The Girls with no Names is a fabulous book! It is a real tear-jerker. It is a fantastic way to write about the many lives of women who suffered such atrocities between the early 1800's and 1900's. Serena Burdick did a great job researching these "laundries" that were actually prisons, said to be rehabilitating women, but whose "inmates" (my word) were over-worked, under-fed, ill-treated and often died. Now, for three such women, who could have lived at this time, their stories have been told. I highly recommend this book.

Adults

I liked how the author was so good at bringing out depth of the love between the two sisters, Luella and Effi. This book is full of choice, mostly bad ones, and their repercussions. Bad choices were made for good reasons, and some for selfish reasons.

I didn't like how the church ruled over these institutions and mistreated the women. It put in mind of residential school for the Natives. It is definitely a dark spot in history.

I was happy and sad. I can't say more on that because it would give away the ending. I was also relieved at the end, because the trouble was over.

This book took me through many emotions, so it was worth the read: sadness for the sisters, angry for Effi, as she gets in much trouble looking for Luella, anger for their mother, who seems not to care, pity for Mabel who couldn't trust anyone.

It is based on true events in history. It is an eye-opener to how girls and women were treated for the smallest of infractions in society. It also shows another way that the "church" abused those who couldn't fend for themselves, all in the name of God. It's shameful.

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Created Sep 27, 2024 at 11:36pm • Submit your own review...