This is the story of Isla Donahue who is taken to the poorhouse by her father when her mother dies and he can’t cope with his grief .Isla is just 16 years old when this happens .The poorhouse is run by Miss Hartman who punishes the residents and takes money that she is supposed to to use for the upkeep .Isla becomes friends with Sophie and Meg and they try to make a plan to leave but are frightened that they will be found out and punished.This story tells of the ups and downs the girls go through trying to escape. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK.

I have read books by Katie Flynn before and really enjoyed them. Her daughter makes a fabulous job of continuing her legacy.

I loved this book - and once I got rid of the idea that all books set in the workhouse/poorhouse need not to have been written about the 19th century - I enjoyed the lives of the three girls in the WW2 services.

The book is well researched and well written. The main characters, Isla, Meg and Sophie had led terrible lives in the poorhouse in Scotland - the woman in charge got all she deserved and they escaped to Liverpool where they were taken in by Peggy.
The girls lives in the WRENS and WAAF were well documented and showed different aspects to wartime service.

I really hope there will be more books about these characters and we get to see how their lives develop.

i new id love this book. i love the author, i love the genre. and i always know i want to read the books with the particular "type" of cover picture.
and i wasnt let down at all. Katie has such talent in her genre. we are lucky to have these authors who find their niche and write these wonderful tales for us.
i am never not shocked at circumstances those in our history faced. i mean work houses ive researched a bit about as the peeople that found themselves their were faultless, ill , or sent there by horrible people. and i dont know how people bared that kind of life. it was simply awful. and how late it was that we moved on from them. its a little like reading about asylums. how people in history and of power got away with this stuff. how easy it is to turn a blind eye when people own biases mean they can. it all seems sadly more relevant to today.
in this book our main character Isla is sent to one of these workhouses when her mother dies and her father cant cope. not being able to cope herself with such conditions she plans her escape. of course this time she is not on her own. as on arrival she meets and becomes fast friends with another two girls. each have their own background and stories. and i loved all of these friends.
they manage to escape and get themselves to liverpool. there they are taken in by a kindly lady Peggy. who is a character i love to meet in these books. the warm and motherly but firm woman who ive read in fiction and in real life took care of people who found themselves at a loss.
i like how even when they went off to make their own lives the three girls would gather back with Peggy.
along the way Isla meets her first love. but he too owns a past. and its not going to stay buried. will our characters find happiness?

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

In the summer of 1940, when Isla’s life changes. Her father sends her away to the poorhouse, where the way of living is so different.

Isla has no plans to stay and is trying to find how she can leave. She asks for help from the friends she’s made and united, they do escape.

On route to Liverpool, she meets Theo, and she feels that something isn’t right, afterwards his past catches up with them both.

I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book and understood the story line..

Scotland, 1940: Isla Donaghue is just sixteen when her mother dies, and her idyllic life comes to an abrupt end. Unable to cope, Isla’s father sends her to the poorhouse when he joins the merchant navy.

Horrified at the harsh conditions of the poorhouse, Isla is determined to escape. Enlisting the help of her newfound friends Meg and Sophie, she devises a plan to flee to Liverpool.

Despite the difficulties of her new life and the dangers of the Luftwaffe, Isla falls in love for the first time. But her beau is not all that he seems… Will true love prevail or will secrets from the past put an end to their happiness?

As soon as i read the first page I knew I would enjoy it.
Katie Flynn knows how to appeal to her readers. As always it is heartwarming.
it focuses on Isla, whilst her father is taking the news of his wife and Isla mothers death. He can't cope so puts Isla in the poorhouse and Joy is up with the forces.

In the workhouse, she makes friends with two friends Meg and Sophie. The workhouse is managed by a vile woman who has no empathy and has very strict rules.
It's a lovely story and powerful.

Another excellent book by Katie Flynn. It definitely doesn't disappoint another good read by this talented author

Really enjoyed this book and it was good to catch up with past characters from previous stand alone books. Isle and friends begin to recover from their time in the poor house and move on to other things in Liverpool where all 3 of them join the services. Life takes them in different directions but the girls get together when they can and stay with Peggy in Liverpool.
Looking forward to the next book to catch up them all the characters.
My thanks as always to Netgalley and to Publisher Random House UK, Cornerstone | Penguin for the opportunity for the early read.

Spellbinding book which takes us back to the second world war and a to a very different time where poorhouses/workhouses were still operational, which really surprised me as I thought they'd been abolished much earlier but in fact it wasn't until 1948 they finally closed their doors. It's at the poorhouse that our three heroines meet, each with differing back stories, each compelling. There, they join forces against the cruel , Dickensian regime of starvation, enforced labour and horrendous punishment. They display such courage and fortitude and excellent detective skills as they plan their escape. I don't want to spoil the story but suffice to say they triumph in their endeavours (with some help) and end up in Liverpool where they meet the kindly Peggy,who opens her home and heart to them. There story continues when they enlist and embark in new adventures. A thoroughly engaging, informative and enjoyable book, well written and researched. Highly recommend

What an exciting read.! The Donahue family are torn apart when Agnes dies, husband Patrick heads for the Royal Navy, but nut before he drops his heartbroken daughter Isla off at Coxhill the poorhouse. To say that’s it the start of an adventure is no exaggeration. Firstly Isla is taken under the wing of Sophie, and they both become friendly with Meg, although friendships are frowned upon by the evil Miss Hartman, who has a hidden agenda which the girls are determined to find out, placing themselves in harms way. Will Isla’s guiding light show her the way?
When they continue their journey temptations are put their way (are they gullible). They do meet some nasty people.


I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book, was so disappointed when it ended. It’s one of those books that deserves more than ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I’d have liked to know more about Sophie’s story.
My favourite character was Peggy, least favourite was Miss Hartman

Forgotten Child by Katie Flynn

It’s late summer 1940, and Isla’s Donahue’s idyllic lifestyle comes to an abrupt end when her father sends her to the harsh confines of the poorhouse.
Determined to find a way to escape, Isla quickly enlists the help of her new friends, and together they leave the hellhole that is Coxhill for a new life in Liverpool.
It’s while she’s en route to Liverpool that she meets the handsome Theo, but all is not as it seems, and Theo’s dark past comes back to haunt them both.
Really enjoyed this title by the brilliant Katie Flynn, she also manages to bring the era and her characters to life .
I quickly become invested in finding out what happens to them and the trails and tribulations that come along their way as the story unfolds.

A lovely story of friendship through the second world war. The three girls meet in very unfortunate circumstances but form an unbreakable bond and prove that you can build your own family. I loved the way they supported and took care of each other. The ending wasn't a strong point but overall I enjoyed reading it.

Can true love triumph over tragedy?
Isla Donaghue after the passing of her mother Agnes Patrick her father is off to War promising to come back for her sends her to Coxhill poorhouse it's 1940 in Scotland she is stuck in here like a prisoner and the first chance she gets to escape she flees to Liverpool.
Meeting sweet Theo who is now away fighting she joins the WAAF but is their love strong enough to see them through? Meeting and getting to know Rory who is in the RAF changes all her feelings.
Will all the men in her life come back to her?
Forgotten child is such a unique story powerful enchanting and sad in places to read.
But full of wholesome goodness I couldn't put it down.