The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
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I read and loved the author’s Orphan Train many years ago and couldn’t wait to pick up THE EXILES, just to realize that I wasn’t ready for this emotional and heartbreaking story, which is based on real events.

Seduced by her employer’s son, Evangeline, a naïve young governess in early nineteenth-century London, is discharged when her pregnancy is discovered and sent to the notorious Newgate Prison. After months in the fetid, overcrowded jail, she learns she is sentenced to “the land beyond the seas,” Van Diemen’s Land, a penal colony in Australia. Though uncertain of what awaits, Evangeline knows one thing: the child she carries will be born on the months-long voyage to this distant land.
During the journey on a repurposed slave ship, the Medea, Evangeline strikes up a friendship with Hazel, a girl little older than her former pupils who was sentenced to seven years transport for stealing a silver spoon. Canny where Evangeline is guileless, Hazel — a skilled midwife and herbalist – is soon offering home remedies to both prisoners and sailors in return for a variety of favors.
Though Australia has been home to Aboriginal people for more than 50,000 years, the British government in the 1840s considers its fledgling colony uninhabited and unsettled, and views the natives as an unpleasant nuisance. By the time the Medea arrives, many of them have been forcibly relocated, their land seized by white colonists. One of these relocated people is Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of the Chief of the Lowreenne tribe, who has been adopted by the new governor of Van Diemen’s Land.
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
MY THOUGHTS
The Exiles is a MUST READ for any historical fiction lover. It’s educational, based on real events, heart achingly beautiful, brilliantly written and it will make your heart break.
The book focuses on a time when Britain’s government shipped convicts to Australia to be rid off them. It was almost like ship them off, and forget they ever existed.
And the book did not pull any punches.
Before going into the book I knew a little bit about the events. But nothing prepared me for this book. It was eyeopening, educational, and heartbreaking. The past wasn’t nice to women. And the way convicts were treated bordered on inhuman at times. Especially the conditions in which the convicts were transported and later had to live out their sentences. It broke my heart to hear about mothers and daughters being separated. Not surprising they had little to say. And of course the word of a convict meant nothing.
The arc about Mathinna is actually based on a real person. And if you google her name you can see the portrait that is mentioned in the book and read more about her life. It was shocking to read about the way she was treated and shown off. Like an exotic animal.
In the end, this is a book that won’t let you go anytime soon. It will stay with you. And make you think.
I’m not going to lie, there were parts that I was dreading. But on the other hand, I feel we need to read these kind of books. They are a reminder of all the times when humanity showed its ugly side.
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The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
Ok guess am in the same boat. Not ready for this now. Superb review Corina
I wasn’t ready about one particular scene, and actually wanted to stop it then and there, but in retrospect it made sense and only added to an already compelling read.
Yes I can understand. Some books are so compelling even if its not the perfect time for it to be read. Well, glad u loved it!
This books sounds pretty amazing! I will definitely look into it
Great review 😊
Thank you 😊, it’s a book you’ll probably find on many best of historical lists this year.
Great review, Corina! I have this one and it looks like I need to read it soon!
Thank you Brenda!! I can’t wait for you to read it, it’s a book that makes you think.
This is one of my most anticipated releases of 2020, and I hesitate to pick it up because of the content. I’m a huge historical fiction fan, though, so I NEED to read it.
Great review. Happy reading!
If you area huge historical fiction fan I can’t wait for you to read it! I rarely read historical fiction, but her writing just pulls me in and it’s hard to put it down, even if it’s heartbreaking at times.
This reminds me that I always planned to read The Orphan Train. Maybe I’ll start with this one instead.
The Orphan Train was so good! I think either book is fascinating, go with the one which topic you enjoy the most.
Great review! I have seen this one floating around GR and bookstagram, added to the tbr!
It deserves a spot on your tbr 😁
I loved your sincere review a lot! As a historical fiction fan, I really do look out for heartbreaking novels as I feel that the genre handles emotions really well. I’m so glad you found this to be a painfully real book and I look forward to learning a bit more when I read it. 😊
Thank you, and I’m looking forward to your thoughts, it’s always interesting to hear what readers think who read this genre much more often than me. 🙂