This young readers’ edition of Christina Baker Kline’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel Orphan Train follows a twelve-year-old foster girl who forms an unlikely bond with a ninety-one-year-old woman.
Adapted and condensed for a young audience, Orphan Train Girl includes an author’s note and archival photos from the orphan train era. This book is especially perfect for mother/daughter reading … book is especially perfect for mother/daughter reading groups.
Molly Ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years old. Most of the time, Molly knows it’s her attitude that’s the problem, but after being shipped from one family to another, she’s had her fair share of adults treating her like an inconvenience. So when Molly’s forced to help an a wealthy elderly woman clean out her attic for community service, Molly is wary.
But from the moment they meet, Molly realizes that Vivian isn’t like any of the adults she’s encountered before. Vivian asks Molly questions about her life and actually listens to the answers.
Soon Molly sees they have more in common than she thought. Vivian was once an orphan, too—an Irish immigrant to New York City who was put on a so-called “orphan train” to the Midwest with hundreds of other children—and she can understand, better than anyone else, the emotional binds that have been making Molly’s life so hard.
Together, they not only clear boxes of past mementos from Vivian’s attic, but forge a path of friendship, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
more
I couldn’t put this book down when I started reading it. What a delightful story based on orphaned children sent from New York to the Midwest for adoption in the early 1900s. They were handed over to strangers to raise. Some who adopted them had the children’s best interest at heart; others just wanted free labor. It is really a book of two stories. One is based on an orphan’s experience adopted to strangers and the other about a modern young woman who also lacks family ties. I am eagerly waiting to read more books by this author.
Absolutely loved this book.
One of my favorite books
A very good book,
the story revealed a time in history that I was unaware of. Comparing what happened to the senior character to our current foster care system was enlightening. Great book, enjoyable read.
This was a great book, with unforgettable characters
What made this book so interesting to me is that it was based on a practice that actually occurred. I certainly never heard about it in history class while growing up! It was recommended to me by my librarian and I certainly recommend it to anyone else!!
This is a just have to read books… This was one of those!
Very enjoyable read. I loved this historical novel.
Fantastic story with insight into period historical events. I saw the author speak at a community read forum. Her research was deep, with a personal connection. Would be a great book for teens as well as adults.
The book is historical fiction and very informative about an era in American history that was new to me. Sad, sweet, and apprehensive moments for children to face as trains take orphans to meet their new adoptive parents. Those with scaring heart will find the story heartbreaking at times and heartwarming at other moments. Very good read!
One of the best book and met the author
Both Orphan Train and Orphan Train Girl (young readers edition) are amazing! I use Orphan Train Girl in my classroom with Bookclubs and my 6th graders love this book.
Never knew about orphans being taken across the country and the often hard lives they had to endure. Would like to read more about this.
It is hard to believe that such things happened to so many children in past times in America . Heart warming examples of courage and love in the face of unimaginable desperate circumstance. Well written I flew through it in one day.
Loved this book. It shows how hard it was for the children who were packed up and moved out of New York to other parts of the country. Many of them were mistreated in their new homes. Molly was a trouble teen in our day who had been moved from foster home to foster home. Nobody really wanted her. Mrs. Daly (Vivian) was a girl who was sent away from New York City on the orphan train after losing her family in a fire. These two formed a bond that brought them together.
This is the teen version of The Orphan Train. It would be wonderful for teens to read. It is a little known part of our American history.
Great read. Opens your eyes to things that happened and what people were like under different circumstances.
The amount of historical research was great. Also, in a completely different vein, I truly enjoyed jumping from one character and era to the other. The surprising and completely satisfying marriage as well as the submission of the paper to the library made the endings of both segments satisfying. The idea that life can be good enough if not perfect was valuable for any reader.
Extremely well written saga. Highly recommended!