In a town not so far away and a time not so long ago, baby Rose was left on the porch of Greenwoods Orphanage, where Mrs. Hartley (Nancy Stafford) and the children under her tender care become her family. But when tragedy strikes, Rose (Bailee Johnson) loses the only home she has ever known and she is abruptly shipped to Irongates—a place that seems as cold and cruel as her previous home was kind. The strict headmaster, Mr. Crampton (Edward Herrmann), immediately seems to dislike Rose—and makes sure she and the other children are punished for any minor infraction of his rules. Rose soon makes friends with Emily, but in spite of her gentle and forgiving nature, some of the children will take any chance they can to get her into trouble. When she learns that every Christmas Mr. Crampton’s generous brother gives an orange to each child, Rose waits in eager anticipation.

12-year-old Jessica Jones world is torn apart when she is taken out of her abusive home and placed in to Foster care. Jessica will grapple with her past, present, and future, and meet numerous struggles along the way. Her story is the reality of so many abuse victims in communities nationwide. The flashback scenes are from my own abusive childhood. I share these scenes with the hope that others in abusive situations will seek help for themselves and their abusers before it is too late. Written by Lisa Spurrier