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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Excellent read. Total unknown piece of American history.
This historical fiction will take you on a journey and enlighten you about the skeletons in the closets of our past.
Wonderful book.
A well written book about a tragic time in our history.
Way too many coincidences which always tells me that the author is looking for an easy way to tell the story.
Really agood read that opened my eyes to the plight of orphan’s in the 1800’s. Not depressing but told the orphan’s stories and easy to read.
fantastic!
Excellent read! Enjoyed it and will read it again.
What a great book! Those children had to grow up sooo fast!
It was thought provoking and made me appreciate my family.
Good story
Couldn’t put down
Great read. History of immigrant children that I had no idea about and how they were able to survive.
Described a bit of history of which I had no former knowledge.
Such a wonderful read
For young adults.
Gteat book! I had not read much about ourhistory.
Very interesting and enjoyable read. I didn’t really know what the orphan train was. The author seemed to have researched the topic—even interviewed older adults that had been on the train as a child.
I thought the book was interesting and informative. I am glad I read it.
Great book! Makes you think through societies problems. The real world is very hard. Reflective of foster children back then and now. Writer was Fantastic and did her homework.