The House Children: A Novel

Written by Heidi Daniele

Narrated by Lauren Reilly

In 1937, Mary Margaret Joyce is born in the Tuam Home for unwed mothers. After spending her early years in an uncaring foster home, she is sentenced by a judge to an industrial school, where she is given the name Peg, and assigned the number 27. Amid one hundred other unwanted girls, Peg quickly learns the rigid routine of prayer, work, and silence under the watchful eye of Sister Constance. Her only respite is an annual summer holiday with a kind family in Galway.

At the tender age of thirteen, Peg accidentally learns the identity of her birthmother. Peg struggles with feelings of anger and abandonment, while her mother grapples with the shame of having borne a child out of wedlock. The tension between them mounts as Peg, now becoming a young adult, begins to make plans for her future beyond Ireland.

Based on actual events, The House Children is a compelling story of familial love, shameful secrets, and life inside Ireland’s infamous industrial schools.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Spotify Audiobooks
• Release date: Oct 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664990791

Heidi Daniele

Heidi Daniele’s passion for history and genealogy opened the door for The House Children, which is her debut novel. She has a degree in Communications and Media Arts and has worked on several short independent films. She earned the Learning in Progress Award for Excellence at a Dutchess Community College Film Festival for coproducing, writing, filming, and editing the film Final Decisions. She also volunteers at The Lisa Libraries, an organization that donates new children's books and small libraries to organizations that work with kids in poor and underserved areas. An empty nester who lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, Heidi enjoys gardening, photography, and exploring her family tree.

Reviews for The House Children

[K G · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2.5-3 stars. Narration is a bit slow but her voice is pleasant. Unfortunately scrib doesn’t offer 1.1 speed.
This story had such great potential but falls a bit flat and feels a bit rushed.. in spite of the fact that it’s a fairly long read. It’s one of those books that you don’t truly enjoy but feel compelled to finish.
The historical aspect of the book is the important part, unfortunately the story of Peg fails to connect consistently.. perhaps it’s a first novel?
All and all a worthwhile read if only to learn a bit more about the history of how women and children were treated in irelands industrial schools.