The Orphan Collector

By: Ellen Marie Wiseman

Narrated by: Rachel Botchan

Ellen Marie Wiseman, acclaimed author of What She Left Behind and The Life She Was Given, weaves the stories of two very different women into a thrilling novel as suspenseful as it is poignant, set amid one of history's deadliest pandemics.

In the fall of 1918, 13-year-old German immigrant Pia Lange longs to be far from Philadelphia's overcrowded streets and slums, and from the anti-German sentiment that compelled her father to enlist in the US Army, hoping to prove his loyalty. But an even more urgent threat has arrived. Spanish influenza is spreading through the city. Soon, dead and dying are everywhere. With no food at home, Pia must venture out in search of supplies, leaving her infant twin brothers alone....

Since her baby died days ago, Bernice Groves has been lost in grief and bitterness. If doctors hadn't been so busy tending to hordes of immigrants, perhaps they could have saved her son. When Bernice sees Pia leaving her tenement across the way, she is buoyed by a shocking, life-altering decision that leads her on a sinister mission: to transform the city's orphans and immigrant children into what she feels are "true Americans".

As Pia navigates the city's somber neighborhoods, she cannot know that her brothers won't be home when she returns. And it will be a long and arduous journey to learn what happened - even as Bernice plots to keep the truth hidden at any cost. Only with persistence, and the courage to face her own shame and fear, will Pia put the pieces together and find the strength to risk everything to see justice at last.

©2020 Ellen Marie Wiseman (P)2020 Recorded Books

Always learning American Hustory

This book taught me so much. People who
Say the COVID is nothing but the flu should learn this history. What a terrible scourge for American. I was fascinated that this was all going on while World War 1 was also raging. Whole families were broken up time after time. Of course, the largest part of the
Population that was hurt the most were the children. Always the issue. If more folks knew the history of the Spanish flu they may understand vaccines for the greater good of the county. If you are a fan of historical fiction, READ. THIS BOO K

I love historical fiction

I knew almost nothing about the Spanish Flu epidemic during the 1800's. The author researched and included fact into a fiction novel nicely.
The narrator did a great job of bringing those words to life.

Great story about the Spanish Flu

It was a compelling read considering the circumstances of our current lives and the current pandemic.

Believable Read

Excellent read! So real. Author 's research was thorough, made story so REAL, a page turner.

Our recent pandemic cannot compare 😢

What a great tragic, but ultimately heartwarming story. The COVID pandemic cannot compare to the horror that was the Spanish flu of 1918. I am inclined to say, America in 2021 could not bare a Spanish flu after experiencing the extreme panic and fear mongering of 2020-2021. There is just no comparison. This story vividly captures the terror and tragedy of America during an unparalleled pandemic amidst a woefully inadequate healthcare system.

The Orphan Collector

While I very much enjoyed this fiction book, I can't help but wonder why the author chose to make the Catholic Sisters of the orphanage such evil villains. She could have made the orphanage a secular institution and it would not have changed the story at all. But the choice was made to portray another Christian work in a dark, sinister, and evil light. I caught myself gritting my teeth at the heartless actions of Mother Joe and the other Sisters. It truly disturbs me that this generation of writers has moved past the religious indifference of the past generation, and is seemingly moving toward a true intolerance of the Christian faith. This work gives us a peak at what must be the authors anti-religious worldview.

loved the story

It really made it hate the nurse. I was frustrated by the main character and how often she panicked or was impulsive. Otherwise I loved it.

Timely novel amidst a pandemic and bigotry

I had an appreciation for all the things going right in 2020 while reading of the horrors experienced with the 1918 pandemic. The story is well balanced with good things to come to our main character. As horrible as her life began it's a bit of a fairytale ending. We get the antagonists perspective as she developes a warped hatred for the immigrants crowding the city. This too sadly mirrors our world today as we are still fighting racism and prejudice.

Narrator makes this book hard to listen to

Overall, I liked the story, especially after having gone through the COVID-19 pandemic. The narrator would pause at the worst places, breaking up sentences and interrupting the flow of the story. It became more and more noticeable as the story progressed. I’m halfway through and I’m not sure I will finish.

Couldn't stop listening!

I couldn't stop listening, I had to know what was going to happen next. Great story and amazing narrator!