Outstanding Praise for Ellen Marie Wiseman and The Orphan Collector "
The Orphan Collector is an immersive historical tale with chilling twists and turns. Set during the Spanish Flu epidemic in Philadelphia, this atmospheric novel explores the depravity to which some will sink in adversity, but it also illuminates the strength of family bonds and the resilience of the human heart. Beautifully told and richly imagined."
--Stephanie Dray,
New York Times bestselling author of
America's First Daughter "Ellen Marie Wiseman has done it again: masterfully recreated a time of crisis in American history--rendering the flu epidemic of 1918 to reveal its devastating impact on families and, most especially, children, who too often endure the egregious actions of amoral adults.
The Orphan Collector is a story that relentlessly pursues those intent on committing evil deeds and those who have the courage to defy them. A breathtaking examination of family and social systems."
--Jessica Keener, author of
Strangers in Budapest "Wiseman's blistering moving and profound novel, set against the devastating backdrop of the 1918 Spanish flu, hones in on an extraordinary exploration of the plight of immigrants, as two very different women grapple with finding, keeping, and changing their place in the world. Absolutely amazing."
--Caroline Leavitt,
New York Times bestselling author of
With or Without You "A meticulously researched historical novel that unfolds with the pace of a thriller,
The Orphan Collector features a main character, a 13-year-old daughter of German immigrants named Pia Lange, who grabs a reader heart and soul. As the flu epidemic hits Philadelphia with savage fury in 1918, Pia's world becomes a nightmare and she uses every ounce of intelligence, resilience, and instinct to not only protect her family but also stay alive. You will be riveted by this story up to the very last page."
--Nancy Bilyeau, author of
Dreamland