The Orphan Collector - by Ellen Marie Wiseman (Paperback)

The Orphan Collector is a heart-wrenching tale of loss, survival, and perseverance set in Philadelphia during the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak.

The story follows Pia Lange, a 13-year-old German immigrant who longs to escape her overcrowded tenement and anti-immigrant sentiment.

When the flu pandemic hits, Pia must venture alone into the quarantined city to find supplies for her baby brothers, leaving them behind.

Bernice Groves, a grief-stricken mother who lost her baby to the flu, makes a shocking decision that will tear families apart and transform orphans and immigrant children into what she feels are "true Americans." Pia's journey is filled with shame, fear, and resilience as she confronts injustice and seeks justice.

This gripping tale of survival and hope is a must-read for fans of Beatriz Williams and Kristin Hannah.