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Orphan Train
Orphan Train
Author: Christina Baker Kline
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 ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781624903298
ISBN-10: 1624903290
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 278
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 8

4.1 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: William Morrow Harper Collins
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

bullyrescue avatar reviewed Orphan Train on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
Weaving together the stories of 2 abandoned children, one from the past and one from the present.

I am quite new at reviewing the books I read, but will try more because I understand how important they are to authors.

I loved this book and plan on reading it again.

The point of view was kinda confusing at first. However as a read it more and more I began to understand what the author was trying to say, by the way the characters interacted and brought the story to life.
Many times while reading I felt like I was right there in 1929 on the train or in the houses that Viv found herself. I did not live in the 1920s or 1930s, but the things at happened and descriptions really made me feel like was living in the time. I had to wait over 200 pages for something to happen but it definitely was worth the wait.
The current setting in 2011 is also just as amazing.

I lost many hours of sleeping reading the Orphan Train. The story, character development, and descriptions are first class.

"I was stunned to learn about the breadth and scope of the orphan train movement, which transported a reported two hundred thousand children from the East Coast to the Midwest between 1854 and 1929". (authors quote page 275)
TakingTime avatar reviewed Orphan Train on + 1072 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 11
Great book - more than well worth the read - an elderly woman, Vivian - who had ridden the orphan train as a child - meets and developes a friendship with a young girl,Molly, also a victim of her circumstances. It tells how the friendship progresses and the wonderful relationship and healing that both women go thru. An unlikely pair, that by giving, receive so much more back. 4 stars
paisleywings avatar reviewed Orphan Train on + 232 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
An awesome book. The life of two people of different generations experience the life as orphans. One, as a young girl from the orphan train, and the sadness that follows.

Then there is the current orphan moving from foster to foster.

Eventually their lives collide and secrets are spilled.
reviewed Orphan Train on + 145 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Oh, what a good book! Children on an Orphan Train, being sent along the way in hopes of being adopted by a family in each town. The story is basically about an old woman, once on the train herself and a young girl, who is in search of her identity and "herself". It seems unlikely they would come together. The author takes you between then and now, and writes in such a way that you can't help but care about the characters. This is a book you'll savor; I know I sure did.
lmtaylor33 avatar reviewed Orphan Train on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author did a good job of developing the friendship between the 2 main characters. She also did an excellent job of describing how the "orphan train" system worked and how the children who were part of that system were treated (or mistreated I should say).
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kiorabree avatar reviewed Orphan Train on + 39 more book reviews
An interesting piece of history. It's always fascinating and a little disheartening to be reminded that at one time people did depraved and negligent things under the guise of charity. It's even more disheartening to reminded how recent in human history these acts have occurred. What things do we do now that will be view in the same light in the future.
23dollars avatar reviewed Orphan Train on + 432 more book reviews
ORPHAN TRAIN was the May 2014 pick in my online book club, The Reading Cove. Many members loved and raved about it, so I'm sorry to say I was pretty underwhelmed.

The story felt redundant after reading THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriarty a while back, which first introduced me to the history of orphan trains to the Midwest. This book added nothing new to that premise, so I found it largely predictable; and the fictional train rider whose story is at the center of it, Vivian, to be a pretty bland main character as a result.

The storyline of the wayward, foster home teen named Molly going to help Vivian clean her attic and stroll down memory lane, read like such a cliché. Stevie Wonder saw the ending coming years ago! There were no surprises in the story, and nothing that really ever got my interest.

So while ORPHAN TRAIN was well-written, it was a dull and flavorless read to me. Guess it needed better seasoning. I give it a C+.
Sherry avatar reviewed Orphan Train on
Just started reading Historical Fiction, and this book made me wonder why I took so long to read this genre. Book was very good, and made me want to do more research on Orphan Trains. The connection between the two main characters was a real tear jerker.

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