LaVonne W. (Grnemae) -
Helpful Score: 4
A fictional story based on one of the great efforts in this country to place thousands of orphaned children from the streets of New York city.
Heavy on religion with a glowing but not necessary truthful account of the fate of some of the orphans.
I did not particularly enjoy this book as I felt the authors were trying to force their religious beliefs on the reader. One of the few books I have ever put aside and then came back to finish at a later date.
Heavy on religion with a glowing but not necessary truthful account of the fate of some of the orphans.
I did not particularly enjoy this book as I felt the authors were trying to force their religious beliefs on the reader. One of the few books I have ever put aside and then came back to finish at a later date.
Helpful Score: 4
I am an avid reader. I rarely meet a book that I absolutely dislike and find annoying and boring. Unfortunatly, that would describe this book. The characters were so incredibly good. No one ever said or did anything nasty or wrong. In fact, everyone goes out of their way to be as nice and kinds as possible. Nearly every person we meet is a born-again Christian or becomes one by the end of the book. Now, I have no problem with Christian books, on the contrary, I enjoy them, but this one felt like it was trying to preach at me constantly.
The other problem was that the children acted completely un-childlike. For example, the three Marston children have just been informed by a police officer that their parents are dead. Johnny, age 6, runs outside crying, a logical response. But his 8 year old sister Mary politely excuses herself and apologizes for leaving, saying "my brother needs me." She finds him, quotes some Bible verses to him, reminds him their parents are in heaven, then they return inside. They then thank the officer for saying he will help them find a home. The children consistently act with a composure most adults couldn't manage!
The one other thing that annoyed me was the author's constant use of the word 'honey.' Characters who barely knew each other called each other 'honey' very often. This drove me nuts after a while, but it might not bother you.
I also found the plot very predictable, except for one twist at the end, but by then I didn't care.
All in all, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
The other problem was that the children acted completely un-childlike. For example, the three Marston children have just been informed by a police officer that their parents are dead. Johnny, age 6, runs outside crying, a logical response. But his 8 year old sister Mary politely excuses herself and apologizes for leaving, saying "my brother needs me." She finds him, quotes some Bible verses to him, reminds him their parents are in heaven, then they return inside. They then thank the officer for saying he will help them find a home. The children consistently act with a composure most adults couldn't manage!
The one other thing that annoyed me was the author's constant use of the word 'honey.' Characters who barely knew each other called each other 'honey' very often. This drove me nuts after a while, but it might not bother you.
I also found the plot very predictable, except for one twist at the end, but by then I didn't care.
All in all, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Ingrid S. (ingridsrsd) reviewed The Little Sparrows (Orphan Trains, Bk 1) on + 104 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
THIS BOOK IS ABOUT CHILDREN THAT LIVED IN THE STREETS OF NEW YORK BY THE THOUSANDS,ONE MAN (CHARLES BRACE) STARTED THE CHILDRENS AIDS SOCIETY IN 1853. FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS HE TRANSPORTED TRAINLOADS OF "ORPHANS" TO FARMS AND RANCHES ON THE AMERICAN FRONTIER. YOU MEET SOME BOYS AND GIRLS THAT WHERE FOSTERED AND /OR ADOPTED IN THE WEST. WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK, I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT TWO.
Helpful Score: 2
Wyoming 1874. Mary, Johnny, and Lizzie Marston-along with sixty other children-line the platform at the Cheyenne train station as Dan and Clara Forbes and other locals contemplate taking one child home to a new life. Will they be separated? Will they be wanted? Will the West offer a better life than the one they left behind-or worse?
Helpful Score: 2
I thought this book was a little slow although it helped me understand about the orphan train.
Helpful Score: 2
A great work of historical fiction. The story is heart gripping and lively and the suprises are wonderful. Enjoyed every minute!
Helpful Score: 1
I was disappointed with this book. Too much conversation all sounding alike. Made it hard to know who was talking. Rather boring.
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a great story about the orphan trains. I don't know how much of it is true to history but the characters were very believable and the outcome of some of the orphans was pretty much as I expected. However, it was a very good read and I believe there are three books out about the orphan trains. If there really were orphan trains long ago then I'm sure the book caught the children's lives just right.
Based on the real orphan trains but the stories are fiction. First book of the trilogy.
This book is my favorite book in this series!
