1816. Sarah is orphaned when her parents and younger brother suddenly all die of fever. She copes the only way she knows how--by cutting herself. When her remaining family members refuse the burden of taking in twelve-year-old Sarah, she is sent to live in a boarding school to train to become a governess.

Sarah's self-harm behaviors grow out of loneliness and confusion while at the boarding school, often scaring the other girls. But Sarah has a curious and creative heart that only her two best friends can understand.

As a governess for Bromley Hall, Sarah is ostracized and heartbroken and flees to London to pursue her passion for art. Working out of a single-room flat in the damp, dark streets of the city, Sarah's art career flourishes, but can she recover from the pain in her mind and in her heart?

Stylistically akin to literary greats like Jane Austen and Emily Bronte (this book is like Wuthering Heights meets self-harm), Sarah Crow references the little known history of needle girls in 19th century England. This novel uncovers mental health, grief, and finding your way during traumatic times.