Few books have the power to immerse you in a historical moment with such intensity that you feel every emotion the characters experience, but The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman does just that. Set against the backdrop of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, this novel struck a deep chord with me. As I turned the final page, I found myself thinking about the moments that left the greatest impact. Today, I’m sharing three things I loved about this heartbreaking and powerful story, and why it deserves a spot on your reading list.
Title: The Orphan Collector
By: Ellen Marie Wiseman
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 390
Release Date: July 28th, 2020
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads:
In the fall of 1918, thirteen-year-old German immigrant Pia Lange longs to be far from Philadelphia’s overcrowded slums and the anti-immigrant sentiment that compelled her father to enlist in the U.S. Army. But as her city celebrates the end of war, an even more urgent threat arrives: the Spanish flu. Funeral crepe and quarantine signs appear on doors as victims drop dead in the streets and desperate survivors wear white masks to ward off illness. When food runs out in the cramped tenement she calls home, Pia must venture alone into the quarantined city in search of supplies, leaving her baby brothers behind.
Bernice Groves has become lost in grief and bitterness since her baby died from the Spanish flu. Watching Pia leave her brothers alone, Bernice makes a shocking, life-altering decision. It becomes her sinister mission to tear families apart when they’re at their most vulnerable, planning to transform the city’s orphans and immigrant children into what she feels are “true Americans.”
Waking in a makeshift hospital days after collapsing in the street, Pia is frantic to return home. Instead, she is taken to St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum – the first step in a long and arduous journey. As Bernice plots to keep the truth hidden at any cost in the months and years that follow, Pia must confront her own shame and fear, risking everything to see justice – and love – triumph at last. Powerful, harrowing, and ultimately exultant, The Orphan Collector is a story of love, resilience, and the lengths we will go to protect those who need us most.
Three Things I loved
Historical Immersion:
Ellen Marie Wiseman masterfully brings to life the setting of 1918 Philadelphia during the Spanish flu pandemic. The way she portrays the fear, uncertainty, and desperation of the time is immersive, making it feel like you're right there with the characters as they navigate a world in crisis. The meticulous historical details and emotional depth really allow readers to connect with the era, highlighting the impact of this lesser-known catastrophe.
Strong, Resilient Heroine:
Pia, the protagonist, is a character you can’t help but root for. Her journey, from a vulnerable young girl to a survivor who fights against insurmountable odds, is powerful and inspiring. Her love for her family and her sheer will to protect them drive the story forward, and I loved how her strength is balanced with her very human vulnerabilities.
Emotional Depth and Complex Themes:
This book delves deeply into themes of loss, survival, and the effects of trauma on both an individual and a community. Wiseman doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of orphans, immigrant struggles, and the brutality of the pandemic. Yet, amid the sorrow, there is a profound sense of hope and resilience. The emotional weight of the story, paired with its nuanced portrayal of human nature, left a lasting impression on me.
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