The story behind the book is better than the book, Orphanland by Lauren Fischer, and it is a good book. Or at least I think so, as it made a cozy memory to be connected to a book with a not so cozy theme.
I was going to read it online, but got a finished paperback (after requesting the online book and the author contacting me saying thanks for requesting) from the author. We emailed a little bit as we were talking about the book, me joining her newsletters mailing list, and when I finished it about a couple comments I had. Overall things are a delightful journey, even if the subject is not so much. It is a sweet story about the difficulties of having family and a community in trouble. The characters are perhaps a bit stereotypical, but they are good people that you can mostly be friends with. Overall, a cozy book that has a happy ending. From the moment I read about it, I felt it was reminiscent of books I read as a kid in the 1980s and 1990s with a modern touch.
It is about Willa, a young girl living in a foster home/orphanage. She lost her grandparents and her mother was an addict who overdosed. She is the oldest of the kids (babies to ages around 11-12). There are several issues Willa is exposed to and/or feels she must take on, there are the questions of Mercy (the parent/caregiver) finding money to keep the home running, a new kid leaving their home as they are not safe with their mother (their father won’t stand up to her) who is nonbinary, a little crush of Willa’s, lies, several mysteries and the history of the opioid crisis and the company that caused the drugs to be out there. There is a lot packed together but in a form that is good for the aged 10 to 14 reader. There are bad things, but nothing that is inappropriate.
It felt like something I’d read back in the day, or during the 1980s, except for the nonbinary character. Queer characters were not in most of the literature I would read until I was well in my teens. Which is why it is great to have it here. There were a few plot holes and offness with the flow, but I enjoyed it. I would say out of 5 it is a strong 3.5 to 4. The religious elements were actually nicely handled (they just say “saying prayers” or “I prayed.”) so that was good, I was worried that would limit things by forcing the viewpoint that might not be as relatable to most readers. The one part that was heavy is the abandoned school for boys that is still on the property the orphanage is on. It gives a parallel to the now, and something to fight for and against but did make it feel a bit too much at times. I also did not like one of the characters having Parkinson’s. Not because I don’t think they should be in a book, it just made it “one more bad thing” happening, was somewhat thrown in out of the blue, and was not really needed.
Still, I feel comfortable with recommending the book. I think adults and preteens will be able to find common ground and would be good for parent/child bookclubs.