In this stunning new historical novel inspired by true events, Kim van Alkemade tells the fascinating story of a woman who must choose between revenge and mercy when she encounters the doctor who subjected her to dangerous medical experiments in a New York City Jewish orphanage years before.
In 1919, Rachel Rabinowitz is a vivacious four-year-old living with her family in a crowded tenement on … tenement on New York City’s Lower Eastside. When tragedy strikes, Rachel is separated from her brother Sam and sent to a Jewish orphanage where Dr. Mildred Solomon is conducting medical research. Subjected to X-ray treatments that leave her disfigured, Rachel suffers years of cruel harassment from the other orphans. But when she turns fifteen, she runs away to Colorado hoping to find the brother she lost and discovers a family she never knew she had.
Though Rachel believes she’s shut out her painful childhood memories, years later she is confronted with her dark past when she becomes a nurse at Manhattan’s Old Hebrews Home and her patient is none other than the elderly, cancer-stricken Dr. Solomon. Rachel becomes obsessed with making Dr. Solomon acknowledge, and pay for, her wrongdoing. But each passing hour Rachel spends with the old doctor reveal to Rachel the complexities of her own nature. She realizes that a person’s fate—to be one who inflicts harm or one who heals—is not always set in stone.
Lush in historical detail, rich in atmosphere and based on true events, Orphan #8 is a powerful, affecting novel of the unexpected choices we are compelled to make that can shape our destinies.
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This book told the story I never knew about. And couldn’t believe it really happened in the USA. It was both heartbreaking and the end was fulfilling.
I’m so glad I read it!
Orphan #8 was a difficult book for me to read because it felt so real. The main character, Rachel, begins life as the younger child of a happily married couple. She’s very bright, somewhat cheerful, given to throwing temper tantrums (she’s 4), adores her older brother (Sam) and lives during a struggling time in US history (1919). I knew from the title she would lose her parents, but I did not predict HOW that would happen! It becomes a somewhat depressing story–at least for me. The chapters alternate between her childhood and her adulthood. Odd are the past, even are “the present”. Her childhood is horrible, just incredible and unbelievable to me, however, this story is based on fact which makes it even worse! “Realistic fiction” is what this would be termed. As an adult she is a nurse and has the opportunity to exact revenge on the person who really, basically, ruined her life. So there is that question that encourages readers to continue. It is well-written, easily read (except the subject matter!), and yes, I would recommend it.
One of the saddest books I have read in a long time. It broke my heart.
Quite an upsetting story about issues that I never knew existed. However, it was well written, informative, and leaves much to decide and talk about.
The story line in this book was very sad! I am very glad I read it!
Historically correct fiction on medical research
Historical drama of experiments during WW2. Tragic the things that were done to women & children….definitely worth a read..
I would have given this four stars but the ending let me down. It was a great story, full of interesting people and the demons inside us. If it could have been just left at that. But oh no, the author had to add a chapter (for her Lesbian friends I think), describing in intimate detail a love scene between two lesbians, WHY? Who needed that? It was not germane to the story line whatsoever. What WAS this author thinking?
I love historical fiction because it often teaches me about things I never knew within the guise of a story. This book was all of that! Jewish orphanages in the 1920s and the things they did to the kids there. Goes back and forth from the 1920s to the present and protrays the ramifications of the experiences and experimnest the children were exposed to. Highly recommend!
Very interesting story line.
Very Interesting read. Unfortunately, I feel this is very true in our past history
This author always takes on the most ‘involved’ topics and handles them with her own personal touch. Good read if you have a heart.
This book gives you a different aspect to see how war and personal tragedies affect so many innocents. Showed the strength people develop just to survive their horrific experiences.
Such a sad story but read the whole book. Wish the ending could have been happy after.
Very well written. A sad story but well worth the read.
I learned a bit about a time in Quebec’shistory that I did not know about. This is s heart wrenching story but captivating at the same time.
Easy enough read but didn’t spark my interest.
I was very impressed with this novel based on apparently actual events that took place in the early 1900’s and of which I had never heard. Children placed in orphanages were being used as test subjects in what turned out to be harmful experimentation. The story goes back and forth between the time spent in the orphanages and the adult life of the main character, Rachel. I thought the writing was very well done, realistic and that the character was believable.
If you are looking for easy, good human interest book to read, I reccomend this.
stayed with me long after I finished it. Thought provoking