Trust Me is the sad tale of two sisters who were betrayed by those whom they trusted, after sudden tragic circumstances left them apparently orphaned. From a reasonable life in post war London, they were whisked away, first too an unfriendly Catholic Orphanage and then to a “new life” in Australia.
Nowadays we realise that children emigrated to the colonies in the 20th century by institutions, rarely went to an improved life but were in fact, mistreated and forced into working for unfeeling strangers for the rest of their teens.
Dulcie, the eldest sister, is responsible and caring. She adores her father and will do anything for her little sister, May. But May, is self-centred and spoilt, so she finds their change of circumstances much more traumatic and distressing. Both girls suffer greatly but do they finally find the happiness they truly deserve?
I found this story moving and convincing and the characters had substance. I could not help rooting for Dulcie and despairing of the way she was treated. Australian life was depicted in vivid detail showing all walks of life in their struggles to make a life for themselves. A worthwhile read. ( )

A fascinating and tragic story, based on the real-life situations of children who found themselves in orphanages following World War Two. Although fiction, this book is based on true situations, institutions and places in UK and Australia. I found the book increasingly hard to put down in the later chapters. ( )

What a wonderful book. I recommend it whenever I can. It was a really moving book and I just couldn't put it down and if you get the opportunity to read it please do.

Back Cover Blurb:
The book is about 2 sisters whose father is wrongly imprisoned for killing their mother. They are sent to a convent orphanage where they are very badly treated by the nuns there. Eventually they become two of the first children to go on the Orphan Train to Australia where they are put into another convent orphanage, and once again, treated badly by the nuns. The eldest sister is sent as a skivvy to a ranch in the outback and it is basically the story of how she survived the ill treatment she was given. ( )

"Trust me!" she spat. "As soon as someone says trust me, you can be sure they're going to let you down or hurt you."

A gripping story about two children sent to an Australian orphanage in the fifties. All her life people have told little Dulcie Taylor they'll look after her and her sister May. And everytime her trust has been betrayed. Yet when they are given a new start in a young and exciting country, she really believes it will be a fresh chance for them both.

But the new life the sisters hoped for turns out to be a vicious illusion. Then Dulcie meets Ross, another orphanage survivor, and finds a kindred spirit - but the pain of the past is always there, and for Dulcie and May it will be a hard struggle to learn to trust again.

A challenging read. ( )