One woman dreams of a better life for her family – but how do you find it when all you've ever known is poverty?Ireland, 1848 The potato famine has left the Cavanah family destitute.Kitty and Peter manage to secure tickets for America - seeking hope in an unknown land.But still fortune will not favour them. On a terrifying crossing of the Irish Sea, Peter vanishes, and with him their tickets. Now, Kitty and her young family are stranded in Liverpool - with not a penny to their name.Facing prejudice and distrust, they move to Blackburn, where the welcome is no warmer, but Kitty at least can gather rags and scraps to exchange for a coin or two. She refuses to give up hope - on finding Peter, on getting to America.Yet Kitty knows they are just one bad day away from the evils of the workhouse . . . The Rag Maiden is a powerful and enthralling tale of one woman's struggle to save her family.