Winnie of the Waterfront — Rosie Harris

Crippled by polio, little Winnie Mallow has little to look forward to in life after her father is called up into the army and her mother, Grace, begins drinking heavily. After her father is killed in action Winnie is sent to an orphanage where she is the butt of children's taunts. At fourteen she is sent out into the world and has to face the hardships of fending for herself, and hopefully of finding the love and fulfilment she's always longed to have.