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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Love this book and author
Love learning about real events in history, even when they are terribly sad.
Never read a book that incorporated circus life into the story…fascinating!
My 97 year old mother remembered these trains in New York
Orphan Train is a wonderful story which explores the many facets of loneliness, t the search to belong .
I had no idea before I read this book that these trains and the buying of children even existed. It was so sad that a child was a commodity, often bought for service to the family. It was in some cases a form of slavery and not considered against the law.
One of my favorite books
Wonderful book that meshes young and old lives together. I highly recommend!
I just wanted to keep reading
Great story about a time in history. It talks about belief, survival, and love.
Wow; I loved this book!! It was interesting and the characters seemed realistic. There were segments of depressing scenes; but since the book began later in time, you knew that things worked out okay in the long run – so I was able to endure the sadness with hope.
This is not the normal kind of story I usually read. But once I started and became engaged with the story and the characters, it kept me interested to the end. And I was glad it did. They can’t all be crime thrillers!
What about the children. Inspiring story of children without a home！
loved the story and a bit of history
Story of what children of World Warll left without parents or parents who feared for their lives were driven to.
Wonderful historical book which I highly recommend.
Very enjoyable read!
A Real life historical happening. I was amazed at how this took place and the impact on those children. Some were very fortunate to find good homes and make a good life after their unfortunate start in life.
A bit of history I was not aware of.
Never knew this actually happened in history. Really well written.