Beyond the Crushing Waves

By: Bronwen Pratley

Narrated by: Melissa Chambers

Two generations face heartbreak and injustice in this poignant and emotional novel inspired by true events.

Mary Roberts is an impoverished child living in a council flat in 1950s London. When she and her sister are left at an orphanage by their mother, they don't think their lives can get any worse.

Harry Evans is an orphan who finds himself, with Mary and her sister, on board a ship bound for Australia. They're sent to a farm school for children, where abuse and neglect are rife. A journey that will change their lives forever and from which they’ll never return.

Married to her dream man, and with a baby on the way, Dr. Mia Sato’s life is in perfect order. When her beloved grandmother has a fall, the photograph clutched in her hand prompts Mia to ask questions her grandmother isn’t willing to answer. When she cries out a confession that rocks Mia to her core, it leads to a shocking discovery of a past filled with lies, broken families, and forced child migration.

Based on one of Britain's most secret and shameful real-life scandals in which more than 100,000 British children were forcibly deported to Canada, South Africa, and Australia over several decades.

Bronwen Pratley’s heartbreaking, captivating, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us that no matter where the journey leads us, our heart will always find its way home to those we love.

For fans of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdad Sings.

This book was previously published under the author name Lilly Mirren.

©2021 Bronwen Pratley (P)2022 Black Lab Press

Nice story

Nice story but predictable. Not one that I would recommend to a friend or family member.

Great story and excellent narration

Such a great read! The narration was excellent and the story was so good. I did get tired of all the cliques in the writing “my heart soared, filled my heart, etc., etc., etc.,” but it wasn’t too terribly distracting.

Enjoyed Listening

Good story that kept my interest. I’m sure there things were worse than described in this story but the author was discreet … gave enough detail without going overboard. I would recommend.

Absolutely loved this book!

I had only a little bit of information about this European relocation of orphans and children from very poor families sent to Australia and Canada, but had never read about it. This book accurately describes what occurred to many of the children it seems. The plot that mixed current day and 1950's time era was expertly mixed, one could imagine it all. Wonderfully narrated as well. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Touching and well written

Loved this book, although it's not my usual genre. Well worth the listen. You will be completely taken in with following the characters' lives!

Engrossing

A story of hardship and pain, of love and romance, terror and relief. Hard to put down.

Interesting story … well written

I enjoyed learning about this somewhat sad part of history .. such a tragic time for so many young people!

Although it was well written I found the many sidelines, or side stories, and the overuse of descriptives a bit distracting.

A good story, well told.

Apparently, based on truth, I was quite shocked to understand that the story developed while I was a young child. It was just hard to believe that children in England, and then in Australia were involved in institutions that treated them that way. I don’t doubt that things like that still happen, but that it was so systemic and accepted, I find upsetting and shocking. This was well told and well woven. A good story.

Overall good

It started a little slow, but once I finally got into the story it was an enjoyable listen. I had never heard about these farms so it was interesting to learn about them.

Wonderful book to listen to

I loved this book. The story line that Lilly has created for Beyond the Crushing Waves, is nothing short of amazing. You get a good combination of current and historical accounts. The flashbacks, definitely kept me on my toes! And Melissa Chambers did an amazing job narrating each of the stories. I learned so much that I didn't know, just by giving this book a listen.