Orphan Train by, Christina Baker Kline
What a fabulous read! The author mixed the historical and
present day story so seamlessly I was completely hooked.
The story of the orphan train is so sad, these children were
herded up like cattle and sent away from everything they knew, sent to a
strange land with people who may or may not take care of them. For some it was
indentured servitude, others were free labor that came with beatings. Some, the
lucky ones found homes with people who truly cared about their well-being, and
then ones like Niamh/Dorothy/Vivian had to go through a few bad ones to find
the good one. These children lost their heritage, their names, and their
religion. I felt the author’s research was very thorough and this book like
historical fiction should be makes me want to read more and more about the
orphan trains.
In the present day we meet Molly a Penobscot Indian in
foster care after her father dies and her mother is in no shape to take care of
her, she bounces from one bad home to another. When she gets in trouble her
boyfriend sets it up for her to do her community service with his mother’s boss
Vivian a 91 year old woman who needs help cleaning out her attic. As the two go
through the boxes of Vivian’s life they realize they have much more in common
than anyone would have ever guessed.
I loved the relationship between Vivian & Molly how both
are wary because of what they have been through and to see this relationship
grow through the stories Vivian tells as they unearth her life that has been
tucked away in boxes.
I truly enjoyed this story and I think Molly and Vivian will
stay with me for a while. This was my first book by this author but she has
piqued my curiosity and I will be looking for her other books.
I highly recommend this book but be warned it is hard to put
down and will stay with you long after you finish!
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