Helpful Score: 12
Weaving together the stories of 2 abandoned children, one from the past and one from the present.
I am quite new at reviewing the books I read, but will try more because I understand how important they are to authors.
I loved this book and plan on reading it again.
The point of view was kinda confusing at first. However as a read it more and more I began to understand what the author was trying to say, by the way the characters interacted and brought the story to life.
Many times while reading I felt like I was right there in 1929 on the train or in the houses that Viv found herself. I did not live in the 1920s or 1930s, but the things at happened and descriptions really made me feel like was living in the time. I had to wait over 200 pages for something to happen but it definitely was worth the wait.
The current setting in 2011 is also just as amazing.
I lost many hours of sleeping reading the Orphan Train. The story, character development, and descriptions are first class.
"I was stunned to learn about the breadth and scope of the orphan train movement, which transported a reported two hundred thousand children from the East Coast to the Midwest between 1854 and 1929". (authors quote page 275)
I am quite new at reviewing the books I read, but will try more because I understand how important they are to authors.
I loved this book and plan on reading it again.
The point of view was kinda confusing at first. However as a read it more and more I began to understand what the author was trying to say, by the way the characters interacted and brought the story to life.
Many times while reading I felt like I was right there in 1929 on the train or in the houses that Viv found herself. I did not live in the 1920s or 1930s, but the things at happened and descriptions really made me feel like was living in the time. I had to wait over 200 pages for something to happen but it definitely was worth the wait.
The current setting in 2011 is also just as amazing.
I lost many hours of sleeping reading the Orphan Train. The story, character development, and descriptions are first class.
"I was stunned to learn about the breadth and scope of the orphan train movement, which transported a reported two hundred thousand children from the East Coast to the Midwest between 1854 and 1929". (authors quote page 275)
Helpful Score: 11
Great book - more than well worth the read - an elderly woman, Vivian - who had ridden the orphan train as a child - meets and developes a friendship with a young girl,Molly, also a victim of her circumstances. It tells how the friendship progresses and the wonderful relationship and healing that both women go thru. An unlikely pair, that by giving, receive so much more back. 4 stars
Helpful Score: 9
An awesome book. The life of two people of different generations experience the life as orphans. One, as a young girl from the orphan train, and the sadness that follows.
Then there is the current orphan moving from foster to foster.
Eventually their lives collide and secrets are spilled.
Then there is the current orphan moving from foster to foster.
Eventually their lives collide and secrets are spilled.
Helpful Score: 6
Oh, what a good book! Children on an Orphan Train, being sent along the way in hopes of being adopted by a family in each town. The story is basically about an old woman, once on the train herself and a young girl, who is in search of her identity and "herself". It seems unlikely they would come together. The author takes you between then and now, and writes in such a way that you can't help but care about the characters. This is a book you'll savor; I know I sure did.
Helpful Score: 6
I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a good job of developing the friendship between the 2 main characters. She also did an excellent job of describing how the "orphan train" system worked and how the children who were part of that system were treated (or mistreated I should say).
Helpful Score: 4
Beautifully written & researched novel about two women who grew up in different eras miles apart, yet share so much in common. When I first realized the author was going to jump back and forth between the 1920s and current day, I definitely got that "Oh no" feeling that the Depression Era was going to be romanticized, but Kline wrote a brutally honest, seemingly true to history account for Dorothy's childhood.
This story also brings some of the predominant issues of foster care - both current and historical - to light in a way that doesn't feel like you're being beaten over the head with a guilt trip. Highly recommended, will read again!
This story also brings some of the predominant issues of foster care - both current and historical - to light in a way that doesn't feel like you're being beaten over the head with a guilt trip. Highly recommended, will read again!
Helpful Score: 4
I loved this book! I disliked history in school and, sorry to say, never learned about this part of America's history. The book follows one particular orphan from her boat trip to America as a child to her elderly years.
Quick easy read with a great story and the bonus of learning some history.
Quick easy read with a great story and the bonus of learning some history.
Helpful Score: 2
I was curious about this story from the title alone. I had never heard of Orphan Trains before. It captured my interest from the first word. Orphan Train tells the stories of 2 girls, one from the past and one from the present. As you learn about each character you see some similarities. Molly, a teenager who is aging out of the foster system and Vivian, who as a young girl lost her family and was sent west on the Orphan Train to the unknown. It tells of the trials and tribulations that each character character meets and how they deal with their situations. It also tells how 2 people meet and help each other to heal. 4 1/2 stars
Helpful Score: 2
This book has to have hundreds of reviews for it, all positive. I wont go into another of them. Though this book deserves a very long review full of info and quotes from its pages, what I liked, how I enjoyed the character development, how the story and its components moved my emotions so greatly.. Ill just say this book deserves 100 stars. Its a book where you want to read every word, every line, you dont want to miss anything. Its PERFECT. I LOVED it and can only hope to read another book as in high of a league as this one is this year. I cried like a baby last night when the book came to an end. What an absolute fantastic book.
Helpful Score: 2
The story is compelling. It is a part of history I did not know about and learned about it a very interesting way.
Highly recommended .
Highly recommended .
Helpful Score: 2
This was an excellent book; I read it in 2 days which is quite fast for me. I usually get bored part way through and give it a rest. But this novel was well crafted. You had to admire and like the characters (or most of them anyway). Maybe because both my adopted daughters had been in foster care, but it was easy to connect to the author's images of their struggles and triumphs. Especially because their stories were told in a straight forward way with honesty and warmth but not gruesome in any way. Also it is about a little-known period in American history...found it fascinating.
Helpful Score: 2
A wonderful book! The characters became a part of my heart. I did not know of this chapter of history and what these children went through. Compelling, moving, and one I will read again!
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. While I was reading, I was checking Wikipedia for more information on things that were brought up (Molly Molasses for one).
Other than wishing there was a little more information about the Orphan Trains themselves, this was a beautiful story about two women, nearly 80 years apart in age, who share a common background.
Learning how their friendship develop, against the backdrop of Vivian's story (for it is more her tale, than Molly's) was expertly crafted.
Long after I put this book away, I am sure I will remember it.
Other than wishing there was a little more information about the Orphan Trains themselves, this was a beautiful story about two women, nearly 80 years apart in age, who share a common background.
Learning how their friendship develop, against the backdrop of Vivian's story (for it is more her tale, than Molly's) was expertly crafted.
Long after I put this book away, I am sure I will remember it.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book because the story immediately pulls you in and makes it hard to put the book down. I could have done without the coarse language that the author chose to use in the present day parts of the story, but it was a wonderful story with a great ending. I would definitely recommend it to friends.
Helpful Score: 1
Lovely book. A troubled 17 yr old and an elderly woman form an unlikely bond. As their stories unravel, we learn their separate stories. Really drives home the fact that you can never know what lies beneath the surface of a person and that we are sometimes more similar than we know. Highly recommend.
Helpful Score: 1
While I read this book, couldn't help imagine that one of my relatives had some similar experiences as a orphan, having her siblings were 'shipped' to different families and grew up apart from each other. They rejoined as a family as adults.
The interwoven chapters of how these two orphans establish a relationship, although they are decades apart in age, reminded me that the life journey of one person can often come full circle to coincide with someone else, even though they might have been complete strangers.
The interwoven chapters of how these two orphans establish a relationship, although they are decades apart in age, reminded me that the life journey of one person can often come full circle to coincide with someone else, even though they might have been complete strangers.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was surprising, delightful and intense. Stories of two women who are generations apart, weave together beautifully. If you can make it through the last chapter without tears I would be amazed.
Two stories are told in this book. Molly and Vivian lived very different lives on the face of it. But in the end the similarities in their lives maybe saved each other.
Two stories are told in this book. Molly and Vivian lived very different lives on the face of it. But in the end the similarities in their lives maybe saved each other.
Helpful Score: 1
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Two stories parallel in this amazing book that focuses on foster care and the ways it has and has not changed in our country. A young girl who is close to aging out of the system has yet to find a place to call home and just wants to feel at peace in one place. The other story centers around an elderly woman who had to leave New York on an orphan train headed west in hopes of finding a family that would take her in and care for her. They both were abused by families and the system and it was sad to see that we haven't figured out how to fix the situation; if there is a solution.
Two stories parallel in this amazing book that focuses on foster care and the ways it has and has not changed in our country. A young girl who is close to aging out of the system has yet to find a place to call home and just wants to feel at peace in one place. The other story centers around an elderly woman who had to leave New York on an orphan train headed west in hopes of finding a family that would take her in and care for her. They both were abused by families and the system and it was sad to see that we haven't figured out how to fix the situation; if there is a solution.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book and learned a lot that I didn't know about the immigrants coming into the US during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The story switches from the past to modern times and back again. There are some difficult and sad passages, but this book teaches a valuable historical lesson. I would recommend it, and will probably read it again someday.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent novel. It really provided what I was looking for, to be entertained, told a good story. The two female main characters that emerge are so completely likable and strong, and such an unlikely pair. Told a fascinating story of a dark era of American history, but showed that once again, people persevere through the most dismal conditions, and that good people always exist.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was incredible.
Helpful Score: 1
I had not heard of this book until I read about it in the Costco magazine. I ordered it here on PBS and it arrived this morning in the mail. Now, at 8:30pm the same date, I've finished it. It was incredible. I think the author did amazing at weaving the facts about the orphan trains into a story that was believable and compelling. One of the better books I've read! It shouldn't be missed.
Helpful Score: 1
This audio book held my attention from the start. I loved the premise of the older woman reminiscing and the younger woman (with an attitude) listening. The story was interesting and I absolutely enjoyed how it progressed. It combined the past with today beautifully and I fell in love with the characters.
Helpful Score: 1
Really good book and a very novel story--I did not know about the orphan trains in the early 20th century. This was both a compelling read and some great history. I highly recommend this book; it is a quick read in that it moves you along but I was engaged the entire time!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the book. This is a period in history I knew nothing about. The author wove the present and the past together well. I have loaned the book to a friend and she enjoyed as well. Good writing, good story line, but sometimes sad.
Helpful Score: 1
This book was so well researched and written...a very interesting story about two women facing many of the same challenges but generations apart. my only problem was the language... I could see no need for the profanity
Helpful Score: 1
If your a lover of history, this is the book for you. They're not many books out there that can make me shed a tear or two (in truth their is not much that can make me cry period), but this one had the tears welling up and spilling out. All I can say is thank goodness I was sitting in my car alone while waiting for my husband to get out of work.
The orphan trains that were spoke of in the book existed between 1854-1930. These trains would take orphaned or abandoned children from the east coast to the Midwest. Some of the children would be adopted into loving families. Others were indentured to families to work on the farm as labor or to work in the house helping take care of the children and other household duties. Many were abused, beaten, sexually molested, raped, or thrown out to fend for themselves. The really sad part is that these children really had no rights what so ever and many times were not believed if they complained. These were the castaways that no body really wanted.
The story goes back and forth between 2011 Maine and the 1930's and 1940's in Minnesota. We have two main characters, Vivian and Molly.
In this story Vivian was one of the orphan train children. She was an Irish immigrant who was orphaned in New York City. She was handed over to what was called the Children's Aid Society for care and was then placed on one of these trains. Molly is a Native American teenager who has been tossed into bad Foster Homes since she was little. Molly tries to steal a book from the library and is given 50 hours of community service. Molly is directed towards Vivian, who is 91 at the time, to help clean out her attic.
While Molly is helping Vivian with the attic, Vivian's story about her childhood is being told. Molly comes to find out that she and Vivian are not that much different in how they grew up and an unlikely bond grows between the two ladies.
As a mother, reading Vivian's story is quite painful at times to hear. Children did not have many rights during the time Vivian grew up so they could be beaten, made to work long hours with no food, piss poor living conditions, and a host of other things. I think what really ticks me off is that the organizations like the Children's Aid Society ignored what was going on. They knew what kind of life some of these children were going to have and they had no qualms about releasing them into the care of what I would call Monsters. I understand that times were different from now, but how can you look at a child and do what some of these people did. I don't think I will ever understand.
The story is not entirely about the abuse. Vivian and Molly both have their share of some happy moments especially between the middle to the ending of the book. It shows you that even under the most dire circumstances that if you want to survive, you can. Your life is what you make it out to be. The actions in your past should not define who you are. Yes they happened, and yes they really sucked, but you can rise above all the hardships and negativity that you have suffered through. That is why I gave this 5 stars and would highly recommend it.
The orphan trains that were spoke of in the book existed between 1854-1930. These trains would take orphaned or abandoned children from the east coast to the Midwest. Some of the children would be adopted into loving families. Others were indentured to families to work on the farm as labor or to work in the house helping take care of the children and other household duties. Many were abused, beaten, sexually molested, raped, or thrown out to fend for themselves. The really sad part is that these children really had no rights what so ever and many times were not believed if they complained. These were the castaways that no body really wanted.
The story goes back and forth between 2011 Maine and the 1930's and 1940's in Minnesota. We have two main characters, Vivian and Molly.
In this story Vivian was one of the orphan train children. She was an Irish immigrant who was orphaned in New York City. She was handed over to what was called the Children's Aid Society for care and was then placed on one of these trains. Molly is a Native American teenager who has been tossed into bad Foster Homes since she was little. Molly tries to steal a book from the library and is given 50 hours of community service. Molly is directed towards Vivian, who is 91 at the time, to help clean out her attic.
While Molly is helping Vivian with the attic, Vivian's story about her childhood is being told. Molly comes to find out that she and Vivian are not that much different in how they grew up and an unlikely bond grows between the two ladies.
As a mother, reading Vivian's story is quite painful at times to hear. Children did not have many rights during the time Vivian grew up so they could be beaten, made to work long hours with no food, piss poor living conditions, and a host of other things. I think what really ticks me off is that the organizations like the Children's Aid Society ignored what was going on. They knew what kind of life some of these children were going to have and they had no qualms about releasing them into the care of what I would call Monsters. I understand that times were different from now, but how can you look at a child and do what some of these people did. I don't think I will ever understand.
The story is not entirely about the abuse. Vivian and Molly both have their share of some happy moments especially between the middle to the ending of the book. It shows you that even under the most dire circumstances that if you want to survive, you can. Your life is what you make it out to be. The actions in your past should not define who you are. Yes they happened, and yes they really sucked, but you can rise above all the hardships and negativity that you have suffered through. That is why I gave this 5 stars and would highly recommend it.
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent, but sad. I could not put the book down.
Helpful Score: 1
Well written fictionalized story of a historical event. Enjoyed the read and will look for other books from this author.
Helpful Score: 1
Being a history junkie I was shocked that I had never heard of these orphan trains! I loved the history and Vivian's story more than I did Molly's. But, the bond that the women formed, even close to an 80 year age difference, was fun to read about. This books brings awareness to a part of history forgotten and the foster system of today.
Helpful Score: 1
I really liked ORPHAN TRAIN. I learned a lot about a part of American history that I never knew about. I found Vivian's story very compelling, Molly's less so. The end felt rushed--lots of loose ends tied up very quickly, but still a worthwhile read.
Helpful Score: 1
I was previously unaware of this part of our country's history. Ms. Kline brought it to life in this tale of survival and self discovery.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a very well written book. The way in which the main characters (an elderly woman and a teenager) share a connection with respect to their struggles growing up, is truly heartwarming. I was skeptical about whether or not I would like this book, but the more I read, the more I wanted to keep reading. Great book. Talented author!
An interesting piece of history. It's always fascinating and a little disheartening to be reminded that at one time people did depraved and negligent things under the guise of charity. It's even more disheartening to reminded how recent in human history these acts have occurred. What things do we do now that will be view in the same light in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite its sad moments. Having no knowledge about the historical facts of these trains, this book was a most enlightening and gripping saga.
This is a wonderful book that is almost impossible to put down. Very compelling story that I won't forget for a long time to come.
Fantastic story! Beautifully written! Looking forward to her other books!
This was a very interesting story about two girls, one back in the 1920s and one in current time, both of whom are orphans. The 1920s girl traveled from Ireland to New York, where she lost her entire family in a fire and was put on an orphan train and shipped to Minnesota to be adopted;, but the actual truth of the matter was that she was an indentured servant and treated like a slave. Her story was astounding because I am sure there is so much truth to it and evidently happened to a lot of children during that time who were abandoned or orphaned. Just about anyone could take one of these children and treat them any way they wanted.
ORPHAN TRAIN was the May 2014 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove. Many members loved and raved about it, so I'm sorry to say I was pretty underwhelmed.
The story felt redundant after reading THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty a while back, which first introduced me to the history of orphan trains to the Midwest. This book added nothing new to that premise, so I found it largely predictable; and the fictional train rider whose story is at the center of it, Vivian, to be a pretty bland main character as a result.
The storyline of the wayward, foster home teen named Molly going to help Vivian clean her attic and stroll down memory lane, read like such a cliché. Stevie Wonder saw the ending coming years ago! There were no surprises in the story, and nothing that really ever got my interest.
So while ORPHAN TRAIN was well-written, it was a dull and flavorless read to me. Guess it needed better seasoning. I give it a C+.
The story felt redundant after reading THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty a while back, which first introduced me to the history of orphan trains to the Midwest. This book added nothing new to that premise, so I found it largely predictable; and the fictional train rider whose story is at the center of it, Vivian, to be a pretty bland main character as a result.
The storyline of the wayward, foster home teen named Molly going to help Vivian clean her attic and stroll down memory lane, read like such a cliché. Stevie Wonder saw the ending coming years ago! There were no surprises in the story, and nothing that really ever got my interest.
So while ORPHAN TRAIN was well-written, it was a dull and flavorless read to me. Guess it needed better seasoning. I give it a C+.
I couldn't put this book down from the first to the last page and was sorry to see it end. I loved how the friendship developed between a 90 year old woman and a sixteen year old girl. The history of the orphan trains were fascinating and a piece of history I didn't know about. The author put some real life pictures of some of the orphans which made it all real. The ending was perfect!
I don't think I will part with this book, someday I hope to reread it. Loved it!!!
I don't think I will part with this book, someday I hope to reread it. Loved it!!!
This is one of the BEST book I have read in a very long time! could not put it down. this has some great history information that is fascinating. will definitely be reading more of Christina Baker Kline's other books.
I greatly enjoyed this book. As a lover of historical fiction I thought it could've spent more time dwelling on the orphan trains themselves rather than the fictionary children and their lives after the orphan train. The reading group guide in the back of the book was very nice to have, as were the historical comments I'll be them short.
This book was fabulous! I have been sharing it with all my friends. It's based on a real orphan train that would take immigrant orphans across the country and at each stop, people could look them over and adopt them. Of course, it wasn't due to love, it was mostly the need of farm hands or help with child care. This follows a woman's journey across the country,and another woman's story who went to work for an elderly widow. Each story is beautifully told. I can't say enough good things about this book!
Loved loved loved! need I say more?
This is a fast read and just simply enjoyable... The two women in this book are so lovable, yet it maybe that it is their unfortunate circumstances that begs your love to them. Beautifully written.
Great book. Once I picked it up it was impossible to put down
Great book. I never knew about the orphan trains. How sad! This was a great story of 2 women and the similarities in their lives. It is wonderful and ultimately very optimistic. I just loved this book all around.
This book has to have hundreds of reviews for it, all positive. I wont go into another of them. Though this book deserves a very long review full of info and quotes from its pages, what I liked, how I enjoyed the character development, how the story and its components moved my emotions so greatly.. Ill just say this book deserves 100 stars. Its a book where you want to read every word, every line, you dont want to miss anything. Its PERFECT. I LOVED it and can only hope to read another book as in high of a league as this one is this year. I cried like a baby last night when the book came to an end. What an absolute fantastic book.
I enjoyed the book. I liked the way it went back and forth between the characters.
Just started reading Historical Fiction, and this book made me wonder why I took so long to read this genre. Book was very good, and made me want to do more research on Orphan Trains. The connection between the two main characters was a real tear jerker.
When I began reading this book, I couldn't understand why it had so many people wishing for it. Now that I've finished it, I've seen why. I'd heard about the orphan train system but didn't know a lot about it; just that orphans were put on trains in the East, brought westward to find them families. This story matches an orphan in the 1990s with a orphan who rode the orphan train in 1930s, bringing out details of the life of someone who experienced the orphan train. Love the history of the story and how the relationship develops between the two orphans. Love the outcome of a secret that comes out in the story; I'm not sharing because I don't want to spoil the story for you. Read and enjoy! I did!
My favorite passage:
The people who matter in our lives stay with us, haunting our most ordinary moments. They are with us in the grocery store, as we turn a corner, chat with a friend. They rise up through the pavement; we absorb them through our soles.
The people who matter in our lives stay with us, haunting our most ordinary moments. They are with us in the grocery store, as we turn a corner, chat with a friend. They rise up through the pavement; we absorb them through our soles.
Up until page 245 or so, it was a wonderfully well-put-together tale of one woman who was orphaned and put for adoption in the 1920's Orphan Trains, interlaced with a modern day's girl's similar tale of foster care woes. It is lyrical, with kindness but also brutality, a book you wouldn't mind passing on to your great aunt.
That said, this book had an extra 33 pages tacked on to the end, spinning the book out-of-control into a WTfreakin' bizarro ending where none of the characters act like themselves, the main character does a complete 180 turn against the values she's learned throughout the book, and additional tidbits are sloppily thrown in for no apparent reason. I would put a 30% marker that some intern at Wm. Morrow threw this on while it was on the way out the door to the publisher.
5 star to Page 245 2 star to page 278
That said, this book had an extra 33 pages tacked on to the end, spinning the book out-of-control into a WTfreakin' bizarro ending where none of the characters act like themselves, the main character does a complete 180 turn against the values she's learned throughout the book, and additional tidbits are sloppily thrown in for no apparent reason. I would put a 30% marker that some intern at Wm. Morrow threw this on while it was on the way out the door to the publisher.
5 star to Page 245 2 star to page 278
This is a great historical fiction book set during the 25 yr period when 250,000 orphans were sent by train from NY to the Midwest to find families. Extremely well written and engaging.
I loved this book! Based on historical facts of the more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children shipped from eastern cities to the mid-West and offered for 'adoption' by residents. Many were no more than indentured servants kept for their labor. Some were lucky and found loving homes. This books flashes between Vivian (aka Nieve/Dorothy) who was sent away when she was very young and taken in by several families and rejected until one family gives her a home. Flash to a young girl, Molly, who is in the Foster Care system current day, who comes to do community service at Vivian's house, now 90+ YO. The two connect and through vastly different but oddly similar experiences, they bond. Excellent story!!!! I didn't want it to end!
Hum, I don't know what all the hype and 5 star reviews were about on this book.
The story was long drawn, slow to build and very dull. The back and forth is usually entertaining and keeps the storyline moving along but in this case it was did nothing but make you confused and wonder if the characters were ever going to get interesting.
Barely made it through.
The story was long drawn, slow to build and very dull. The back and forth is usually entertaining and keeps the storyline moving along but in this case it was did nothing but make you confused and wonder if the characters were ever going to get interesting.
Barely made it through.
Great story based on a true part of our American history. Highly recommend it.
I was not sure what the book was about. It seemed interesting to learn about the Orphan Trains back in history. From 1854 to 1929,so called orphan trains transported more than two hundred thousand orphaned, abandoned and homeless children from the coastal cities of the eastern United States to the Midwest for
"adoption" which often turned out to be indentured servitude. This book is the story of one such girl.The author does an excellent job of bringing together that story along with the story of a modern foster child of today 2011. Both are longing to find a people to accept them and to feel safe. Two unlikely true-hearted women who disrupt one another's lives in beautiful ways.
"adoption" which often turned out to be indentured servitude. This book is the story of one such girl.The author does an excellent job of bringing together that story along with the story of a modern foster child of today 2011. Both are longing to find a people to accept them and to feel safe. Two unlikely true-hearted women who disrupt one another's lives in beautiful ways.
Tear jerker
Abuse, resilience, historical fiction
Abuse, resilience, historical fiction
I read the book in a few days. A very short but easy read. I had heard abt the book and was interested in the topic. I thought it was very well written and enjoyed the story lines. I would recommend the book to all readers, especially those like myself who are older and remember hearing of stories such as these.
WOW, I loved this book. I had no idea about the real orphan trains. I knew the lives of children could be difficult at best during the industrial age. I had no idea how hard. When given how difficult their lives were, it was still viewed as better than living as an orphan. And the people who tried to help them only to hand them over to work as indentured servants thinking this was going to be a better life. This is a story of 2 young girls who for all intents and purposes are parentless. One in the early 1900's and one in the early 2000's. Although times have changed both are facing a life of "me against the world". How their lives become intertwined is heartwarming, how the modern teen helps the aged find her memories and process her story is well worth the read. I will be rereading this over and over as it is now one of my favorites. The best thing is it is based on true events, even if not a true story in and of itself.
Historical fiction. A good story
Story of orphans from NY re-settled with/adopted by families in rural areas. Based on historic program.
excellent fictional story about a real happening --orphan trains.
I have very mixed opinions about this book. From a historical perspective, I am very glad that I read it. I had never heard of the Orphan Trains before, and I was appreciative of the enlightenment that this story provided.
For me, the rest of the story was something of a disappointment. I was not overly fond of Klines writing style, and I would never consider this book to be beautifully written. Given the subject matter, I feel like that should have been a given.
The main characters, Vivian and Molly, were painfully thin in spite of multiple opportunities to give them real depth. The revelation of Vivians big secret made me absolutely furious did she learn nothing from her childhood experience after all? And with all that talk of ghosts in the beginning, Molly seemed like one herself. To me, her character lacked gravity, leaving her to float through this story only half-formed.
Kline also makes multiple attempts to work in the noble struggles of different races, ethnicities, and cultural belief systems (the Penobscot Indians and Irish immigrants, for example), yet she describes Mollys modern-day foster mother (arguably the most vicious, self-centered and hateful person in the book) primarily as someone who listens to conservative talk radio, belongs to a fundamentalist Christian church, and has a Guns dont kill people abortion clinics do bumper sticker on her car. It was an eye-rolling moment for me and one of those times when I lose the voice of the characters and see the authors own opinions peeking from behind the pages instead.
This book is beneficial because it shines a spotlight on an important period in our nations history. And while the Orphan Train children deserve to be remembered, I feel like the rest of this book is worthy of being forgotten.
For me, the rest of the story was something of a disappointment. I was not overly fond of Klines writing style, and I would never consider this book to be beautifully written. Given the subject matter, I feel like that should have been a given.
The main characters, Vivian and Molly, were painfully thin in spite of multiple opportunities to give them real depth. The revelation of Vivians big secret made me absolutely furious did she learn nothing from her childhood experience after all? And with all that talk of ghosts in the beginning, Molly seemed like one herself. To me, her character lacked gravity, leaving her to float through this story only half-formed.
Kline also makes multiple attempts to work in the noble struggles of different races, ethnicities, and cultural belief systems (the Penobscot Indians and Irish immigrants, for example), yet she describes Mollys modern-day foster mother (arguably the most vicious, self-centered and hateful person in the book) primarily as someone who listens to conservative talk radio, belongs to a fundamentalist Christian church, and has a Guns dont kill people abortion clinics do bumper sticker on her car. It was an eye-rolling moment for me and one of those times when I lose the voice of the characters and see the authors own opinions peeking from behind the pages instead.
This book is beneficial because it shines a spotlight on an important period in our nations history. And while the Orphan Train children deserve to be remembered, I feel like the rest of this book is worthy of being forgotten.
