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 was not aware of anything like orphan trains. It was an eye opening book for me. I enjoyed the story although it started with tragic beginning.
Enjoyed the tale. A sad, dark chapter in the history of child protection.
Heartbreaking yet insirational.
I never knew anything about The Orphan Train. I discovered this book from watching an interview with one of the real life orphans. It shocked me and inspired me to hear the stories. If you enjoy learning about American history, you’ll enjoy this book.
Great book!!
Loved the book . Gave me insight into orphans and their lives. Had heard about the Orphan train, so happy I read the book .
Very good reading.
Loved this book!!!
Exceptional book, exceptionally well written.
One of my all-time favorite books.
I have read this book twice. The two main characters are well developed so the reader can identify with them. It was interesting to put two characters together with such a large age difference. The historical part that included the orphan train was realistic.
good historical fiction
I lost several consecutive nights of sleep over this book – couldn’t put it down.
Interesting
It was a wonderful book and unfortunately true. Man t people don’t realize this.
As a mother who has adopted, I found this book interesting and thought-provoking.
Too predictable.
Enjoyed the parralel lives aspect of this book
This book kept me turning pages to see what the outcome would be.
Wonderful story about the children who weren’t wanted in the cities and sent to farms to be “adopted”. Historically there really were children in the 30’s who were transported to a different life. Some were lucky, some were not.