You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Ellen Marie Wiseman has proven once again why she is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. I knew this book would be a difficult one, being that it's about the Spanish Flu of 1918 and here we are in our own pandemic over 100 years later. But wow! This book touched me in so many ways. Wiseman is able to bring her characters to life in a way that makes you feel like they are right in the room with you and that you are living what they are living rather than just reading about it. And with a topic like this, it was a very tough read at times!
Having said that, I can tell you that it is 100% worth it to pick this one up if you are a fan of historical fiction. Just be prepared. It might tear at your heart, but I promise it will be put back together by the end.
Having said that, I can tell you that it is 100% worth it to pick this one up if you are a fan of historical fiction. Just be prepared. It might tear at your heart, but I promise it will be put back together by the end.
Thanks to GR for an early reader copy! I have read all of her works, in fact she lives only about 35 minutes from me and it is great to see that an everyday person in a mostly rural area can become a world famous author. Pia is one of her strongest heroines yet, and Bernice one of the worst villains. If you follow Wiseman on social media or know anything about how long it takes to write and publish a book, you can't help but be stunned by how timely this work was on its release. Set in the Spanish Flu pandemic, people were dying right and left. And what was the public health response? Wear a mask, isolate. And what did some people do? The same thing they do today. And Bernice's prejudice against immigrants? Let's build a wall....But don't lose hope, in the book's final message, perhaps we will take to heart the care and compassion these people find, and say, let's be a family...
That is the fastest I have finished a book in a while. My daughter recommended it to me as she had read it for school. It was a compelling story and left me wanting to learn more about that time period. I had to reread the ending as so much happened within the last few pages. While some things wrapped up neatly at the end the reader is also left wondering about a few pieces of the puzzle. The character development was terrific and I enjoyed the writing style. It was one of those books where you wish it would continue.
This book is set during the 1918 Flu Epidemic which was raging in Philadelphia. It begins with the parade in Philadelphia that sparked the huge first wave of the outbreak there. Pia Lange is a poor girl who lives in a two room apartment with her mother, father, and twin infant brothers. Her father has gone off to fight in WWI in part to prove his loyalty as a German immigrant to the United States. When Pia's mother dies from the flu she is left to try and take care of herself and her brothers. Through a series of events Pia winds up in an orphanage, separated from her brothers and having no idea what has happened to them. The story grows more complicated when a woman, posing as a nurse beings collecting "orphans" throughout Philadelphia to rehome them.
I was immediately drawn into the story and the challenges that Pia was facing and her fortitude to overcome. The frightening epidemic setting seemed particularly relevant given our current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The struggles faced by Pia and her family far outweigh anything I have faced, but I could empathize with the fear of going out of the house and wondering who might be carrying the flu.
Thanks to BookishFirst for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was immediately drawn into the story and the challenges that Pia was facing and her fortitude to overcome. The frightening epidemic setting seemed particularly relevant given our current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The struggles faced by Pia and her family far outweigh anything I have faced, but I could empathize with the fear of going out of the house and wondering who might be carrying the flu.
Thanks to BookishFirst for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
I never thought I would read a book about a pandemic in middle of pandemic yet here I am, finished this book after the unnerving mulling upon how things haven't changed for a hundred years in the same situation as if the history repeated itself once more; racism and xenophobia play a big role in pandemic.
Completely in awe upon how structured this novel was, by giving two POVs yet it gradually shifts to conclude the story. The racism and xenophobia were apparent in one perspective, and how much the character was trying to justify her action or feel humane by having certain guilt for her action however at the same time blame it to immigrants. As audience you can feel frustrated by the character and sympathizing on things have never changed.
Completely in awe upon how structured this novel was, by giving two POVs yet it gradually shifts to conclude the story. The racism and xenophobia were apparent in one perspective, and how much the character was trying to justify her action or feel humane by having certain guilt for her action however at the same time blame it to immigrants. As audience you can feel frustrated by the character and sympathizing on things have never changed.
Well written though often hard to read due to the subject matter - the devastating hardships suffered, especially by the less fortunate, and specifically by children, during the Spanish Flu outbreak in 1918.
A worthy read.
A worthy read.
This book gripped me from the very beginning and never let go! Interesting parallels between Spanish Flu and the more recent Coronavirus. Pia is a damaged, but resilient character; a true underdog. I loved reading her story even though it was difficult at times. Great book overall. I look forward to reading others by Wiseman.
this book made me so so sad and so so angry throughout it. I never thought I could hate a character so much as the antagonist of this story.
This book was about the Spanish Flu and was written during the COVID-19 pandemic so there were a lot of comparisons to make. Racism played a big role in this book, and parts were quite disgusting to read. Motherhood and social class were also explored in this book. I thought the ending had a full resolution, but wish there was one more Bernice chapter. Overall a very heartbreaking book.
This book takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. It is set in Philadelphia during the influenza outbreak of 1918. It follows Pia a daughter of an immigrant and what transpires and after the outbreak. I didn't want to put this book down. A must read for everyone.