Home Child

by Barbara Haworth-Attard

The year is 1914. Thirteen-year-old Arthur is a "home child, " an English orphan forced to work on a Canadian farm. Will he ever be truly accepted there?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 4, 1996

About the author

Barbara Haworth-Attard is a native of Elmira, Ontario, presently residing in London, Ontario with her family. June 1995 saw the publication of her first junior novel, Dark of the Moon. Since then she has written twelve novels in the historical fiction, fantasy and contemporary genres for middle-grade and young adult readers. Her thirteenth book, "Forget-Me-Not" a sequel to "Love-Lies-Bleeding" has been out since this Fall 2005 from HarperCollins Canada. Henry Holt and Company released the US edition of "Theories of Relativity" in 2006. This book has also been sold to Editions Thierry Magnier of France.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2010): Haunted

Reviews

[Shahna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth Haworth-Attard I've read. I always enjoy her books.

The family in this story frustrates me. Arthur is pretty much a slave they picked up for free. He’s a CHILD. ugh. The mother and oldest daughter make me the most mad. Stupid old-timey people. I couldn’t imagine treating a child so poorly. And to know that in real life they were treated worse just blows my mind. What the hell Canada?!

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting historical fiction, about an event in Canadian history most people seem to be unaware of. It was a ridiculously quick read, and the MC acted really young, but it was sweet.

[Saara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid little book. Full of information in a way that's a bit less harsh, for kids to read, but still without sugar-coating. Arthur was lucky to go to a family that didn't abuse him physically. Plenty of kids weren't as fortunate. The little exerpts at the start of the chapters were probably the thing that touched me the most, and will stay with me for a long time.

Until fairly recently, I hadn't heard of "home children", and had no idea about the hundred thousand + kids shipped to Canada for cheap child labour, under the guise of being "helpful Christians". Then, I stumbled upon one such person in my genealogy search (my adopted husband's biological great-grandfather). What a rabbit hole that has been. I decided to order this and a few other books, so I could learn more about the subject.

[Megg J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book in about an hour, great read! Sad story and background.

[Eypril Mey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is great and amazing story

[Worthreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel provides a heartfelt and realistic re-telling of the experiences of Home Children in Canada. While the plot and the characters are fairly predictable, the historical facts of Canadian life in 1914 are enough to have the reader finish the novel. Overall, a suitable novel study for Grade 5 or 6.

[Laurie]

I had a gift certificate to Vancouver Kidsbooks, so when we were there in February I bought three books from the Canadian Fiction section: Home Child, The Greenies, and a Kit Pearson. I chose these over the just-released Before Green Gables, also in that section.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadie's family takes in Arthur, an orphan boy from England. It is difficult for him to be accepted and Sadie is empathetic. He is often blamed when things go wrong but eventually Sadie has the courage to stick up for him.

[Evan Di Cesare · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to read this for school. Absolutely hated it, would not recommend.

[Jacqueline]

Loved it! Heard about it from the public school reading list for grade seven. It actually makes a nice Christmas read as it ends on Christmas Day.