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This is a historical fiction book, set in Quebec in the 1950's and continuing until the mid-70's. This story is told from 2 perspectives, Maggie and her daughter Elodie. Maggie, gives birth at age 15, and is forced to give the baby up for adoption. Elodie is the infant who is placed in an orphanage, not adopted, and has an deprived childhood. Her life takes a major change for the worse when orphanages merge with mental institutions, and she is treated for the remainder of her childhood as a mental patient. Elodie witnesses and lives through many atrocitities that I found very difficult to read about. Fortunately, the chapters about Elodie alternate with chapters about her birth Mom, Maggie. Maggie has her own struggles with family, relationships, marriage and more. At the heart of the story is Maggie's need to find Elodie, and Elodie's great yearning to know about her birth mother.

I had a range of reactions as I read the novel. First, it was educational. I live in the US, but my cultural background is French Canadian. Until I read this book, I had no idea about the strained relations between the French and English in Canada. It was never mentioned at home as I was growing up.

Second, the story of Maggie at age 15, being forced to give up her baby for adoption rang true for the timeframe. I grew up in the 1950's & 1960's in the US. At that time, pregnancy out-of-wedlock and teen pregnancy were greatly shunned. It was not unusual for a pregnant teen to be sent to live with geographically distant relative until after the birth of the baby. It was also common that the child was placed for adoption, that the mom did not see the baby after giving birth, and adoption records were sealed preventing contact berween the mother and baby. As I read that, the story did not seem unusual.

What became gripping was the Elodie's life experience first in an orphanage, then growing up in a mental institution. I was totally unaware of the atrocities that happened in Canada, in the 1950's, based on government funding and church involvement.

This is a complex story on many levels. I became engrossed in the story, because of the excellent character development. I considered it a very worthwhile read from a historical perspective.

I rate the book 4 stars.