In the shadow of World War I, thirteen-year-old Lena Adler navigates a city transformed by fear, prejudice, and a deadly influenza outbreak. As Franklin City celebrates parades and patriotism, an unseen contagion upends daily life, testing neighbors, loyalties, and courage. Torn between family duty, cultural suspicion, and her own fragile sense of safety, Lena must find resilience and unexpected allies in a community on the brink. Shadows Over Franklin blends historical detail with intimate coming-of-age emotion, following one young girl’s struggle to protect those she loves while confronting the harsh realities of illness and social scapegoating. Richly atmospheric and empathetic, the novel captures both the public panic and private tenderness of an era when ordinary people faced extraordinary danger.
In the shadow of World War I, thirteen-year-old Lena Adler navigates a city transformed by fear, prejudice, and a deadly influenza outbreak. As Franklin City celebrates parades and patriotism, an unseen contagion upends daily life, testing neighbors, loyalties, and courage. Torn between family du...