April 26, 2021
Turansky continues her chronicle of the McAllister family in this excellent outing. Previously, in No Ocean Too Wide, seven-year-old Grace McAllister travelled from her native England to Canada as part of the British Home Children relocation plan after her family was unable to care for her. Ten years later, in 1919, Grace’s affluent adoptive family wants her to deny her past so that she might marry well. But Grace is determined to search for her birth family. Little does she know that her family never stopped looking for her. Grace’s older brother, Garth, returns to Britain after serving in WWI, but is eager to reunite with his Canadian sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, whom he met in Canada while serving out his own Home Children indentured contract. After a letter from Grace makes it to the McAllisters, Garth travels to see her—but Grace’s adoptive father accuses Garth of fraud and kicks him out. After praying for courage, Grace runs away with Garth in the hope of being reunited with her birth family, but before they can go to England, they must find Emma, who has been falsely accused of murder, and help her clear her name. Pinpoint historical details and determined characters set this installment apart. Fans of Jody Hedlund will love this.