Beyond the Crushing Waves

by Bronwen Pratley

Two generations face heartbreak and injustice in this poignant and emotional novel inspired by true events.

Mary Roberts is a poor gutter child living in a council flat in 1950’s London. When she and her sister are left at an orphanage by their mother, they don't think their lives can get any worse.

Harry Evans is an orphan who finds himself, with Mary and her sister, on board a ship bound for Australia. They're sent to a farm school for children, where abuse and neglect are rife. A journey that will change their lives forever, and from which they’ll never return.

Married to her dream man, and with a baby on the way, Dr Mia Sato’s life is in perfect order. When her beloved grandmother has a fall, the photograph clutched in her hand prompts Mia to ask questions her grandmother isn’t willing to answer. When she cries out a confession that rocks Mia to her core, it leads to a shocking discovery of a past filled with lies, broken families and forced child migration.

Based on one of Britain's most secret and shameful real-life scandals in which over 100,000 British children were forcibly deported to Canada, South Africa, and Australia over several decades. Lilly Mirren’s heartbreaking, captivating and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us that no matter where the journey leads us, our heart will always find its way home to those we love.

For readers of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdad Sings.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Australia, Audiobook, Book Club, Ebooks

398 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[Susan P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beyond the Crushing Waves, based on the true story of Britain's deportation of children to Australia in the 1950s, was a heart-wrenching story; but the dual timeline didn't work for me. The present-time story of the granddaughter, who is an on-maternity-leave doctor, contains every stereotypical, misogynistic, sexist assumption toward pregnant women and didn't add anything to my understanding of the story.

[Diann Rudd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d rather give this book 3.5 stars than 4 stars. The premise of the book is interesting, but the modern storyline seemed unnecessary to tell the story. I almost stopped reading because of the brutality towards the children, but I did finish it. Overall, it was good but not quite 4 stars good.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the writer obviously lacks maturity in drawing characters I rated it four stars simply because the story itself was pretty good. If the doctor Mia was actually a practitioner I would feel for her patients because she was flighty and self absorbed and like the writer lacks the maturity to be a physician. Would I read anything else by the author? Probably not. I hope I never hear hormonal and lack of sleep again,it she though it a workable phrase why keep repeating it over and over and over and over. Grow up if you want to be a good writer!

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories at once and it should have been just older one. The present day story wasn’t necessary.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical fiction focused on the English children who were sent to the working farms in Australia in the early 1950s. We follow the journey of Harry and Mary, main characters who were strong children and suffered horrible atrocities. There is a dual timeline with Mia, the granddaughter of Harry and Mary. Overall, the book was gripping and horrifying yet there were many questions left hanging. Some storylines just dropped that would have rounded out the story. 3.5 Stars

[Hailey Lafrombois · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a really hard time getting into this story even though the idea behind the story is truly intriguing. Everyone else seemed to love this book so maybe it was a me issue but I put it down several times to read something else.

[Infosleuth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spellbinding, hard to put down
This story tells the tale of a group of orphans and impoverished children from Britain sent to Australia. It begins in the present day as a grandmother whispers a confession after a fall. Was she delirious or did she actually know what she was saying? Her granddaughter realizes she knows little of her grandparents’ early lives.
We then go back in time to England. Sisters Mary and Lottie live with their alcoholic, abusive mother who is often jobless. Harry is currently in an orphanage and we get a taste of the tough life there. I already cared about them before the prospect of leaving was presented to them. The author did an amazing job of putting me right in the situation with the children and I almost feel as though I experienced the nightmare it turned into with them. I found the author’s comments at the end of the book regarding her reasons for writing things a certain way very interesting as well. It was an emotional read especially when one remembers that, although the characters were fictional, it was based on real-life accounts of many who experienced it. I’m eagerly anticipating the next book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. As one reviewer said, the story should have just focused on the first timeline of the children's lives, the present timeline wasn't really necessary. Started out as a page turner and devolved into a much slower pace.

[Cathryn Karmondy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Roberts is a poor gutter child living in a council flat in 1950’s London. Harry Evans is an orphan who finds himself, with Mary and her sister, on board a ship bound for Australia. They're sent to a farm school for children, where abuse and neglect occur. When Mia Sato’s grandmother has a fall, the photograph clutched in her hand prompts Mia to ask questions her grandmother isn’t willing to answer— questions that leads to a shocking discovery of a past filled with lies, broken families and forced child migration.

Based on one of Britain's most secret and shameful real-life scandals in which over 100,000 British children were forcibly deported to Canada, South Africa, and Australia over several decades.

Meh. Not the worst book—premise was good, involved something with which I was unfamiliar. That said, I feel like author could have done better research to add to the story. A bit of a cliché- granddaughter finds photo that has to do with granny’s past that appears to be a secret and granddaughter is determined to find out the details.

[Kristina Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself wasn’t necessarily a sensational read. I felt like it lacked depth. But it was a gentle introduction to a British forced migration scheme that stripped thousands of children of their identity and cost them a lifetime of trauma. It was a crime with generational effects. My heart breaks for these children. I’m sure a non-fiction book on this topic will provide more grueling details, if someone is interested.

I think the strained family relationships in the story are relatable to many. It was a good reminder that learning about our parents’ history can really help misunderstandings and hurt.

[Faye Webster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started this book with high hopes and became very interested from the start. However, it seemed to drag until the final third when it seemed to speed up, almost as though the writer was getting bored with her own story. I finished the book this morning, when it just abruptly stopped! Turned the page and there was the big The End! I read on a Kindle, and the remaining pages were just hypes for her additional books. Sorry.

[Kathie McGrattan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad. The girls in my grandmothers Australian family were sent to an Australian orphanage when their mom was dying of breast cancer. My grandmother was sent to a work farm after a few months at the orphanage where she was beaten. My grandmother was emancipated as an adult when she was 14. This hit close to home.

[Cherie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping is a good description of this book. This saddens me to know this book is based on facts. I have to ask myself, why are children treated so horribly? Was it the era or was it just plain evil to abuse children?

[Claire Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

A limp attempt at recreating the exceptional writing and related history of “Orphan Train”. It even has the same past and present treatment of characters and timeline. “Beyond the Crushing” waves had the chance to better but missed.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book since it had so many 5 star ratings. Unfortunately, it just did not hold my interest. Sorry…..

[Rosalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did not live up to the gripping page turner it claimed to be. Had to drag myself through it. Characters were poorly developed. I wonder if her other books are better.

[Patricia L .Jex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate the research that went into writing this story. It was very well done. I liked the element of going back and forth in time so that we could see the future outcome working itself out at the same time we watched the hard reality of the child migration. I think it would have been too much to take if it hadn't been balanced with the ongoing reassurance that there was a good outcome. This is a tough, but real part of history. It's heartbreaking to think that this happened, and was aided in part by well intended players mixed with selfish abusive people. The worst part was knowing the children had no place to turn for help. No one could or maybe would see what was really happening. We have to know about these things in order to prevent a repetition. I thought the author did a great job of handling the subject with sensitivity, realism, and hope all at the same time. This is a healing book.

[Eileen Denette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the story to be a very compelling one. I had no idea that children were tricked into being sent to farm schools. Very eye opening. The dual storyline was completely unnecessary. I wish authors would be confident enough in the main story without needing a modern dual story.

[Connie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story based on true situations. The storyline with Mia and her son didn’t add anything, but the writing and storytelling was solid.

[Christina Stroff · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical fiction surrounded the true story of Britain's deportation of children to Australia in the 1950s. Those children were treated terribly. Another sad tale of how the already hopelessly disadvantaged people are once again taken advantage of. (There were quite a few typographical errors in this edition.)

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
The story is based on the British children migration scheme under which over 100000 children were sent to be educated and used as a labour force in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Obviously this became a fertile ground to child abuse.
The book contains of three stories: nowadays Mia, who is very close to her grandparents, and Mary and Henry, two children that meet on a ship to Australia and later in the story turn to be Mia's grandparents.
While I didn't really connect to Mia's story, as her views are so very different of mine, the stories of Mary and Henry are very poignant and touching. Part of the story is the abuse, the neglect and the forced labour they go through while being subjects in the migration scheme. But the ease with which they're lied to by the so called responsible adults, the way the life changing decisions are made for them without any real consideration of their future are another facets of the abuse that they suffer.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the dislocation of poor British children was a shocking chapter in history and worth telling, this inconsistent and uneven book is not a good vehicle.

It’s simply not well-written or well plotted. I ended up so tired of the horrors of the work camp and bored with both timelines. It was also literally impossible to believe that Mia, with her hyperventilating and nervous fretting could have made it through medical school.

[Susan Prud'homme · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found I had to exert myself to keep reading this story, especially in the beginning. Not one of my favorites.

[Carol Cloninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story of the secrets behind orphanages that should be brought to everyone's attention. Beautifully writtenand I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. I love when i discover new authors!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something Missing

This was a good story but it ended so abruptly it surprised me. I think there is more to tell about Mary, Harry, and Lotty!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful historical fiction

[Barbara Schofield · Rating 5 out of 5]

A piece of Australian histoty

Ice read books about the various immigration from England to Australia before, but this is the best to date. Excellent read.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Suzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars: I had not heard of the British child migrant program in which about 150,000 orphaned or impoverished children, sadly called gutter children, were sent by charities such as the Fairbridge Society and the Anglican and Catholic churches from Britain to working farms in Australia, Canada, and South Africa, some as young as 3 years old. Promises of education, adventure, and opportunity quickly turned to physical, mental, and sexual abuse, neglect, and forced labor. Single mothers who believed they had given up their children temporarily, lost all communication with their children, and many children were told that parents who had promised to come back for them, had died. I found the storyline interesting, even though it was heavy on fiction and light on history. I actually learned more about the history of this tragic event through the author’s notes at the end of the book and research on the internet. However, I appreciate that this book disclosed one more terrible chapter of history that we need to acknowledge and learn from. I consider any book that pushes me to research a topic further, a good book!

Like so many popular books, the story has a dual timeline, and I found the current story of Mia rather inconsequential. I suppose it was meant to contrast the loveless childhoods of Harry, Mary, and Lottie against the overwhelming love Mia feels for her newborn son, but it felt unnecessary to me. And oh my goodness, the Hallmark, happy-ever-after ending was rather like putting a pink band aid on a gushing head wound … almost as though the author wanted to give the reader a feel-good finish to a tragic event in history.

What this book did trigger in me was an overwhelming sadness that children, both then and now, are so dependent on adults for their well-being and how much abuse, neglect, and suffering goes unrecognized and unreported. I was amazed by the rationalizations and resilience of the children in this story as they created understanding and acceptance of the inexcusable pain in their young lives. If, as the author suggests, the deportation scheme was created with hope and genuine concern for the future of these children, there was no oversight to ensure that the farms were run as expected. A single, scheduled visit each year gave the farm administrators time to create a theatrical staging of care and nurturing that was non-existent the rest of the year. Both the British and Australian governments have apologized for the ‘misguided’ program but that is hardly enough. This is yet one more reminder of how much still needs to be done to protect innocent and vulnerable children from predators and abusive environments.