No Journey Too Far

McAlister Family

By: Carrie Turansky

Narrated by: Colleen Prendergast

In 1909, Grace McAlister set sail for Canada as one of the thousands of British Home Children taken from their families and their homeland. Although she’s fortunate enough to be adopted by wealthy parents, the secrets of her past are kept hidden for 10 years until someone from her long-buried childhood arrives on her doorstep. With this new connection to her birth family, will she be brave enough to leave her sheltered life in Toronto and uncover the truth?

After enduring hardship as an indentured British Home Child, Garth McAlister left Canada to serve in World War I. His sweetheart, Emma Lafferty, promised to wait for his return, but after three long years apart, her letters suddenly stopped. When Garth arrives home from the war to unexpected news, he is determined to return to Canada once more on a daunting mission to find the two women he refuses to abandon: his long-lost sister and his mysteriously missing sweetheart.

©2021 Carrie Turansky (P)2021 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Pleasant

I would describe this as a pleasant story. The plot is good, but I would’ve I liked the author to develop the drama and emotions more. It was nice, but a bit flat. It was disappointing that she skipped so far ahead in the story. There could’ve been an entire book in between the first one and this. For instance, what happened with the investigation and reporting the terrible circumstances that many British home children endured. What laws were changed? Where was the dramatic reporting and horror of the findings of the investigation? Who was held accountable?

The narrator does a good job with acting, characters’ voices, and accents, although her Canadian characters seem to have the voice inflections of the British, which made it sound a bit less than genuine.

Overall I found it worth listening to.

Thinking of families lost

I enjoyed the book. My grandpa was a British Home Child. We didn't know that until a few years ago when I sent my DNA to Ancestry. We tought he was an orphan but with DNA matches we now know we have cousins in England. I live in Kentucky, I wish we had this info before my dad passed away, I'm sure he would have gone to England to meet them.

Enjoyed book and narrator

This is Rob and Emma’s story but has much of Grace and Garth here too. I really enjoyed it and the narrator.

A fulfilling delightful listen

The story was not only historical, but a thoughtful depiction of children who were orphaned from England to Canada. Some of the children finding love and care and others steeped in near slavery.

The narrator was one of the best bringing characters to life.

Faithfulness

Ten years had passed since being separated from her biological family Grace seeks answers in hopes of a reunion. Much time has passed but God provides in His timing for answers. He uses the time to help each member of the family to become the best version of themselves.