SOLVED. YA/ Coming of age story – set in 1950-1960s Ireland and is about a teen girl who ends up unwed and pregnant and is sent to a convent/laundry/mother & baby home by her parents. [s]

[Charlotte]

Cover image: pale blue with a silhouette of a white bird on the front

Original publishing language: English

I first read this book back in secondary school so this would have been between 2010-2014, it was definitely published before then but I’m not sure when but the language did not seem old. It would have most likely been written in the 2000s after the last of the laundries closed in Ireland.

She meets the new boy in town at a travelling carnival, they go on a few dates and ends up pregnant after going back to his house. She goes to the doctor feeling ill and finds out she’s pregnant, she nearly goes through with a “back-alley” abortion but backs out before she can go through with it. Her parents find out about the pregnancy and send her to a convent/laundry/mother & baby home and spends a majority of her pregnancy there (not a 100% certain but I feel like they were all wearing light blue nun outfits). She gives birth there and is not able to see her baby (boy), but her aunt ends up finding she is there and helps her to get out of there with her child.

In the end she is able to keep her baby and lives with her aunt for a while before eventually moving back to her hometown to be with her parents where she reunites with the baby’s father and he ends up moving to England to work as some sort of builder to send money back for her and the child.

[Rainbowheart]

The Empty Cradle?

[Charlotte]

Rainbowheart wrote: "The Empty Cradle?"

No unfortunately, the book is set over the span of a year or two. She is still in her teen years by the end of the book.

[Rainbowheart]

The Magdalen?

[Charlotte]

Rainbowheart wrote: "The Magdalen?"
Really close, I think I have read that one but I'm pretty sure she is able to end up getting out of the convent with her child.

[Rainbowheart]

Fallen Star?

[Charlotte]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Fallen Star?"

YES OMG!!! THIS IS IT!!! This book had such a profound affect on my teen years thank you so much!!!

[Rainbowheart]

Awesome, super glad it was the right one!

[Charlotte]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Awesome, super glad it was the right one!"

Honestly have no clue how you found it, it feels like I googled it every which way to Sunday and I still couldn't find it so quite genuinely thank you so much!!

[Rainbowheart]

I found it by searching "unmarried mothers" and "Ireland" in Worldcat!

I've also added it to the Illegitimate Child list.