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Orphan Train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from Christina Baker Kline, author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be.
Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community-service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse….
As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.
Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.
Purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
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Thanks Mary 🙂 🙂
Just got my copy, doing it on Kindle this time so I can read it without my book light 🙂 Sounds like an interesting story.
Done. And thank you to whoever picked this book for making me cry!!! 🙂
I really enjoyed this book. I liked it a lot. I enjoyed the characters and the story. The time going back and forth did not bother me too much, as I thought it was well done. The narration being 3rd and 1st person combined always annoys me. It seems run of the mill to have wacky narration in books these days. But, that did not detract from me enjoying the book.
I enjoyed how Molly’s story paralleled Vivian’s, and how we saw glimpses into each of their lives. I felt like the orphan part of the story was definitely the most prominent, and rightly so given the title. The rest of the story, like the last 1/4 of the book, felt rushed and was definitely not as detailed as the rest of the book.
I love how Vivian met up with Dutchy again. But, oh lordy, I could not handle when he died. That part was rough and I was mad at the book for a little while. The ending help make up for that a little. I liked how Molly got to experience a sort of happy ending through Vivian.
Really liked this pick!
I like to read up on authors and stories, and I was fascinated about what I read regarding the orphan train movement. I had never heard of it! Learning more about it was both sad and interesting at the same time.
And I had no idea that Christina Baker Kline was one of the ladies last year that accused George HW Bush of touching her inappropriately at a photo op. Ick! I remember reading that story, but I did not realize it was this author.
Woo hoo! I found this book on FB and took a chance on it. glad you liked it. I’m starting it this week.
Cool! I think you will like it. I could totally see this book as a movie or show. I’d watch it!
Oh boy – It was not a good idea to listen to this audio book in the car, while driving in traffic. I was thrilled when she found Dutchy again, and completely heartbroken when he died in the war. I cried even more when she made the decision to give their baby up for adoption.
I loved the parallels in the story and it made Vivian’s and Molly’s connection seem so natural and fitting. It was just as fitting that Anne of Green Gables made a cameo in the book. Though i found myself waiting for Vivien or Molly to find their “Matthew”. I can’t even imagine what that’s like – to be boarded onto a train and put at the mercy of strangers. Not everyone is lucky enough to find a good heart. I wish I could have seen Vivian connect more with the Nielson’s. I wanted to see that relationship build and to know that she was more than help in a store.
But I really enjoyed this book. Very well written.
I am so far behind on the BOTMs, but I’m trying to get caught up. Currently I’m a little over half way through Orphan Train. So far I really like it. Usually with books that switch between time lines, I like one time better than the other but so far I liking both time lines. I think it helps that I like both Molly and Vivian as narrators.
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