The Orphan
Fifteen-year-old Samuel Evans suddenly wakes up on the dissection table of an 1844 Washington City (currently Washington, DC) medical laboratory, much to the surprise of Dr. James Pyper and his medical students. What Samuel has yet to discover is that he has been revived from near-death by an experimental drug derived from an Amazonian plant. He soon discovers that his cure has endowed him with new abilities to envision the memories of animals and send them, in return, mental pictures of his own invention. This turns out to be a useful skill when investigating the deaths of his loving parents.
The author, Sylvia Maultash Warsh, masterfully guides us along a murder mystery plot set in a developing nation’s capital where corruption, greed, and lies bump up against the high stakes of doing what’s right, when everything around you is wrong. Our teenage protagonist has to learn the hard way who to trust when it comes to the new mentors in his life. With a well-developed cast of characters, Samuel experiences a wide range of emotions, from betrayal to new love. His search for resolution and belonging will keep you guessing until the very end.
The story is fast-paced with plenty of action, cliff-hangers, and twists to keep you turning the pages, while at the same time graciously reminding you of who did what so you don’t get lost in the details. Warsh blends the imaginative with real science and puts you smack dab in the middle of a turbulent time and place. A great YA historical fiction read for anyone with an affection for animals, history, and science.
