Orphan #8

"Kim van Alkemade has moxie. In her provocative novel, family is saturated with betrayal, care is interrupted by ambition and desire, and the past is intimately explored, invoking the abandoned child in all of us. Orphan # 8 brims with complicated passions and pitch-perfect historical details. A riveting, memorable debut." -- Catherine Zobal Dent, author of Unfinished Stories of Girls "Inspired by actual events, van Alkemade crafts a powerful story of festering vengeance and redemption that touches readers on many levels. Alkemade has managed to incorporate many emotions into her thoughtful debut, emotions that linger long after the last page is turned." -- RT Book Reviews "This book is utterly unputdownable. At once atmospheric, disturbing and absolutely engrossing, it poses a host of moral questions; I fully anticipate that it will become popular with book clubs." -- Historical Novels Review "A sure book club pick and a strong debut, this title functions well on multiple levels and will appeal to a broad readership." -- Lambda Literary Review Even non-aficionados of historical fiction will find much to savor in this remarkable novel. Its themes and artistry will linger in reader memory. Orphan #8 is a remarkable work, well rooted in some little-known history... a broad landscape of issues, superbly rendered. -- GLBT Reviews, American Library Association's LGBT Round Table "...van Alkemade succeeds in bringing to light a fascinating and little-known chapter of history...she vividly chronicles her heroine's pain, resilience and capacity to be honest with those who loved her, with those who betrayed her, and ultimately with herself." -- Lillith Magazine

"Kim van Alkemade has moxie. In her provocative novel, family is saturated with betrayal, care is interrupted by ambition and desire, and the past is intimately explored, invoking the abandoned child in all of us. Orphan # 8 brims with complicated passions and pitch-perfect historical details. A riveting, memorable debut." -- Catherine Zobal Dent, author of Unfinished Stories of Girls "Inspired by actual events, van Alkemade crafts a powerful story of festering vengeance and redemption that touches readers on many levels. Alkemade has managed to incorporate many emotions into her thoughtful debut, emotions that linger long after the last page is turned." -- RT Book Reviews "This book is utterly unputdownable. At once atmospheric, disturbing and absolutely engrossing, it poses a host of moral questions; I fully anticipate that it will become popular with book clubs." -- Historical Novels Review "A sure book club pick and a strong debut, this title functions well on multiple levels and will appeal to a broad readership." -- Lambda Literary Review Even non-aficionados of historical fiction will find much to savor in this remarkable novel. Its themes and artistry will linger in reader memory. Orphan #8 is a remarkable work, well rooted in some little-known history... a broad landscape of issues, superbly rendered. -- GLBT Reviews, American Library Association's LGBT Round Table "...van Alkemade succeeds in bringing to light a fascinating and little-known chapter of history...she vividly chronicles her heroine's pain, resilience and capacity to be honest with those who loved her, with those who betrayed her, and ultimately with herself." -- Lillith Magazine

Kim van Alkemade was born in New York. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in literary journals including Alaska Quarterly Review, So to Speak, and CutBank. She teaches writing at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.