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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Wow, this book was amazing and incredibly hard to put down! What a great story both past and present. The main characters were so real and very likeable. This would make such a GREAT movie!! I highly recommend it!!
Knowing that the Orphan Train came through my immediate story really intriqued me. Sad but informative story
I learned about a portion of US history that I never knew happened.
Magnificent. Educational. Historical
Did not know about this chapter in our history. Very sad.
This is historical fiction at its best.
a great read!
It was an excellent book that had an unpredictable ending.
Developed good characters but seemed to end abruptly.
It was horrible what we did to the orphans in the early 20th century sending them on trains to somewhere they knew nothing about only to become cheap labor for the farmesr who took them in.
a piece of American history we don’t often hear about
One of the best books I have ever read. I had no idea that this was a part of our history.
We were all surprised to find Ken Follett could write such an engrossing beautiful tale and could hardly wait for the ones to follow. Well son !
Educational and entertaining
A powerful, yet sad tale. It was wonderfully written and extremely informative about a tragic part of our history.
I couldn’t put this book down! I learned so much about the orphan trains. It is such a sad part of our history. I read it in three days every chance I could. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next to these characters. The writing was amazing!
I couldn’t put it down
Couldn’t put this book down!
A step back in our history can be difficult to accept, but needed so we don’t repeat. Wait, it’s happening now.
I loved this one. The story grabbed me from the beginning and kept my interest until the last page.