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amanda_rn15 's review for:
The Orphan Collector
by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Very good story set during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. This novel touches on several different topics - immigration, orphanages, prejudice, orphan trains, separation between classes, and more. The protagonist is Pia, a 13-year-old girl, and the antagonist is Bernice/"Nurse Wallis." Pia endures more during her adolescent years than most people deal with in a lifetime. I felt hopeful throughout this story, always wanting a happy ending for her. Bernice is a crabby, old, prejudiced neighbor of Pia's that you dislike from the moment you're introduced to her. She has her own personal pain, but she has let it fester and turn to hate. Some of this story is based on history, and some is fabricated to create drama. I enjoyed this novel, and it has inspired me to learn more about this time.