ALA Booklist (Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Before landing a gig as Ruthie "the Clumsy Cripple" in a New England Exposition's betterment-centered sideshow, The Unfit Family: A Blight on America, Rowan Collier is merely a 16-year-old girl recovering from polio. Abandoned by her father at the onset of WWI and neglected by her older sister, a prominent figure in the betterment movement, Rowan has been shuffled from quarantine to the "care" of the Boston Home for Crippled Children. Long plagued by judgment, shame, and a lecherous show director, Rowan jumps at the chance to bond with Dorchy, a bright-eyed and fiery fellow orphan. Together they escape the fitness-frenzied Expo only to encounter unfathomable horrors at Loup (French for "wolf") Island, the remote home to a "Camp for Unfortunates" where disappearances d experimental vaccines e eerily commonplace. Moger's heroines are fierce and the story fast paced. Though readers will hungrily rush to the finish, this debut novel's poignant themes rseverance, sacrifice, lineage, and loyalty e sure to linger long past the final page.

Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

In 1922, abandoned by her family after contracting polio, Rowan is cast in the Unfit Family show, a carnival sideshow promoting eugenics. After escaping, she and an unlikely ally find themselves uncovering a plot to use "unfit" children as medical guinea pigs. While the plot is uneven, the story's themes and subjects are worth examination; an appended historical note adds value.

School Library Journal (Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2016)

Gr 6-9 Rowan is the youngest daughter in the affluent Collier family living in Manhattan a century ago. Though the girl grows up without a mother, her childhood is comfortable and carefree. That is, until Rowan is struck by polio. As the family struggle to cope with their own prejudice, the protagonist is sent away. She befriends Dorchy, another young girl with her own set of problems, in her journey to find the inner strength to cope with her new disability and the raw rejection of her family. As their summer unfolds, the friends uncover the horrific plans of their wardens to create a "fitter" society. They vow to save their friends, but they aren't even sure if they will be able to save themselves. Moger crafts likable characters who mature over the course of the book. A few characters are downright villainous, and most follow predictable paths of personal growth. The story touches on delicate subjects, such as forced sterilization, with sensitivity. While the account of Rowan is fictional, Moger explains the historical context of her story in the notes at the end of the book. Despite a slow start to the story, the pace of the plot picks up with unexpected challenges and heartbreaking results. Readers will enjoy the mystery as it mounts in the final chapters but may be frustrated with the realistic conclusion. VERDICT This book is an engaging work of historical fiction that would be a great addition for any middle school library. Paige Rowse, Needham High School, MA

Voice of Youth Advocates

Disabled by polio and living in an institution, Rowan Collier is all but dead to her family. Rowan finds herself thrust into the eugenics movement of 1922, highlighted by its dedication to racial purity and "good breeding." She must play the part of "Ruthie the Cripple" at a county fair in a show meant to sway the public that "unfit" individuals should be sterilized. Her beliefs and perceptions begin to change upon meeting Dorchy. Together they escape the fair; however, they are dragged into a twisted plot when Rowan discovers a secret and terrifying new procedure carried out on orphans. Using her newfound strength, Rowan must stop these plans and illuminate these horrors.Moger's novel spotlights an unsettling point of U.S. history. The story's foundation is rooted in its characters. Rowan is a notable female protagonist who grows exponentially. She is a survivor by nature but is also inspired by Dorchy's frank demeanor. Save for one, there is no redeemable adult in the entire story. Readers of any age will feel incensed about the treatment of not only Rowan but also all the orphans victimized in the name of eugenics. One drawback is the fragmented pacing. There are really two stories here, which would be better served in two separate books. Despite the flaws, this is a solid choice for readers seeking thought-provoking historical fiction with relevant ties to present worldwide conflicts.Linsey Milillo.