Among the Fallen

- Blurb -

Orpha doesn' t speak about what got her into prison. No one would listen. No one would believe her. Haunted by nightmarish flashbacks and withering in the miserable conditions of Tothill prison, 16-year-old Orpha perseveres, doing what she can to befriend and protect the other girls imprisoned alongside her. But then a mysterious letter arrives, offering her a place at a women' s home called Urania cottage. It sounds too good to be true--but with nowhere else to go, Orpha decides to take her chance. Soon she discovers the letter-writer is none other than Charles Dickens. With the support of the other women of Urania and the promise of a real future, Orpha will have to confront the darkest parts of her past-- and let go of her secrets. This atmospheric historical novel, full of heartbreakingly real characters, celebrates the strength and resilience of young women throughout history. Virginia Frances Schwartz' s powerful prose, structured to echo Dickens' serialized style, illuminates an era of startling inequality and extreme poverty. Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson' s Fever 1793, Margaret Atwood' s Alias Grace, and Katherine Paterson' s Lyddie will enjoy this riveting title.