Looking For Jane is a fiction novel inspired by true events and written by Heather Marshall. The story is set in Toronto, Canada. Two girls meet at the Saint Agnes Home For Wayward Girls which is run by a Catholic church. The nuns are in charge of the inmates. Pregnant girls come here to live before their babies are born. They work in the kitchen and the laundry and do housekeeping. The food is skimpy and the rooms are cold. When labor begins they are taken to a local hospital where they are forced to sign an agreement to let their baby be adopted. Once the babies are taken away, the girls go back to St. Agnes and work in the postpartum dorm for three months to pay off their cost of care. The girls didn't know the babies were sold to support the church. In 1972 one of the young women writes a note detailing the conditions which include physical beatings from some of the nuns and the fact that the babies are sold. The woman made sure her letter would get to police before she commits suicide. An investigation reveals the abusive conditions and Saint Agnes home is closed. The friend of the girl who committed suicide leaves the home and delivers the letter. Later she grows up to become a physician. Once she opens her private practice, she also starts giving abortions to women in need. During the 1970 and early 1980's abortion is illegal. Police raid doctor offices and try to arrest people who complete abortions. The "Jane" network is set up. If a female needs an abortion, she calls gynecologists and ask for Jane. Some gynecologists will hang up on her. Others give her another number to call. Arranging for the abortion is done in secret and no records are kept. This novel is not all about abortion. This novel is about motherhood. I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel.
No comments:
Post a Comment