The #1 New York Times BestsellerNow featuring a sneak peek at Christina’s forthcoming novel A Piece of the World, coming February 2017.Christina Baker Kline’s #1 New York Times bestselling novel—the captivating story of a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to long-buried questions…now with an … leads her to seek answers to long-buried questions…now with an extended scene that addresses the number one question readers ask, and an excerpt from Kline’s upcoming novel A Piece of the World.
“A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of America’s history. Beautiful.”—Ann Packer
Between 1854 and 1929, so-called 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. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?
As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. 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.
Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
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I thought this book was well written and the story very touching. Children are the innocent players in stories of real life. This is a Must Read story that will help is to see an important aspect of American development and attitudes.
This story was eye opening, and very sad to think this has really happened.
I learned about a phase of American history I never heard of — sending orphans off on trains to the Midwest.
Wonderful and historic story. Recommended to all my serious reading friends.
I loved this story and will probably read it again in time. The story is based on a real and tragic period in our history. The strength of these children to survive the circumstances they were in bordered on heroism. This story was wonderfully told and I highly recommend it.
I have been wanting to get to this book for awhile, and I am so glad I did. I didn’t know much about the orphan trains, so that was interesting. I loved the characters. It was a little confusing at times when the author jumped back and forth through time and I was trying to see the relationship between the characters, but I quickly got it. The …
This was a very good book, very moving. I enjoyed it very much
Just ok.
Based on historical events. Orphans from two generations interact. One in foster care in modern times and one from years ago when big city orphans were shipped to the midwest to be adopted sometimes as farm labor and servants and sometimes for love.
Really good story
I part of history I didn’t know happened.
I give it 5 stars
Interesting representation of a historical event.
Loved this book and the characters. Very richly written.
I love historical fiction. Well written, keeps you interested
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was definitely a page turner with a great storyline.
This book shed light on a dark time in the USA. Sending our children off in hopes of a better life for them.
Fluffy. Hard to put down. Loved the history and now want to learn more about the “Orphan Trains.” Vivian’s story much more compelling than Molly’s. There were points where Molly was talking about her life in the foster care system and mentioned an awful house she lived in, with no more detail about it. I would have liked the more detail. Also, the …
This is the story of two people – Molly (a foster care kid that has been troubled her whole life) and Vivian (a kindly old woman who is looking for some help around the house). Molly gets caught stealing a book from the library and is sentenced to community service hours. Her boyfriend gets her a job helping Vivian clean out her attic. During …
Loved it! It was so informative as I did not know that orphan trains existed. It was a very entertaining read.