by Laura Ruby
First published 2020
Frankie finds herself trapped in a Chicago orphanage during the Great Depression, abandoned alongside her younger siblings with nowhere else to turn. The harsh realities of institutional life press down on her as she struggles to survive while protecting those she loves most. A ghost watches her every move, bearing witness to her daily battles and small victories. Frankie must learn to navigate the complex world of becoming a woman in a place designed to strip away identity and hope. She fights to carve out space for herself and her siblings in an unforgiving system. The weight of responsibility sits heavy on her shoulders as she discovers what strength really means. Through each challenge, Frankie searches for her own definition of womanhood in a world that offers few models worth following.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, young-adult, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, survival
Setting: Chicago, Orphanage
Period: Great Depression
537 pages · Library Binding · Thorndike Striving Reader
Content warnings: abuse, child-abuse