Many readers have criticized the author for painting some of the charactersespecially in mollys presentday storywith broad brushstrokes. Mollys narrative is, undeniably, the weaker of the two. Waukon republicanstandard kench, helen 10 nov 19 thompson. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. I found this book orphan train so interesting that i just wanted to sit and read it all in one go. The orphans tale by pam jenoff posted february 24, 2017 by meezcarrie in historical, pam jenoff 12 comments a powerful novel of friendship set in a traveling circus during world war ii, the orphans tale introduces two extraordinary women and their harrowing stories of. Warren also researched agents of the childrens aid society, and this book. This novel deftly juxtaposes the experiences of two seemingly unrelated individuals, a young, troubled penobscot woman and a 91 year old irish immigrant. Christina baker kline will be visiting the bookstore to present from her exceptionally wonderful new novel orphan train. The story of the orphan train movement is very interesting. Orphan train has become an international bestseller, having sold over two million copies in thirtyfive countries. New york state, where the the era of the orphan trains began and from where 273,000 children were transported by rail, has yet to memorialize the childrens journey. For more information on the national orphan train complex.
Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Orphan train podcast new york cityin the 1850s, new york claimed between five and six hundred newsboys, most of whom came from poor irish or german families. A treasure trove of information and links relating to orphan train from which. Belonging and connection molly ayer and vivian daly, two women born in different places and eras and who were orphaned as young children, both. To get you started, weve put together a list of 20 surefire conversation starters, ranging from the best contemporary literature to historical fiction, memoirs, and history. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed onto a train and sent to the midwest. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss. By jean sexton in brooklyn, new york in 1912, an irish carpenter, who was the father of five children, died as the result of an industrial accident. This organization is dedicated to keeping the story of the orphan trains alive by hosting events, exhibitions, reunions and aiding in genealogical research. Niamh pronounced neeve is renamed dorothy and then vivian by a succession of families who take her in. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan and train. The orphan train movement meet your next favorite book. Louisianas legislature has even set aside almost a quarter of a million dollars to erect a museum. A treasure trove of information and links relating to orphan train from which many of the other links on.
They started their journey in new york and were given away in train. Goodreads members who liked orphan train also liked. Rebecca langstongeorge tells the story of seven orphans who were settled with families in the midwest by the childrens aid society. Kline tells this enlightening and emotionally engaging story based on true accounts of the orphan train movement in early 20th century america. An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of starcrossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of riding. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in orphan train, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Hedlunds cinderella story, shedding light on the hardships women faced in both the east coast cities and the developing west in the 1850s, is a pleasant romance with plenty of twists to keep readers engaged until the final page. Orphan train by christina baker kline i remember at the age of 10 or so reading a novel about the late19th and early 20thcentury orphan trains, which took children and babies from east coast slums and brought them to the midwest, where they were given an opportunity for a potentially prosperous new life in the fresh rural air. Apr 02, 20 vivians journey west was aboard an orphan train, a bit of misguided 1900sera social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into midwest families.
Orphan train riders, from the riders on the orphan train multimedia performance at union depot in st. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train free library of. Aug 18, 2018 the orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. Scatcherd is the matron of the orphan train during vivianniamh, dutchy and carmine s ride. Jan 21, 2017 explore cynthiadavis102s board orphan train, followed by 180. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Dating back to 1832, the books record a history of the efforts of the afgs to aid destitute children inhabiting. My new papa was a big man with a moustache and a kind face. Riders on the orphan train is a novel about a little known piece of american history. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. You want books that are thoughtprovoking and intelligent but still approachable. Instant downloads of all 1297 litchart pdfs including orphan train.
This is the first one that feels, instead, like fate. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains transported more than 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children many of them firstgeneration irish catholic. Orphan train rider stories i rode the train to missouri and lived a happily ever after life. She is smart, strict, and authoritative, but wishes the children well and does her best to take care of their needs on the train. In the attic, molly unwraps objects from vivians childhood, each providing the vehicle for a transition to vivians arduous experiences, first in new york, then on the orphan train, and finally in minnesota, where shes shunted from one desperate foster home. The main difference between the two versions, other than length, is the protagonists age. The story is about 2 characters and swaps so easily between vivians story as a young girl and present time for mollys story. Reminiscent of elizabeth strouts amy and isabel, this orphan train carries us along until the stories of these two women become one. This is a shortened, yamiddlegrade version of orphan train, the popular adult novel that traces the stories of two orphaned girls, vivian in the early part of the. Take a trip back in time to the early 20th century in america, where ethan cooper and his orphaned siblings are on a mission to find a family. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose. This list is alphabetical by the orphans real last name, if known, or by the surname of their adopted family. Christina has longed to write a scene in which she clarifies vivians motivations.
Apr 10, 2014 orphan train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from christina baker kline, author of bird in hand and the way life should be penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. Marguerite thompson the larsons had two sons other than teddy. Kline has written six other novels orphan train, orphan train girl, the way life should be, sweet water, bird in hand, and desire lines and written or edited five works of nonfiction. Ann packerbetween 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the. A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of americas history. Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who, as the result of spending time together and sharing their experiences, form a bond, learn from each other, and change in. This easytoread adventure is number 18 in the successful series that has now sold over 450,000 books in the series. And yes, i readily admit that there are stereotypes and caricatures in this book. Orphan train themes from litcharts the creators of.
Molly, half indian, has stolen a library book and is. Click on the names below to view a story of an orphan train rider. As she helps vivian sort through her possessions and memories, molly learns that they arent as different as they seem to be. Orphan train is a specifically american story of mobility and rootlessness, highlighting a littleknown but historically significant moment in our countrys past. In real life, orphan trains were intended to save children from the streets, but sometimes. Descendants of those first orphan train riders returned to dowagiac to remember their. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
Apr 02, 20 a penobscot indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. Please use the link provided below to generate a unique link valid for 24hrs. The adolescent labor force expanded in the 1880s and 1890s when eleven million new immigrants poured into the country. Margaret mahagan was born in boston, ma on 15 dec 1876. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. The elderly white woman is an orphan too and traveled west in 1929 on an orphan train. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Orphan train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from christina baker kline, author of bird in hand and the way life should be penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. Winner of the 2007 bookbrowse award for most popular book. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1.
Papa was a big man with a moustache and a kind face. Feb 25, 2016 however, vivian was an orphan during the great depression and molly is an orphan today. Riders on the orphan train is an historical novel about a littleknown piece of american history. More than 200,000 homeless children were sent west on the trains. They had a lady that came and washed the clothes on a. Orphan train rider stories national orphan train complex. Find books like orphan train from the worlds largest community of readers.
Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who, as the result of spending time together and sharing their experiences, form a bond, learn from each other, and change in significant ways. Vivian traveled from nyc to minnesota as a young girl on one of the infamous orphan trains that was used to get orphans out of the cities into the country where they might have a better opportunity to find families and to be able to make a good life. Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the country. Buy this book klines absorbing new novel after bird in the hand is a heartfelt pageturner. Favorite quotes ultimately, this book is about the difficult lifestyle that many foster children go.
Orphan train tackles some pretty heavy themes, such as finding family and figuring out your identity. Choosing a book for your book club to read can be challenging. Christina baker klines adapts her bestselling orphan train for young readers with orphan train girl. Both of her parents are believed to have been born in ireland. Another lady made all of our clothes except for our underwear. Marguerite thompson these resources are all available, both separately and together, at. They had a lady that came and washed the clothes on a wash board. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in book club books.
A young irish immigrant orphaned in new york city, vivian was put on a train to the midwest with hundreds of other children. The orphan train movement lasted over seventyfive years and took over 100,000 children to. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. May 02, 2017 christina baker klines adapts her bestselling orphan train for young readers with orphan train girl. This book was based on fact of the orphan train program which ran for around 80 years in the united states. New york central train, 1929 union station, chicago, 1929 spruce harbor, maine, 2011 spruce harbor, maine, 2011 the milwaukee train, 1929. This is not the actual book orphan train by christina baker kline. A novel by christina baker kline conversation starters limited time offer. Through reading the book and completing any of the suggested activities, students can achieve any. Books similar to orphan train meet your next favorite book. Six months later, a sixth child was born to the thirtyfive year old widow who was working hard to keep.
Dec, 2016 since the publication of her smash international bestseller orphan train, christina baker kline has met with countless readers and book clubs and is often asked the same question about a key decision one of her protagonists makes in orphan train. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of juvie and worse. Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and surrendered children were placed out across the country. These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. The record books that tom riley found in the hay loft are now part of the complexs archive. Book overview between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Orphan train historical background from the authors website orphan train rider history. It is said that 2,000,000 americans are descended from orphan train riders. Rich in detail and epic in scope, the train rider is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendships, and of the secrets we carry with us that keep us from finding out who we are.
The orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. Brought together by mollys community service sentence, seventeenyearold molly learns that she has much more in common with ninetyoneyearold vivian than she first thought. During labor day weekend 2004, dowagiac celebrated the 150. The first orphan trains left grand central station in late 1853 for dowagiac, michigan.
Orphan train girl by christina baker kline, paperback. They befriend an orphan who is falsely accused of being part of a train robbery. Apr 02, 20 a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly ayer out of juvie and worse. Collect all four volumes of the beyond the orphan train series. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. This is a list of orphan train riders madonna harm put together over the years.
Anyone interested in learning more about this should read orphan train by christina baker kline. Orphan train ebook by christina baker kline rakuten kobo. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked her about the novel. Vivians journey west was aboard an orphan train, a bit of misguided 1900sera social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into midwest families. The first concerns a frustrated, angry teen who has been bounced around the foster care system from one uncaring home to another, unloved and generally unwanted. I would have given this 4 stars but there were so many typos that i felt my brain starting to fry. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. Orphan train all in all my entire life has felt like chance. But in interviews, and on her blog, kline says one of the major themes she wanted to tackle.
One of the book s protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed onto a train and sent to the midwest. A goodreads choice nominee for fiction, orphan train weaves together two narratives. Home theater ms the orphan train libguides at berkeley. Historical fiction books national orphan train complex. Beyond the orphan train series, volumes 14 by arleta richardson. Orphan train characters from litcharts the creators of. Patrick and beth arrive on an orphan train, heading west. They started their journey in new york and were given away in train stations across the country.
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