Orphan Number Eight
by Kim van Alkemade
Orphan Number Eight by Kim van Alkemade holds a well received rating of 3.69 out of 5, based on 9.6K reader ratings. First published in 2015. The book spans 416 pages.
About Orphan Number Eight
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 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.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Kim van Alkemade |
| Published | 2015 |
| Pages | 416 |
| Genres | Historical Fiction, Fiction, History, Mystery & Thriller, Science |
| Average Rating | 3.69 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 9,558 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Orphan Number Eight?
Orphan Number Eight is categorized as Historical Fiction, Fiction, History, Mystery & Thriller. Its primary genre classification is Mystery & Thriller.
Is Orphan Number Eight worth reading?
Based on 9.6K reader ratings, Orphan Number Eight has an average score of 3.69 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Orphan Number Eight?
Orphan Number Eight has 416 pages.
Who wrote Orphan Number Eight?
Orphan Number Eight was written by Kim van Alkemade. It was first published in 2015.
What is the ISBN for Orphan Number Eight?
The ISBN-13 for Orphan Number Eight is 9780062338300.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
