The Hidden Child: A Novel

The Hidden Child introduces the political agenda of the Eugenics movement and their efforts to mandate intuitions and legal sterilization for those deemed genetical inferior. Edward and his wife, Eleanor, work diligently to remove the unfit from the streets in effort to provide a safe community for their daughter, Mabel, and her future siblings. That is until Mabel is diagnosed with epilepsy and falls into the exact class they wish to eliminate.

ouise Fein did a fabulous job fully developing the character of The Hidden Child that I was literally cheering for the women in this book! I was so proud of the different characters for standing up for what they believed. From Rose, who is a confident and independent woman well ahead of her time, to her sister, Eleanor, who abandoned her beliefs and husband to do what was best for her daughter. It’s not just the women; the alternating points of view from Eleanor to Edward help us understand the struggle that Edward faces as he tries to live up to the expectations of society and his peers. Such a fascinating story about the challenges of family, personal beliefs, and what it means to be a productive member of society.