{"product_id":"among-the-fallen-isbn-9780823451098","title":"Among the Fallen","description":"\u003cb\u003eOrpha doesn't speak about what got her into prison. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNo one would listen. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNo one would believe her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHaunted 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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis 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 \u003ci\u003eFever 1793\u003c\/i\u003e, Margaret Atwood's \u003ci\u003eAlias Grace\u003c\/i\u003e, and Katherine Paterson's \u003ci\u003eLyddie\u003c\/i\u003e will enjoy this riveting title.\"Any enthusiasts of the Victorian era will be delighted by the attention to historical detail in this novel. . . .  In addition, the use of Victorian slang and the skillful use of figurative language provide great authenticity to the way in which Orpha and the other characters interact with one another. Despite the seriousness of the topics of sexual abuse, poverty and prostitution featured in this story, the overall message is one of hope and transformation.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCanadian Children's Book News\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"[A] sophisticated, compelling and troubling work  that will appeal to older teens, especially girls, and to adults who  appreciate historical novels. . . .  Thanks to her extensive research and  skilled storytelling techniques, Virginia Frances Schwartz has depicted  the plight of the Victorian poor with gritty realism. . . . older teens  and adults will find it gripping.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eCanadian Review of Materials\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Orpha’s narration is initially cool and detached as she observes the prison’s routines and her fellow inmates’ roles with calm resignation, but flashbacks to her sexual abuse by her uncle are panicked and visceral, belying the trauma that lies underneath her composure. . . . Like many Dickensian tales, this gives an unflinching look at the poor and destitute of the Victorian era but also paints a picture of hope in charity and compassion. An author’s note gives more historical information, and a glossary of period slang is included, as is a pointer to a source.\"\u003cb\u003e —\u003ci\u003eThe Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"[Orpha's] struggle,  colorful period detail, and the triumph of women so badly treated make  for a fascinating read for those interested in women's history.\"\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Written in 20 chapters to mirror the installments in which Dickens released his novels, this atmospheric story is imbued with the sights, sounds, and smells (or more accurately, odors!) of 19th-century London's rookeries, or slums. Like Dickens, author Schwartz (\u003ci\u003eCrossing to Freedom\u003c\/i\u003e, 2013, etc.) evokes the moral and political forces of the time; readers, particularly Margaret Atwood fans, will find parallels to the present. This Dickensian #MeToo novel calls out the lingering need for women's rights.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eVirginia Frances Schwartz grew up in rural Ontario, Canada, but now lives in Queens, New York, where she taught writing in the public schools before devoting her career to her own writing. She is best known for her novels for young adults which have been ALA Best Books for YAs, and winners of multiple Canadian awards including the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction, the Ontario Silver Birch Fiction Award, the Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award, and British Columbia Red Cedar Award. Her work includes \u003ci\u003eCrossing to Freedom\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eIf I Just Had Two Wings\u003c\/i\u003e. She teaches a creative writing course at UCLA Online.","brand":"Holiday House","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303390793957,"sku":"NP9780823451098","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780823451098.jpg?v=1767721464","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/among-the-fallen-isbn-9780823451098","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}