They were part of what is now known as the orphan train movement, a sweeping attempt to protect homeless, poor and orphaned children in a time before social welfare or foster care. They had no idea that they were on an orphan train or that they had become. Placing out in america bison book marilyn irvin holt on. Christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. Orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship. These children traveled on what became popularly called orphan trains.
Books similar to orphan train goodreads share book. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. I couldnt believe id never heard about this major event in american history. Readers who are unfamiliar with this episode in american history might be surprised to learn about the hardships and be struck by the parallels between niamhvivians experience nearly a hundred years ago and the foster care system today. Kline has written six other novels orphan train, orphan train girl, the way life should be, sweet water, bird in hand, and desire lines and written or edited five works of nonfiction. The american orphan trains ancestral findings podcast af. Many arkansans can trace their roots to children who were relocated to arkansas. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster. Apr 02, 20 vivians journey west was aboard an orphan train, a bit of misguided 1900sera social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into midwest families. Written by rachel walman assistant director, dimenna childrens history museum sources.
Her mother, sophia kaminsky hillesheim, 1917 orphan train rider, was one of the children of the orphan trains taking part in a phenomenal journey from new york city to the midwest. Rich in detail and epic in scope, the train rider is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendships, and of the secrets we carry with us that keep us from finding out who we are. Jul 20, 2018 but the orphan train contributed to ideas we take for granted today. In orphan train, the central featured historical event is the orphan train movement, which involved relocating orphans from. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. Ann packermoving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship. Aug 18, 2018 the orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. They take niamh to the childrens aid society, and the agency sends niamh out to the midwest on an orphan train. A novel about the orphan train movement in the us at the start of the. We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Renee wendinger is from minnesota and is the youngest of five children. Cathy marie buchanan, nyt bestselling author of the day the falls stood still and the painted girls i loved this book. Orphan train by christina baker kline 20, paperback. Christina baker kline born 1964 is an american novelist. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more. Its a clear explanation of a phenomenon in american history which i never knew existed. For more information on the national orphan train complex visit. Goodreads members who liked orphan train also liked. Othsafounded in 1986 in springdale washington and benton countiespreserves the history of the orphan train era, a period when thousands of children were relocated across the country.
Orphan train is a harrowing but ultimately uplifting story about this historical phenomenon. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed. The orphan trains, by marilyn irvin holt, is simply excellent. An american friend read a novel about the orphan trains so i bought a nonfiction book about it worth every penny. Library journal in orphan train, christina baker kline seamlessly knits together the past and present of two women, one young and one old.
From 1854 to 1929 an estimated 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed throughout the united states and canada during the orphan train movement. Meticulously researched and yet full of the breath of life, klines novel takes us on an historical journey where survival depends upon ones own. The orphan train movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the midwest. It is a little known fact of americas history and one i knew nothing about. With compassion and delicacy kline presents a littleknown chapter of american history and draws comparisons with the modernday foster care system. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
Christina baker klines adapts her bestselling orphan train for young readers with orphan train girl. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything orperhaps most importantlyourselves. Klines book tells the story of a 91yearold woman with a hidden past as an orphan train rider. A solid contribution on a littleknown phenomenon, this book. I particularly enjoyed the authors discussion of how child rearing views were changing during this time in american history.
A quarter million children rode the orphan trains from 1854 to 1929. The national orphan train complex in concordia, ks is a museum and research center dedicated to the orphan train movement, the various institutions that participated, and the children and agents who rode the trains. Riders on the orphan train is a novel about a little known piece of american history. It is a good, scholarly social history that provides more analytical information than james manguson and dorothea petries orphan train lj 61578.
And many teenage boys and girls went to orphan train sponsoring organizations simply in search of work or a free ticket out of the city. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the. When the orphan train movement began, it was estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on the streets of new york city. Mns surviving orphan train riders cant make the trip, but their journey still inspires the orphan trains stopped running more than 80 years ago, but their legacy rolls on. A reunion in little falls on saturday will be the such midwestern what were orphan trains. Find books like orphan train from the worlds largest community of readers. Between 1854 and 1929, nearly a quarter of a million orphaned children were resettled under what came to be known as the orphan train movement. Read orphan train absolutely for free at readanybook. This organization is dedicated to keeping the story of the orphan trains alive by hosting events, exhibitions, reunions and aiding in genealogical research. Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The main difference between the two versions, other than length, is the protagonists age. A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of american history.
One of the book s protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed. Heres a list of books to learn more about the orphan trains. Orphan trains brought homeless nyc children to work on. By using our site you consent to our use of cookies. The orphan train movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and. From christina baker kline comes a novel about two women. In the 1800s, the railroads faced a problem farm labor shortages along their newly expanded westward lines threatened profitability. A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of americas. Historical fiction books national orphan train complex. The orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 200,000 american childrensome. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose.
These stories reinforce my belief in the dignity and worth of the individual. Apr 09, 2019 they were part of what is now known as the orphan train movement, a sweeping attempt to protect homeless, poor and orphaned children in a time before social welfare or foster care. An orphan train story american west series book 1 kindle edition by stapleton, laura. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. Back in the mid1800s, there were not a lot of options for poor, homeless, abused, andor neglected children other. The record books that tom riley found in the hay loft are now part of the complexs archive. There my grandfather, the youngest and smallest of the children, was finally taken by a childless farm couple.
Back in the mid1800s, there were not a lot of options for poor, homeless, abused, andor neglected children other than orphanages or almshouses. My grandfather and his brother were on an orphan train that left nyc and went to the northernmost area of ny around the turn of the century. On the train, niamh befriends dutchy, a twelveyearold boy, and takes care of carmine, a toddler. Visiting my motherinlaw in fargo, north dakota, for a week with. April 11, 20 christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history.
Vivian traveled from nyc to minnesota as a young girl on one of the infamous orphan trains that was used to get orphans. Orphan train study guide from litcharts the creators of. Watch the orphan trains american experience official site pbs. The american orphan trains ancestral findings podcast. The book is extremely wellwritten and absolutely riveting. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of juvie and worse. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 200,000 or more homeless and. Vivian traveled from nyc to minnesota as a young girl on one of the infamous orphan trains that was used to get orphans out of the cities into the country where they might have a better opportunity to find families and to be able to make a good life. Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion.
She is the author of seven novels, including orphan train, and has coauthored or edited five nonfiction books. The orphan train movement in america was a unique experiment in child welfare. Christina baker kline, suzanne toren jessica almasy. Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and surrendered children. Paperback original 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. Cornell a true story of two american boys living through the hardships of life and the times. But the orphan train contributed to ideas we take for granted today. On september a train set out from new york bound for dowagiac, michigan.
Apr 11, 20 after tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. The term orphan trains is also misleading because a substantial number of the placedout children never took the railroad to their new homes, or even traveled very far. After my book club chose orphan train for our next meetup, i picked up my copy and. Novel follows the orphan train to minnesota minnpost. Just before dutchy goes home with a farmer in minneapolis, minnesota, he and niamh promise to find each other again someday.
At the peak of the orphan train movement, 3,0004,000 children a year were traveling west. One of the book s protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed onto a train and sent to the midwest. The question and answer section for orphan train is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Not surprisingly, in 1853, they jumped at the chance to. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history.
Orphan train will hold you in its grip as their fascinating tales unfold. Jun 18, 2015 in the 1800s, the railroads faced a problem farm labor shortages along their newly expanded westward lines threatened profitability. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Directory the story behind the writing of orphan train orphan train historical background vivian dalys 1929 orphan train journey the story behind the writing of orphan train dear reader, one holiday season, about a decade ago, an unexpected blizzard changed the course of my life. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms.
Orphan train by christina baker kline this was one of those weekends when the sun poured in the bedroom window, providing enough light and warmth, on a pair of particularly cool and breezy days, to make stretching out on the bed and relaxing, surrounded by two dogs and a cat, the. In orphan train, christina baker kline seamlessly knits together the past and present of two women, one young and one old. Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. The orphan trains are an overlooked aspect of our shared history that remind us of the resiliency of the human spirit, said lichtenwalner. The goal of the movement was to get homeless and destitute children off the streets of new york and resettle them with families in the rural midwest. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on christina baker klines orphan train. One is a seventeen years old living in foster care. Jan 24, 2015 a few days ago i posted my thoughts on orphan train by christina baker kline. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes.
Includes pictures includes accounts of the orphan trains written by kids in the program includes. They were all written up in the same record books and, on the whole. Other chapters flash back to the period from 1929 through world war ii. Please use the link provided below to generate a unique link valid for 24hrs. Aug 08, 2016 the orphan train movement in america was a unique experiment in child welfare. Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of. When the orphan train movement began, it was estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed onto. Kansas state historical society in the beginning of the orphan train movement, the trains that took children across country were little better than cattle cars and only had makeshift bathroom facilities. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children.
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