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sage5357 's review for:
The Orphan Collector
by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Probably not the *best* book to read during a global pandemic, but this book was stunning. Sweeping historical fiction about the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, set in Philadelphia.
13-year-old German-American Pia Lange is waiting for her father to return from WWI while her mother and infant twin brothers try to scrape by. And then the flu hits. I honestly wasn’t sure how I felt about this book until halfway through. I think Bernice is an absolute MONSTER and garbage human being and a disgusting bigot and I was so full of rage for everything that she did throughout the the book.
My heart broke for Pia over and over again as she deals with the loss of her mother and twin brothers. After recovering from the flu, she’s sent to a truly horrid orphanage and her experiences there were just so heartbreaking.
I was cautiously optimistic when she went to live with/work for the Hudsons, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. All my worry was for nothing, because the Hudsons were wonderful and became like a second family to Pia.
Least favorite parts of the book were any part with Bernice, like.....I *guess* I understood why she did what she did (the taking the twins bit, NOT the fucking SELLING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN TO “WHITE/AMERICAN” FAMILIES TO ASSIMILATE THEM because what the fuck?????) but also WHO RAISED YOU, YOU ABSOLUTE SHITBAG???? The time jump initially threw me, but I’m glad the book ended the way it did. (Also I’m so glad that Finn made a reappearance, thank god)
In conclusion, FUCK BERNICE, SHE IS THE WORST, may she rot in hell (and yes I am aware she is a fictional character)
13-year-old German-American Pia Lange is waiting for her father to return from WWI while her mother and infant twin brothers try to scrape by. And then the flu hits. I honestly wasn’t sure how I felt about this book until halfway through. I think Bernice is an absolute MONSTER and garbage human being and a disgusting bigot and I was so full of rage for everything that she did throughout the the book.
My heart broke for Pia over and over again as she deals with the loss of her mother and twin brothers. After recovering from the flu, she’s sent to a truly horrid orphanage and her experiences there were just so heartbreaking.
I was cautiously optimistic when she went to live with/work for the Hudsons, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high. All my worry was for nothing, because the Hudsons were wonderful and became like a second family to Pia.
Least favorite parts of the book were any part with Bernice, like.....I *guess* I understood why she did what she did (the taking the twins bit, NOT the fucking SELLING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN TO “WHITE/AMERICAN” FAMILIES TO ASSIMILATE THEM because what the fuck?????) but also WHO RAISED YOU, YOU ABSOLUTE SHITBAG???? The time jump initially threw me, but I’m glad the book ended the way it did. (Also I’m so glad that Finn made a reappearance, thank god)
In conclusion, FUCK BERNICE, SHE IS THE WORST, may she rot in hell (and yes I am aware she is a fictional character)