Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) was an American abolitionist and a writer. She is best known for her novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin", which depicts the harsh conditions for enslaved African Americans. "The Pearl of Orr's Island" is her lesser-known, but still beautiful novel. It is a heartwarming story of a young girl's struggle to belong and fit in. The novel reflects Stowe's awareness of the complexity of small-town society.