Historical fiction about missionary doctors in Africa. I enjoyed the wonderful sensory details of life in Africa. When twelve-year-old Rachel's parents die in an influenza outbreak, Rachel is left completely alone in the world because both her parents grew up in an orphanage. She fears being sent to an orphanage but something even worse happens. Fortunately Rachel escapes and finds people who care about her and help her. 

This story reminds me somewhat of the Secret Garden: an English girl is raised in a foreign country, her parent's die and she is returned to England. It even has the theme of nature. I liked that this is a coming-of-age story that does not really involve romance. An older man wants to marry her but she is uninterested. The story culminates with her return to Africa.