About this item

Sixteen-year-old Orpha is imprisoned for crimes she did not commit, and harboring a terrible secret about her abuser, but an unusual invitation from Charles Dickens to live in a home for fallen women offers hope.From the infamous Tothill prison, Orpha is haunted by recurring flashbacks of sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, and the horrors of a Victorian workhouse, but she refuses to be crushed. Her heartbreaking yet inspiring story tells of the resilience and courage needed to make a new life for herself against all odds with the support of the amazing women of Urania cottage and the help of famous author Charles Dickens. Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793, Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace, and Katherine Paterson's Lyddie will enjoy this riveting historial fiction title.



About the Author

Virginia Frances Schwartz

Virginia was born in Ontario, Canada and has taught writing for twenty-five years. She was a Staff Developer in a School of Writing & Publishing and is currently a Creative Writing Instructor at UCLA Extension online. Her award winning novels include: IF I JUST HAD TWO WINGS, winner of the Geoffrey Bilson, Silver Birch, Red Cedar and Myrca; SEND ONE ANGEL DOWN, recipient of a Parents Choice Gold award; INITIATION, nominated for the Sunburst, Stellar, Rocky Mountain & Snow Willow award, Notable Book by Kuriyama and shortlisted for CLA Book of the Year; MESSENGER, a Best Book for YA from the NYC Public Library; 4 KIDS IN 5E & 1 CRAZY YEAR and the newly released CROSSING TO FREEDOM. She currently resides in NYC.



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