{"product_id":"the-life-she-was-givenisbn-9781496749865","title":"The Life She Was Given","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBefore We Were Yours\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eWater for Elephants\u003c\/i\u003e in \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author Ellen Marie Wiseman’s vivid, daring, emotional novel about the devastating power of family secrets—beginning in the poignant, lurid world of a Depression-era traveling circus and coming full circle in the transformative 1950s.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn’t allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She’s never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it’s for Lilly’s own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time—and sold to the circus sideshow.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood inherits her parents’ estate. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of rules and forbidden rooms. She hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt first, The Barlow Brothers’ Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo, and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a spectacle but the circus’s biggest attraction . . . until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to uncover Lilly’s fate and her family’s shocking betrayal, and somehow make Blackwood Manor a place of healing at last.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMoving between Julia and Lilly’s stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that is tender, heart wrenching, and hopeful.\u003cb\u003e\u003cu\u003ePraise for Ellen Marie Wiseman\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Wiseman shows how humans are capable of great cruelty but also great compassion in this ultimately uplifting, compelling read.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Ellen Marie Wiseman’s powerful new novel will bring awareness to a whole new audience…Wiseman doesn’t shy away from the truth about conditions at Willowbrook, and some of the descriptions are harrowing to read. The mystery of her twin’s disappearance and Sage’s determination to find the truth keep the pages turning, particularly in the latter stages of the book. Grounded in historical fact, it ends like a fast-paced thriller. A comprehensive author’s note at the end is well worth the read.”\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Novel Society \u003c\/b\u003eon \u003ci\u003eThe Lost Girls of Willowbrook \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A portrait of Willowbrook State School that is unvarnished, painful and startlingly clear…Bringing the unquiet ghosts of Willowbrook to life is what this book does best, and if it didn’t do anything else, it would be worth your time…credit to Ellen Marie Wiseman for bringing Willowbrook back to the national consciousness.” \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—\u003c\/i\u003eBookreporter.com on \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Lost Girls of Willowbrook \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Readers will not be able to help making comparisons to the COVID 19 pandemic, and how little has changed since 1918. Wiseman has written a touching tale of loss, survival, and perseverance with some light fantastical elements. Highly recommended for all collections.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Wiseman’s writing is superb, and her descriptions of life during the Spanish Flu epidemic are chilling. In Pia, Wiseman has created a character that will draw in readers with her courage and resilience. In Bernice, we find the darker side of American attitudes toward immigrants prevalent during the early 1900s. She is truly despicable character, yet horrifyingly beguiling. Well researched and impossible to put down, this is an emotional tug of war played out brilliantly on the pages and in readers’ hearts.” —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Historical Novels Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, EDITOR’S CHOICE for \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Wiseman chronicles the devastation the 1918 flu pandemic wrought on a German immigrant family in Philadelphia…Wiseman’s depiction of the horrifying spread of the Spanish flu is eerily reminiscent of the present day and resonates with realistic depictions of suffering, particularly among the poorer immigrant population. Historical fiction fans will appreciate Pia and her pluck and determination to survive.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—Publishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e(Boxed Review) for \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Wiseman’s novel raises relevant issues about what it means to be an American and about the forms that anti American sentiment can take in times of crisis…Reading the novel in the time of COVID 19 adds an even greater resonance, and horror, to the description of the fatal spread of that 1918 flu. The pathos inspired by the sheer scale and indiscriminate nature of pandemic death is almost overwhelming, especially given current events.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collect\u003c\/i\u003eor  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“The author masterfully conveys empathy for the characters…an emotional roller coaster that was eerily similar to today’s events. I felt Pia’s strength, courage, guilt, and grief come through the pages clear as day.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eThe Seattle Book Review\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Wiseman's blistering, moving and profound novel, set against the devastating backdrop of the 1918 Spanish flu, hones in on an extraordinary exploration of the plight of immigrants, as two very different women grapple with finding, keeping, and changing their place in the world. Absolutely amazing.\" —\u003cb\u003eCaroline Leavitt, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"An immersive historical tale with chilling twists and turns. Set during the Spanish Flu epidemic in Philadelphia, this atmospheric novel explores the depravity to which some will sink in adversity, but it also illuminates the strength of family bonds and the resilience of the human heart. Beautifully told and richly imagined.\" \u003cb\u003e—Stephanie Dray, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Switching back and forth in time and narration from Lilly to Julia, Wiseman has crafted a can't put it down novel of family secrets involving two young girls who only seek to be loved. Perfect for book clubs and readers who admired Sara Gruen's \u003ci\u003eLike Water for Elephants\u003c\/i\u003e.\" \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e,\u003c\/b\u003e STARRED REVIEW for \u003ci\u003eThe Life She Was Given\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Ellen Marie Wiseman gathers potent Gothic elements in The Life She was Given to examine the impact of child abuse across generations. A sumptuous plot balances horror and tenderness to reveal lesser known facets of history... \u003ci\u003eThe Life She was Given\u003c\/i\u003e is a vibrant maze of desires. The sharp divide between expectations and painful truths, mothers and daughters, past and present, culminate in a sensational finale.\" —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eForeWord Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A powerful, poignant novel.\" \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eIn Touch,\u003c\/b\u003e Grade A\u003c\/i\u003e for \u003ci\u003eThe Life She Was Given\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Wiseman excels at creating an atmosphere...Her characters are all vividly drawn and complex, especially Lilly's abusive mother, Coralline. But at the heart of Wiseman's tale of loss and redemption are Lilly and Julia, connected in spirit by their determination to overcome years of pain and sorrow. Fans of Karen White and Sara Gruen will be drawn in by the drama and mystery of Wiseman's novel.\" \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eBookPage\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eThe Life She Was Given\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Intense and heartbreaking at times, but full of hope. The author's impeccable research into this era makes for a spot on portrayal of a dark time in American history. \u003ci\u003eCoal River\u003c\/i\u003e [is] one of the most \"unputdownable\" books of 2015.\" \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eThe Historical Novels Review\u003c\/b\u003e, Editor's Choice\u003c\/i\u003e for \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Wiseman eschews the genres usual military conflicts of daily life during wartime, lending an intimate and compelling poignancy to this intriguing debut.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An unusual point of view on the Holocaust. [\u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e] is a story of star crossed lovers in a time of genocide…The details are exquisite and very thorough. Young adult readers will find it refreshing to read a different perspective toward WWII Germany. The terrors of the war will ignite compassion and disbelief.” \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e—VOYA Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Ellen Marie Wiseman’s provocative and realistic images of a small German village are exquisite. T\u003ci\u003ehe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e will find good company on the shelves of those who appreciated \u003ci\u003eSkeletons at the Feast\u003c\/i\u003e, by Chris Bohjalian, \u003ci\u003eSarah’s Key\u003c\/i\u003e, by Tatiana de Rosnay and \u003ci\u003eNight\u003c\/i\u003e, by Elie Wiesel.” —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Journal of Books\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Ellen Marie Wiseman weaves a story of intrigue, terror, and love from a perspective not often seen in Holocaust novels.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJewish Book World\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “The meticulous hand crafted detail and emotional intensity of \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e immersed me in Germany during its darkest hours and the ordeals its citizens had to face. A must read for WWII Fiction aficionados—and any reader who loves a transporting story.” —\u003cb\u003eJenna Blum, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThose Who Save Us\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e is a touching story of heroism and loss, a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of love to transcend the most unthinkable circumstances. Deft storytelling and rich characters make this a highly memorable read and a worthy addition to the narratives of the Holocaust and Second World War.” —\u003cb\u003ePam Jenoff, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Ambassador's Daughter\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In \u003ci\u003eThe Plum Tree,\u003c\/i\u003e Ellen Marie Wiseman boldly explores the complexities of the Holocaust. This novel is at times painful, but it is also a satisfying love story set against the backdrop of one of the most difficult times in human history.” —\u003cb\u003eT. Greenwood, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eTwo Rivers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eEllen Marie Wiseman\u003c\/b\u003e is the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of the highly acclaimed historical fiction novels \u003ci\u003eThe Orphan Collector, What She Left Behind, The Plum Tree\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eCoal River, The Life She Was Given,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Lost Girls of Willowbrook. \u003c\/i\u003eBorn and raised in Three Mile Bay, a tiny hamlet in northern New York, she’s a first-generation German American who discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in New York State. Since then, more than one million copies of her books have been sold in the United States. Her novels have been published worldwide, translated into twenty languages, and named to “Best Of” lists by Reading Group Choices, \u003ci\u003eGood Housekeeping, \u003c\/i\u003eGoodreads, The Historical Novel Society, Great Group Reads, and more. A mother of two, Ellen lives on the shores of Lake Ontario with her husband and dog. Visit her online at EllenMarieWiseman.com","brand":"Kensington","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303875924197,"sku":"NP9781496749865","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781496749864.jpg?v=1730755652","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-life-she-was-givenisbn-9781496749865","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}