In 1816 England young Sarah Pole is orphaned when her parents and younger brother suddenly die of fever. Grieving and without an inheritance Sarah is sent to live in a boarding school to train to become a governess. Withdrawn from her fellow students Sarah practices self-harm out of loneliness and confusion. Possessing a curious and creative heart Sarah reinvents herself through her macabre drawings and renames herself Sarah Crow. In first governess placement she finds herself ostracized for her unusual demeanor and is forced to hide her pain. This novel addresses mental health, grief, and finding your way during traumatic times.