Review: Beyond the Crushing Waves, Lilly Mirren
Beyond the Crushing Waves Synopsis by Diane-Lyn:
London, 1950’s: Mary and Lottie Roberts are poor sisters living in London’s slums with their abusive, negligent mother. When their mother meets a man, she’s determined to begin
a new life with him; one that doesn’t include her children. She sends the girls away to the Fairbridge Farm School, an agricultural program in Australia. The children are promised a better life filled with happiness, opportunity, and an education. What they got was quite the opposite. The girls become part of a brutal slave labor force and are subjected daily to abuse, molestation, and life in deplorable conditions. Their only source of comfort is Harry, an orphan boy and friend with a sad story of his own. They find comfort in each other, but the cruelty of their new world changes their lives forever.
Present Day: Dr. Mia Sato is happily married and expecting her first child. After she discovers a mysterious photograph from the past belonging to her grandmother, she yearns to know more about her family history. In an emotional moment, her grandmother blurts out a huge, dark secret – but then shuts down and avoids Mia’s questions. Mia is determined to find out what happened and goes on a quest for answers.
Review by Diane-Lyn:
Beyond the Crushing Waves is a well-written and well-researched historical fiction novel by Lilly Mirren. The book is based on actual events surrounding one of the most shameful and devastating scandals in Britain’s history; the migration and forced labor of approximately 150,000 children between 1922 and 1967. The original objective of the program was to get poor, orphaned children off the street and provide them with the necessary skills for a better future; a plan designed to benefit both the children and society. The children were sent away with the promise of an academic education and training in farm skills. However, many of the children came out of the program illiterate and traumatized. Mirren describes in poignant detail the level of neglect and abuse these children endured at the hands of tyrannical staff members, as well as the damage it caused for years to come.
The chapters alternate between the points of view of the three central characters – Harry, Mary and Mia. The time frame shifts between the past and present throughout, yet the novel maintains clarity and flows well over an almost seventy year span. I loved the progression of Harry, Mary, and Lottie from childhood into old age. Mirren did an excellent job of immersing the reader in a solid history of their hardships, and the strength it took for them to find their way out. Mya’s character, however, felt contrived and it was very difficult to understand her thought process and misplaced priorities. Her immature idealism felt forced and out of place. Her childish determination to mend the rocky relationship between her father and grandparents took center stage in her life. Even after giving birth to a baby with significant health issues, Mia’s obsession with her grandparents’ history and family strife continued. I loved this book, but found Mia’s character to be annoying, unrealistic, and unnecessary in this otherwise brilliant work. Still, the merits of Beyond the Crushing Waves far outweigh this flaw. The novel kept me so emotionally engaged that I found myself overlooking Mia and focusing more on its gripping historical context. Prior to reading this book, I had no idea that this scandal ever happened. Beyond the Crushing Waves was certainly an eye-opening experience for me in a heartbreaking sort of way. I appreciated the author’s thorough explanation at the end of the book about the real-life history of this cruel movement against children. Nothing grabs me more than a good historical fiction novel that offers a deep look into the past, combined with characters who give a voice to those most impacted. Bravo!
To purchase Beyond the Crushing Waves, click here: Amazon. Note that this is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase this novel, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy reading!
