommend this book.

[Lucia Nieto Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5

Si tienes pensado leer esta novela, te recomiendo que vayas sin saber mucho y sin esperar muchos, si puedes evitar la sinopsis también mejor. Lo primero decir que es una historia interesante, quizá no estes pensando todo el rato en el libro pero cuando lo coges si que te mantiene enganchado a la historia, pero es verdad que me ha faltado algo.

La protagonista es Effie, una chica de 13 años que nace con una enfermedad. Pertenece a una familia de bien, la cual también ha condicionado su vida, pero tiene a su hermana Luella que siempre la ha apoyado. La trama comienza con un suceso inesperado, que llevará a Effie a tomar un camino inesperado y que hará que se separe de tus padres y de su hermana.

Una novela ambientada en Estados Unidos a principios del siglo XX, donde veremos la cantidad de prejuicios de la época. Hasta mitad de la novela vamos a encontrar únicamente la rutina de la familia de Effie, presentando a todos los personajes, y quizá una parte algo lenta y monótona.
Según avanzas ocurre algo, que lo cambia todo, y la historia se vuelve bastante más interesante, aunque para mi gusto sigue faltándome algo que me haga conectar con los personajes.
Y no diré mas de la trama, el objetivo de la autora es que se conozcan mas lo que se hacia en lugares como son las “Casas de la Misericordia”, una institución donde las niñas y adolescentes eran encerradas por ser poco correctas o por mal comportamiento.
Me ha faltado mucho, un desarrollo de todo lo que implicaba la existencia de estos sitios, de como intentaba ser todo bonito a los ojos de las personas, de las niñas que estaban allí, etc… es verdad que no he leido mucho mas sobre estos lugares y me he quedado con ganas de profundizar más en este tema.
Tendremos varios narradores a lo largo de la novela, algo que me gusta mucho para ver la visión de diferentes personajes, una de ellas es la madre, que su visión es muy interesante, y la tercera narradora para mi gusto era como leer un libro aparte que y que estuviera relacionado con Effie, porque te saca de la trama principal por completo.
Una novela de la que esperaba lago mas, que toca temas muy intersantes, aunque pasando muy por encima con un final bastante flojo para mi gusto. Lo recomiendo porque es un tema muy interesante

[Brooke - One Woman's Brief Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

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**3.5 stars**

The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick. (2020).

**Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a free advance readers copy of this novel; published 20 January 2020**

Luella and Effie live in a large family mansion near the House of Mercy, a workhouse for wayward girls. The sisters know that even though they are wealthy, freedom comes with limits. After discovering a secret about their father, Luella becomes emboldened to do as she pleases. But one morning Luella is gone. Effie suspects she has been sent to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed to save her sister. But she makes a miscalculation and nobody believes her story so she needs to escape. To do so she needs to trust an enigmatic girl named Mable. As their fates entwine, they must rely on each other to survive.

I liked this historical drama set in the mid 1910s. Alternating chapters are told from Effie's, Jeanne's (Effie's mother) and Mable's viewpoints. Effie was a fascinating character to follow particularly because she is a teenager who thinks of herself as permanently dying due to her heart condition, that made for an interesting attitude from her I thought. I think one couldn't help but admire Jeanne in her dedication to finding Effie but her attitude towards Luella was a bit disappointing (although probably suited to the time period). I didn't warm to Mable much and can't really pin down why. I really enjoyed the chapters involving the 'gypsy' camp; I thought the author described them respectfully and beautifully and the time spent there were probably my favourite sections. Overall it's probably not a book I'd reread but I did like it and it felt like something different; with many positive reviews it's definitely worth a look.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girls With No Names gets ALL the stars from me! I couldn't put it down and finished it in three sittings. Throughly enjoyed the writing style and found the storyline extremely intriguing. I found the characters were very well written and interesting. I also appreciated how real this story was, so believable and at times relatable.

I really enjoyed the information after the story regarding the House Of Mercy and plan on doing my own research to learn more.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin & Park Row Books for my review copy.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★



Set in New York City in the early 1900s, Effie Tildon lives with her affluent parents and older sister, Luella. Born with a heart condition, Effie was sheltered from physical activity, but substituted such adventures by writing stories. At 13, the dynamic in Effie’s family started to change leaving Effie feeling bewildered. In search of answers, Effie is thrust into a world where consequences are grave and reliance upon her own inner strength is paramount.

“I viewed the world through the small, damaged portal. It was a weakness I sharpened my strength upon.”

This multilayered plot follows Effie and how her life intertwines with those who have their own struggles, mostly women during this time in history. Though Effie is young and naïve, she is steadfast in her decisions and commitments. With varying POVs, the impact various characters face is effectively conveyed and ties into the beauty and strain of life.

“I think it’s easier to be the one lost.”

There are many aspects of this story that I found compelling, namely the tragically realistic telling of how society treated different groups during this time. Additionally, the women portrayed aren’t inherently evil, but rather have moments where they succumb to misfortune or loss. Though there were times when the narrative could have been tighter, throughout I was nervous for Effie and felt the poignancy of the overriding theme.

The Girls with No Names is a historical narrative that weaves despair and sacrifice into tenacity.


*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.*


*This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!*



For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Antoinette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

History and its cruelties towards girls and women never cease to astound and appall me.

House of Mercy- a place in New York for fallen women and for orphaned children. It is also a place that a father, who did not approve of his daughter’s behaviour, could simply have her locked away. Not necessarily egregious behaviours- could be she talked to a boy or received a letter from a boy, or simply was not obedient enough.

The time is 1910”s. Sisters Effie and Luella Tildon are extremely close. They are from a very wealthy family with a father who has rigid standards for his daughters. Luella, the eldest, rebels and disappears. Effie decides she must go and save her sister. She thinks her father has had her committed to the House of Mercy and hatches a plan to get herself committed.

The story follows three POV’s.: Effie, Jeanne, her mother, and Mabel, a girl who befriends Effie at the House of Mercy. Mabel and her past were more interesting to me. Her story really captured the plight of women stuck in poverty and the appalling behaviour of men towards them.

I was interested in learning more about places like the House of Mercy, but the book’s focus was more on the family dynamics, versus what went on in these homes. Seems like google will have to supply me with the historical data I am craving.

How families communicate is very true to life- if only truth wasn’t hidden, but spoken about, maybe there would be fewer misunderstandings.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but found it to be what I would call an average book.

[Vaida Book lover❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Labai jautri ir skausminga tematika, bet paprastai papasakota. Kiek gali padaryti vieniša ligota mergaitė? Kokia iš tiesų jos valios stiprybė, nors širdis pasmerkė vos gimusią.. Ir išvis kiek išdavysčių gali atlaikyti žmogus.. Kiek skausmo gali ištverti jaunos, gyvenimo nepažinusios mergaitės. Ir aš įmanoma galiausiai pasielgti visiškai nesavanaudiškai. Gal būtent tada likimas nuims prakeiksmą. Labiausiai patiko, kad istorija paremta tikrais įvykiais. Autorė nepaprastai lengvai ją pasakoja, tiesiog neįmanoma atsitraukti. Labai patiko rašymo stilius. Gilios literatūrinės vertės neieškokite, bet kas mėgsta tikras istorijas, nepasaldintas labai rekomenduoju 🙏📚❤️

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Multiple
Rating:




Effie and Luella Tildon grew up in the New York high society. Stifled by family expectations, they found an escape among the gypsy group nearby. But freedom had new meaning when it was no longer an option.

At some point through all of this, I realized that my birth hadn’t been enough to fulfill them, and my existence wasn’t enough to keep them going.

The 1910s New York setting gave readers an insight into both high society and the slum through the main characters. The story was a little slow in the beginning, but I enjoyed it overall.

I thought of all the nights I’d lain listening to Luella’s complaints over her restricted life. What the girls in here wouldn’t give for a life like ours, where sneaking off to a gypsy camp was the height of our danger.

It followed three female characters from two different social standing, navigating life based on the trials and tribulations of the period. They might seem weak and/or unlikable on the surface but they formed an invisible strength from the bond that connected them. My favorite character was Mable because she had the most interesting past.

The Girls with No Names is a story of survival and hope. It would appeal to readers who are interested in female camaraderie Historical Fiction.






🔹🥀🔹 . . . F(BR) With Twinsie CC . . . 🔹🥀🔹






For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Selena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free e-copy of The Girls with No Names by Serena Burdick from NetGalley for my honest review.

Effie and her sister Luella are separated at a young age. This story explores the dynamics of their family after s secret is revealed. Both girls run off and Effie inadvertently ends up at the House of Mercy . It is a home for unwanted girls. Unfortunately, the girls are abused mentally and physically. Effie finds herself in a situation so bad that she isn't sure how or if she will get out of.

I love how the story is told from three perspectives; Effie, her mother and a girl named Mable. Each of these women's characters are so well written and their stories are absolutely compelling.

A fantastic read but have your tissues ready.

[Justina Neliubšienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aš - kaulai ir oda,žemė ir dangus. Mirties nereikia supranti pažodžiui,kaip man ir sakė Trėjus. Laikas begalinis, mano egzistenciją amžina. Nuostabi knyga♥️👏

[Donna Wetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Goodreads for my copy of The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick. This was one of the best books I have read in quite some time. I finished this book in two days so to say it was difficult to put down would be an understatement. The characters came to life and emotionally pulled you in to their world. Thanks Serena for a great read.

[MsArdychan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

I feel very conflicted about this book. On the one hand, this is an historical fiction novel that is rich with details. Many of the characters are quite compelling. And the subject matter, the House of Mercy (which was a prison for women and children disguised as a place to help these people), is a part of history we should all know about.

But there were a few aspects of the storytelling that I found difficult to overlook. The author seems to use a particular minority group simply to further someone else's storyline. And another character's horrible behavior was excused because she had a difficult life. I think the bad outweighs the good, so unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book.

What I Liked:

Setting:

New York city in the Gilded Age was a time filled with contrasts. This was a moment in history where a select few had unprecedented wealth and prosperity. Their mansions were just blocks away from the crushing poverty seen in the infamous tenement building occupied by recent immigrants.

The author does do a credible job of showing how both groups of people lived. She shows the details of food, clothing, housing, and occupations that separated the lucky from the unfortunate.

Characters:

This book focuses mainly on three female characters, Effie (a young teen), her mother Jeanne, and a tough as nails older teen named Mabel. While all three characters were well written, I really enjoyed Jeanne.

Married to a wealthy businessman, Jeanne has been pampered most of her life. But her privilege comes at a price. She has to endure her husband's womanizing, her mother-in-law's criticism, and the disdain of her children. But as the new century unfolds, times are changing. Women are marching to demand the right to vote. I liked how Jeanne comes into her own power and doesn't let her husband (or her children) define her.

What I Didn't Like:

Use of the Romani people:

I really was uncomfortable with the use of the word, "Gypsy" throughout this book. While I did appreciate that the author addressed this in an afterword at the end of the novel, I still couldn't understand why she used that word again and again. She defended it by saying that she researched this group extensively and wanted to be "historically accurate". But, it struck me that the author only had the Romani people in the book as a way for one of the wealthy characters to rebel, and not to shed any light on who they really were or what their plight was.

While I am by no means an expert on this group of people, every tired cliche was used during scenes where the sisters visit the Romani. The clothes were described as colorful, and the people loud. There was exciting violin music and (of course) fortune-telling. I felt like these were stereotypes from old black and white movies from the 1940's.

What I would have loved to have seen was any acknowledgment of why they were living in wagons and constantly on the move, or how hard their life was. Instead of showing how they were harassed and pushed out of towns, the author seems to suggest the Romani were "free" compared to Effie and her wealthy sister. But freedom implies one has choices. I doubt that if the Romani wanted to settle in one place they would have been accepted.

Emotional Manipulation:

The other aspect of the book that I hated was how the author worked hard to make the reader feel sorry for Mabel, while making excuses for her horrible behavior. Yes, Mabel stood for all the abused and disadvantaged women of the time. She was born into extreme poverty. When she and her mother moved to New York there was one horror after another for Mabel. I did have deep empathy for this character.

But Mabel also did many terrible things (some truly unforgivable), and I was baffled that she didn't change much over the course of the book. While she did do some good, she never showed remorse or took any responsibility for her actions. One of the characters actually said Mabel shouldn't be blamed for what she did because of her unfortunate circumstances! So she shouldn't have to try to be a good person because she went through tough times?

Trigger Warning: This book contains scenes of sexual violence. It is not suitable for young readers.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a number of books that take place during the gilded age but have to say that this was a favourite among them. This story delves into various scenarios related to how women were treated during the early 20th century. It was a time of change in which women were fighting back (think suffragettes), for the right to vote, for their independence and for the ability to make their own choices within society. It was also a time in which women and children were expected to live by a moral code or risk banishment and punishment. I liked how this story highlighted both the pessimistic and optimistic perspectives of this movement.

This book also shined a light on a significant black mark in history called The House of Mercy. It was a religious institution that promised to enlighten and help women and children who had sinned but really was a jail that forced these women and children to work long hours doing laundry for the financial benefit of the church - slave labour, abuse and solitary confinement were just some of the poor living conditions these children faced.

The plot initially focused on a well-to-do family living in New York and specifically their two teenage daughters, Effie and Luella. After a rebellious incident, Luella suddenly disappears, and Effie finds herself at House of Mercy in search of her sister. We are introduced to another character named Mable and her challenging life circumstances as a child that led her to the House of Mercy.

The plot was dynamic with many different layers and interesting tangents. It was also well written using several different POV’s including Effie, her mother and Mable. A well crafted historical fiction that provided a snapshot into pre-WW1 New York and the societal norms of the time.

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The above image is the House of Mercy in 1932.

Effie's story caused anxiety for me worrying about what would happen to her while she was trapped in the House of Mercy. You know that it is not the type of place you want to be and you definitely don't want to get into trouble while you're there. Stories like this make me ever so grateful that I did not grow up during this time period when women could be sent away for the tiniest infraction of social norms or even being accused of unacceptable behaviors without merit.

This story is a series of secrets and misunderstandings. Most of the time the people involved are trying to protect the people they hurt. There are so many poor decisions made by many of the characters.

I would recommend this story to readers who enjoy historical fiction such as Before We Were Yours, The Forgotten Home Child, or Orphan Train 4.5★ rounded up because I really can't come up with a reason why not.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Effie and Luella are sisters. On Jan 1, 1900, Effie was born with a heart defect and they didn’t think she’d live long. She has, however, made it to 14 years old when the two sisters discover the gypsies living nearby. Luella, being a risk-taker, convinces Effie to come with her to visit regularly. When Luella disappears, Effie needs to find her! Effie is convinced her parents found out about the gypsies and have deposited Luella into the nearby “home” for wayward girls, the House of Mercy. Effie comes up with a plan to get in, herself, in order to be reunited with Luella.

The summary I’ve provided is actually the slower part of the book, in my opinion. It really picked up after Effie got into the House of Mercy. Right around that point in the book (maybe half-way through?), the perspective changes away from Effie, and we sometimes get her mother’s perspective, and sometimes the perspective of another girl at the House of Mercy, along with her background/story. I thought this is where the book really picked up, and I enjoyed the second half more. It was interesting to learn of the House of Mercy (which was real), and the kinds of things that went on in “homes” like this. Also interesting was a big event worked in to the storyline, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. I could see it coming, with a few of the characters working there… As always, I appreciated the historical note at the end.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Historical Fiction set in the 1900's in New York. First, I want to say that I loved-loved the descriptive strokes in this book. WOW. WOW. The author's writing was a little haunting as she put depth and shadow into the details. She went the extra mile without being redundant or super flowery and I loved paying attention to this. That part was 5 stars for me, because I could read this again just for that.

I was immediately drawn into the story. The sisters were two very different characters. Their differences allowed the strengths and weaknesses in the other to shine. I liked the tension this created. There were also plenty of twists that were both bitter and sweet. Again, nicely balanced. I'm usually not a fan of "sweetness" unless the characters were truly put through the ringer...and in this story, they certainly were. So it was satisfying. The ending was the perfect ending because I'm not sure any other ending would have been as satisfying. If the author had given everyone a red bow ending, it would have punctured the story.

Now there were just a couple of things that made no sense to me, but this author definitely had a flair for the dramatic, so it was easy to let that go. I also didn't care for the gooey sweet epilogue. So, all in all, this was a great read. 4.5 stars.

[Deacon Tom F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painful but Accurate

“A shocking story of family, sisters, friendship, secrets, and ultimately survival due to an unbreakable bond.

Powerful characters and extremely disturbing events that happen to them.

At times it was a bit confusing but overall a good read.

[Gabrielė|Kartu su knyga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Po įtempto trilerio man norėjosi knygos, kuri būtų ne šiaip koks lengvas romaniukas. Pasirinkau šią, nes pasirodė, jog knyga bus jautri bei gyvenimiška. Tokia ši istorija ir buvo.

Luela su Efe gyvena prabangiuose savo namuose ir tiesiog džiaugiasi vaikyste bei nerūpestingu gyvenimu. Pasirodo, jog visai netoli nuo jų namų, Invudo kalvos papėdėje stovi pataisos namai. Jie yra skirti visoms nepaklusnioms mergaitėms. Sesės puikiai supranta, jog net ir puikus statusas visuomenėje negali apsaugoti nuo patekimo ten. Tad reikia elgtis labai apdairiai. Tačiau išaiškėja viena tėvo paslaptis, prieš kurią vyresnėlė Luela negali užmerkti akių. Tėvas taip pat nežada taikstytis su tokiu elgesiu ir Luela vieną dieną dingsta. Efė niekaip nesupranta kaip sesuo galėjo išvykti neatsisveikinusi.. Ir ji nusprendžia, jog tėvas ją išsiuntė į minėtus pataisos namus. Efė sukurpia planą, kurio dėka ji paklius į pataisos namus bei išgelbės sesę. Tik paaiškėja, jog jos sesers ten nėra.. Bei niekuomet nebuvo.

Prieš pradėdama skaityti šią istoriją net nenutuokiau ko galiu iš šios istorijos tikėtis. Paaiškėjo, jog tai buvo iš tiesų labai jautri bei paliečianti istorija.
Pati knyga parašyta labai paprastai be jokių "sparnuotų" frazių, tačiau ją buvo be galo įdomu skaityti. Autorė puikiai padirbėjo ir labai lengvai mums leido įsijausti į aprašomus įvykius bei išgyvenimus. Net neabejoju, jog verta paminėti, jog tokie pataisos namai kadaise iš tiesų egzistavo. Šis atradimas mane iš tiesų pribloškė. Sunku ir įsivaizduoti ką toms mergaitėms teko patirti bei išgyventi.
Tad ši knyga giliai palietė seserų temą bei draugystę. Nebuvo apsieita be meilės bei šeimos dramos, o kur dar ir mergaičių išnaudojimas bei darbas tiesiog vergiškomis sąlygomis.
Tikrai labai rekomenduoju šią knygą tiems, kurie pasiilgo stiprių istorijų apie tvirtas moteris. Man ji buvo tikras atradimas 🙏🏻

[Edita Kazakevičienė · Rating 4 out of 5]

"– Gyvenimas gali būti šlykštus, – aiškino ji. – Todėl reikia puoselėti vaizduotę. Ji suteiks atsvaros, kai tikrovė taps nepakeliama."   
   
Aš negaliu būti abejinga istorijoms apie skriaudžiamus vaikus, prieglaudas ir tikrais faktais paremtus pasakojimus. Ir nors "Bevardės mergaitės" pristatomas kaip romanas apie mergaičių pataisos namus, man ši istorija pirmiausia yra apie pačią gražiausią meilę tarp seserų.   
   
Pasakojimas nukelia į XX a. pradžios Niujorką. Per mergaičių paveikslus atsiveria kontrastas tarp aukštuomenės sluoksnio ir vargšų: sausakimši būstai didmiesčių daugiabučiuose, prastos gyvenimo sąlygos, fizinis menkai apmokamas darbas, klajojantys čigonai. O tuo tarpu turtingieji gyvena nuosavuose prabangiuose namuose, samdosi tarnus, o jų vaikai mokosi prestižinėse mokyklose.   
   
Veiksmas sukasi apie tris mergaites, kurių gyvenimai persipina: Luela, Efė ir Meilblė. Luela – vyresnioji sesuo, maištinga, drąsi ir užsispyrusi, į kurią sudėtos tėvų viltys. Efė – jaunesnioji sesuo, ligota mergaitė, kuri pasaulį mato pro savo širdį, tiesiogine prasme. Ir Meiblė, kuriai gyvenimas nuo pat vaikystės nepašykštėjo išbandymų. O seserų motina Žana, mane labiausiai erzino savo neryžtingumu ir susitaikymu.   
   
Jautri, liūdna, švelni, tačiau kartu ir viltinga istorija apie stiprias mergaites, moteris. Kiek galima ištverti, kad pasiektum savo tikslą ir atgautum laisvę? Manau, ši lengvai skaitoma, ne per saldi knyga puikiai tinka ir paaugliams, kurie čia atras jaunatvišką draugystę, meilę ir maištą. Nors "Bevardės mergaitės" paremtos iš tikrųjų egzistavusiais Niujorko pataisos namais (House of Mercy) ir sufražisčių judėjimu, šis romanas nėra apsunkintas faktais ir istoriniais įvykiais.   
   
Daugiau perskaitytų knygų rekomendacijų: www.profesionalimama.wordpress.com

[Kris - My Novelesque Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 2.5 STARS
2020; Park Row/Harlequin

For some reason, I had a notion that this novel was about Suffragettes. It is about women, and their struggles in America during the 1910s. Specifically, this novel takes place in New York and is about the House of Mercy. The House of Mercy is a place where young girls and women are placed for the littlest infraction. Any sexual act could land a girl in this place that punished them with long hard hours in the laundry. The money does not go back into the House of Mercy, and the girls are given enough food to just survive. This is the part of the novel I found most interesting, and now want to learn more about. The story of Effie and mom was okay, but I found myself a bit bored with their stories (along with Effie's older sister, Luella). I did find Mabel's story a bit more intriguing. The stories overall were not as engaging as I hoped. I would have probably DNF if I was reading this book instead of listening to the audiobook. It was not a bad book, it just didn't have a certain oomph to make it stand out and keep you reading.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

My introduction to the writing of Serena Burdick came courtesy of 2020 HQ Fiction publication, The Girls with No Names. Set in a time of upheaval in the US, Serena Burdick’s new novel exposes the tragic world of female work houses. This heartbreaking hidden history opens our eyes to a most regrettable chapter in early twentieth century New York.

‘In 1891, the House of Mercy, a notorious asylum for “destitute and fallen women,” stood on the highest point of Manhattan’s Inwood Hill Park, a massive and foreboding building stretching the length of the plateau. The women it imprisoned were not privy to the view from the barred windows of their dormitory, or from the steaming laundry room, and certainly not from the basement, where they were isolated for the smallest infraction.’

This is just a bitter taste of the true story that inspired Serena Burdick to pen her moving novel, The Girls with No Names. This is the heartbreaking and compelling story of two sisters, Luella and Effie Tildon, who reside under the shadow of the House of Mercy, a women’s workhouse. A shocking secret that strikes at the very heart of the Tildon family unit sends the two sisters in confusion and misunderstanding. For Luella, the rebellious older sister, the revelation of this secret sends her in a spin and she explores a new sense of freedom. However, Luella’s carefree behaviour ultimately sets her on a path to confinement. Effie knows that her father has ensured that Luella must pay the price for her defiance. Effie sets about breaking her sister free from the House of Mercy, where she believes Luella is being kept against her will. But Effie’s plan to rescue her sister does not bode well and she becomes a prisoner in this oppressive organisation. With only the trust of another girl imprisoned in the home to help her, Effie knows this is a fight she must win.

I haven’t come across the writing of Serena Burdick, the author of The Girls with No Names prior to reading this novel, but I see Burdick has published a novel in 2016 titled, Girl in the Afternoon. I will definitely be investigating this one in the near future, as I connected with Burdick’s work. I am always indebted to the work of historical fiction novelists, who toil endlessly through a mountain of research to produce fascinating narratives, inspired by real life events. The Girls with No Names is one such example of a strong historical fiction title, informed by a breadth of research.

Burdick manages to balance a fairly weighty and alarming episode in history, with an engaging narrative. The Girls with No Names never felt heavily laden in facts. Instead, I found the narrative to be carefully plotted, evenly paced and surprising. The structure employed by Burdick, which is a three viewpoint narrative, ensures that the reader receives an even outline of the events of the story. Although their stories were touched with sadness and unjust actions, I appreciated getting to know the three female leads of this tale, along with the supporting cast. Burdick does her characters justice, bringing to light this emotional sojourn with sensitivity.

The period in which this novel is set (1910) is an era I tend not to encounter in books. The Girls with No Names brings to light an era that was beginning to witness the first whisperings of the fight for women’s freedom thanks to the suffragettes. However, for many women classed as ‘wayward’ the oppression continued in horrific circumstances. This is where Burdick shines, the author’s extensive research and passion for her subject matter exposes a time of great injustice. Burdick’s resulting narration strikes at the heart of the female condition, allowing us to see that there was no such thing as ‘mercy’ in workhouses such as the House of Mercy, which looms large in this novel.

Although The Girls with No Names is definitely a bleak and unfortunate tale of the abysmal treatment of women, just over a century ago, there are still some endearing messages of hope, friendship, family bonds, sibling relationships, strength and resilience to be taken from this tale.

Fans of well informed historical fiction novels and female focused histories will find The Girls with No Names a compelling book choice.

*I wish to thank Harlequin Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s the 1900’s New York.

The House of Mercy was a ‘Christian’ institution that was meant to take in women and girls in dire circumstances to help them (Note: the word MERCY in the name), all very real places throughout the UK and the USA. These places were actually more like prisons that treated the women/girls abominably.

While the book does touch on one of these places it is actually the story of 12-yr old Effie, her older sister Luella and another young girl named Mable. The fact that I couldn’t feel any connection to the girls is because they read as characters on a page.

The writing is such that I was able to skip without missing anything pertinent to the story.

Places such as the House of Mercy would make for a depressing enough story but the author has gone overboard not so much about the House of Mercy but the characters. It’s a depressing book in every way.

[knygugriauzike_gabriele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Efė nuo gimimo serga nepagydoma širdies liga, niekas nežino, kuri diena jai gali būti paskutinė. Luela, Efės sesuo, visiška jos priešingybė - mergina linksma, pašėlusi ir mėgaujasi gyvenimu. Kai vieną dieną seserys sužino tėvo kruopščiai slėptą paslaptį, Luela pasiunta ir pabėga iš namų. Tėvai tikrųjų priežasčių neatskleidžia Efei ir ši pamano, kad jie išsiuntė seserį į pataisos namus, nepaklusnioms mergaitėms. Kad galėtų seserį išgelbėti, Efė klastos būdu pati patenka į tuos namus. Deja, paaiškėja, kad Luelos ten nėra. Tačiau kaip dabar iš pataisos namų ištrūkti pačiai Efei?

Pradėsiu nuo to, kad šis kūrinys labai stiprus, psichologine prasme. Daug minčių ir pamąstymų sukeliantis knygos siužetas, tikrai nesitikėjau, kad „Bevardės mergaitės“ tiek jausmų man sukels, bet štai - sukėlė.

Pirmiausia, šioje knygoje aptariamas stiprus seserų ryšys, kurio vedina serganti mergina gali padaryti bet ką, net rizikuoti savo gyvybe, kad tik apsaugotų sau brangų žmogų - seserį.

Antra, norėčiau išskirti tai, kad kartais nuslėpti dalykai gali sukelti daug pavojų mums brangiems žmonėms. Šiuo atveju, tėvų nuslėpta tiesa apie Luelos tikrąjį dingimą, sukėlė didžiulę grėsmę Efei, pasiryžusiai ją išgelbėti iš pragaištingų pataisos namų, kuriuose sesuo net nebuvo.

Trečia, negaliu nepaminėti ir to, kad jeigu kažkada praeityje padarėme klaidų, tai dar nereiškia, jog negalime būti laimingi ateityje. Viena šios knygos herojė tai įrodys.

Ketvirta, šioje knygoje paliečiama ir socialinė atskirtis. Kalbu apie tai, kad kūrinyje minima grupelė čigonų, kurie visiems knygoms veikėjams, išskyrus seseris, atrodo nepriimtini ir pagarbos neverti žmonės. Neneikime, diskriminacija kai kurių tautinių mažumų atžvilgiu egzistuoja iki šiol.

Na, o paskutiniu punktu norėčiau paminėti laiką, kurio mums duota tiek mažai, tad turime labiau jį vertinti, išnaudoti tik taip, kad paskui nereikėtų gailėtis ar graužtis jį paleidus vėjais.

Rekomenduoju visiems, ieškantiems stiprios ir tikrais istoriniais faktais paremtos knygos. Neabejoju, kad šiame kūrinyje pateikta istorija jus sukrės, tačiau tuo pačiu privers susimąstyti apie kai kuriuos dalykus, esančius kiekvieno iš mūsų asmeniniame gyvenime.

„Bet gyvenimas nenuspėjamas, nė vienas iš mūsų negali nieko numatyti ir atsisakyti judėti į priekį, kai yra galimybė.“

5/5⭐