In the early part of the 20th century, Emily Lathrop Hasbrouck is already orphaned, but when her Great-aunt Mabel dies, suddenly she is also destitute and alone. She finds a place for herself at the Austen Home for Orphaned Girls (where all are called ``hogs'') until she is 16 and old enough to go into service. Emily is told she is lucky in her circumstances, but she doesn't think of herself as particularly fortunate--she wants to be a pianist and to find her little sister, who was adopted at birth. Cruelties are heaped upon Emily; however, she has a friend in the librarian, Miss Alice and may triumph in the end. A fairly authentic turn-of-the-century feel, strong plot and characterizations combine in this work; although it is not as compelling as Pfeffer's contemporary stories, it is nevertheless a competently presented piece of historical fiction. For avid fans of the period. (Fiction. 8-12)
