Living in Africa as the daughter of orphaned missionary parents is the only life 13 year-old Rachel has ever known. Her father opened a clinic for the people of the area and along with her mother cares for anyone asking for care. The influenza epidemic in British East Africa in 1918 claims the lives of both her father and her mother in a very short time. Now an orphan herself, she goes to her wealthy British neighbors to borrow their phone to let the mission board know what has become of her parents, and find out her fate. The neighbors tell Rachel they have phoned, when, in reality, they have devised a plan to manipulate Rachel into pretending to be their daughter, Valerie, another victim of the influenza epidemic, in order to deceive Valerie’s ailing grandfather in England so they can amass his fortune. Rachel, now called Valerie, realizes too late she has been tricked but does not know how to get out of her terrible predicament. Grandfather is suspicious as the Valerie that arrives does not seem like the granddaughter he has received letters from who is spoiled and unappreciative. Also, this Valerie, unlike his granddaughter, loves nature as he does. Grandfather decides to play along to see what is going on. Valerie’s good relationship with grandfather heightens her sense of guilt about deceiving the ailing man with her assumed identity. When Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard, her unscrupulous neighbors from Africa, show up in England, Valerie is caught in quite a predicament. Find out what happens to Rachel, a.k.a. Valerie, when you read this novel. Will she be sent to an orphanage, or worse, prison, when she is found out? Will her deception cause the old man’s death?
