This is the author’s memoir of when she was a child. She was the oldest of seven siblings, and at 12(?) years old, her well-off parents declared bankruptcy. It was the 1930s, and they moved to Liverpool, where Helen’s father had grown up, but there was a crazy amount of unemployment there. The family was very poor for a long time and Helen (though she should have been in school until 14) was kept home to look after the youngest kids while her mother first got over an illness, then went to work herself.

Oh, how frustrating were those parents, especially Helen’s mother! How irresponsible of them! They were renting pretty furniture for the living room, while their kids (and themselves) didn’t have enough to eat. And they didn’t have proper beds, clothes, or blankets, either. Helen, though, seemed to be the worst off for food. Even her mother got more (though not always) because she needed to be presentable for work; this is also why the others got more – they needed to be presentable (as much as possible, anyway) for school.

When Helen was finally able to get a job (though that took a lot of fighting on her part, as her parents (particularly her mother) still wanted her to stay home with the younger kids), and she eventually managed to hold on to a little bit of money to buy herself some new clothes (well, new to her), her mother would often either “borrow” them and wear them out herself, or she would just pawn them, often to pay the people coming to collect on what they were owed.

I’ll add that this actually included a second part to the memoir called “Liverpool Miss”. It did end a bit abruptly, though with an epilogue by Helen’s son to explain where Helen eventually ended up (in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) and how she got there. But with regard to the abrupt ending to Helen’s part of the story, it does seem there is a continuation. I will be putting it on my tbr. ( )

A lesson to be learned as the 1950 protection of welfare, health provision and education is being stripped from the UK. Several of the reviewers blame her parents for not making the best of the situation they were in but 'child mothers' were a common way for families to make ends meet and of course we only ever hear her side..... reading about her I'm glad she went on to have a long and satisfying life. And she brings the physical city of Liverpool alive. ( )

A lesson to be learned as the 1950 protection of welfare, health provision and education is being stripped from the UK. Several of the reviewers blame her parents for not making the best of the situation they were in but 'child mothers' were a common way for families to make ends meet and of course we only ever hear her side..... reading about her I'm glad she went on to have a long and satisfying life. And she brings the physical city of Liverpool alive. ( )

This is a brilliantly written and evocative autobiography, describing how the author's family became bankrupt during the 1930s and spent many years in abject poverty in Liverpool. She struggled to help her irresponsible parents make ends meet and to look after the children. Gripping and very moving. ( )

Oh my - as someone who loves 'poverty memoirs' set in the early 20th century this book was right up my street! Orwell's books on this subject (both his non-fiction and his lesser-known fiction) are favourites of mine. This was the same subject matter but from a woman's perspective. It's truly scary to think that people lived like Helen's family just 80 years ago. It made me smile and it made me cry - but mostly it just made me very thankful. Should make for a good discussion at book club on Wednesday! ( )