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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Sad time in history
Very heart warming and uplifting. It’ll teach you about a time in our history when America wasn’t so protective of it’s children. but the ending is well worth the journey.
Unforgettable & informative of a long ago time.
Interesting sad history. First part of the book was fascinating.
Excellent writing. Interesting story.
Had no idea there were real orphan trains. Good story.
I think the book would’ve been good but I just could not get past the profanity .
The is a good story about two strong female characters. Each of them faced many challenges in their lives but continued to remain positive and hopeful.
Brilliant! Enthralling, and kept me fully engaged with the characters – from such sad beginnings, two wonderful people emerged. Well worth reading.
Loved this book!
The book held my attention – and a fascinating part of history that most of us probably don’t know really happened. it would be interesting to find out what happened to so many of the different train orphans.
This was a very good book. I never realized how the orphans at that time were just sent wherever the government wanted to send them. It was sad at times but I marveled how strong the orphans were.
Powerful, disturbing and inspirational.
Heartwarming and sad into the life of a young girl left as an orphan after coming to America as a child. Great read.
This book spotlights a forgotten or unknown period of our country when children were taken by train to other areas of the country in hopes of finding a home. Sometimes the children were taken in and loved as family, but unfortunately many ended up in an almost indentured servant status.
Excellent story!!!
I had no idea this activity existed and for so long!
Great book. Couldn’t put it down.
One of the best I’ve read this year.
When I first started it I wasn’t sure, but after a little bit it was wonderful. All of the characters were so real and the heart ache was real.