Lilli de Jong

Set in 1883 Philadelphia, the story follows Lilli de Jong, a Quaker schoolteacher who faces societal rejection after becoming an unwed mother. Following her mother’s death and her father’s abandonment of their faith, Lilli's life spirals into chaos. Despite the pressure to give up her daughter for adoption, she chooses to fight against the stigma of being a single mother. The narrative explores themes of motherhood, resilience, and the harsh realities of societal judgment, as Lilli navigates her new life while striving to protect her child.