Give It Breath: A Memoir of Inheritance and Intergenerational Healing In Give it Breath, Ava Linderman steps into the shadows of 1870s Sydney, taking up a role as a nurse at the Benevolent Asylum, only to be thrust into the dark realities of Lavington House - a refuge for unwed mothers where despair and duty intertwine. As Ava uncovers the painful truths within this Home for Girls, she grapples with her own past and forges a path that challenges the harsh fate imposed on the vulnerable women she seeks to protect. This narrative continues, to follow a further four generations of women who, like Ava, are enabled by circumstance to deal with their condition and move forward. A theme of mystery and intrigue pursues each of these characters, as they search to find answers about past lives. A world of espionage and murder is at the forefront of their journey, uncovered eventually by an optimism that secures for them a place in history.