A Girl From the Home

The author spent her childhood in an orphanage and eight foster homes. Speaking through the voice of her childhood, she draws the reader into a fascinating account of life in the orphanage and each foster home. The orphanage was not a gloomy Dickensian institution, but a castle with wonderful facilities and a remarkable cast of characters. Life in the foster homes is the dark side of the story. During the Great Depression, beginning in 1929, many families took orphan children into their homes as a means of economic survival. The author was one of these. In each home she tried hard to be accepted as a member of the family, but came to realize that she was an outsider, a "girl from the home." The plight of homeless or unwanted children has recently raised a controversial question: would unwanted children be better off in orphanages than in foster homes? The author felt motivated, even obligated, to add her voice to this public forum. In the book, the "girl from the Home" considers her options, makes a decision, and defends her choice.… (more)