The House Children

Gr 7 Up—"My birth was a sin and a crime." The opening line of this elegant, emotional novel sets the scene for a gentle coming-of-age story set in mid-20th-century Ireland. Born to an unwed mother, Mary Margaret Joyce is considered an "illegitimate child" and at the age of five is sentenced to an industrial school to live under the watchful and sometimes cruel eye of the nuns. She looks forward to the week every summer when she is sent to stay with a kind and loving family in Galway. Mary (rechristened "Peg" by the nuns due to an overabundance of Marys) doesn't know why the Hanleys have taken an interest in her, but she feels a connection to them that she can't shake. It isn't until her 13th birthday that Peg learns that Norah Hanley is her mother. Betrayed and heartbroken by the rejection of being "given away," Peg struggles with new and overwhelming feelings of anger and resentment toward the Hanley family. Peg's experience at the industrial school and her struggle to feel worthy in a country that looks down on illegitimate children will move even the hardest of hearts. Daniele's writing is clear and methodical, tracing Peg's life year by year from age five until 15, evoking both the comfort and monotony of routine. The setting and mature voice of Peg make this a great crossover novel, with appeal for adults and teens alike, particularly fans of Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train and J. Courtney Sullivan's novels.