Fear sweeps through Philadelphia as celebration turns to sorrow, and a young girl’s world narrows to survival. For Pia Lange, the city’s crowded streets hold both danger and the fragile hope of finding her family again.
At thirteen, Pia shoulders the weight of protecting her baby brothers while navigating anti immigrant hostility that shadows her every step. When the Spanish flu strikes, she ventures into the quarantined city in search of food, unaware that a single decision will change everything.
Bernice Groves, consumed by grief, sees opportunity in the chaos, setting her sights on the city’s vulnerable children. Her choices place Pia in a desperate fight for truth and justice.
Praised by Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and other outlets, The Orphan Collector offers a powerful portrait of resilience during one of history’s darkest moments.
