The year is 1850. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, sixteen-year-old Ean McCloud faces a daunting three-year sentence at Tasmania’s infamous Port Arthur Penal Colony. According to a Google source, some 1100 prisoners died there during the 50 years the notorious penitentiary served as one of the harshest in Australia. Why do I mention the history of this infamous prison? It's important to the understanding of Paddy Eger 's incredible novel. Historically, the details of her story are accurate in even the minute details. While the characters are fictitious, the locale is real. The "feel" of the area is real. The brutal treatment of the inmates is real. How did she know? She traveled to Tasmania, walked the Port Arthur grounds, and visited the actual prison. After returning home, she was so touched and inspired by what she had seen that she did extensive research on the area and wrote a poem about her feelings. Realizing that wasn't enough to convey her experience,...