A heart-breaking account of a young girl’s experience growing up in a Catholic orphanage in 1950s Ireland, THE HOUSE CHILDREN follows the life of Mary Margaret who grows up not knowing her family, her origin or her purpose. Raised by nuns, she searches for a place to belong while trying to avoid the inherent dangers of institutional living. The story reads a bit like a diary, revealing the character’s experiences in small fragments at a time. Some parts of the story left me wanting more - more details, more emotions, more of the aftershocks of certain events - but overall I enjoyed the read. Recommended for those who love historical fiction, specifically Ireland; orphans; underdogs; and young heroines.