Vivian Page is a 10 year old in girl in 1943 France. Her mother is a young single woman, raped by her uncle to conceive her child. Vivian's mother sells her to an auctioneer in the underground world of human trafficking. She is mercifully bought by a not so pleasant couple and their daughters to serve as a servant. The youngest of the daughters, Esmée, gives Vivian her only comfort so far away from home. However, that comfort may put her in even more danger than she was previously- as Vivian finds herself surrounded by the Children of Ruth, a 'group' dedicated to starting a new world- one ruled by the idea of compassion and love for all. Though, as Vivian learns, not everyone qualifies 'all'.