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. 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. Author says the novel appeals to readers looking for a book they can talk about. 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. Belonging and connection theme in orphan train litcharts. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
The orphan train movement was the largest mass migration of children in united states history. Starting in the 1850s, there were great increases in urbanization. To represent this, i made two story maps that connect when the stories collide. Adapted and condensed for a young audience, orphan train girl includes an authors note and archival photos from the orphan train era. Sarah burghardt orphan train is a unique book because it tells two stories that come together in the end. The orphan train movements purpose was to give the thousands of children in new york city that were left without homes due to increased urbanization and industrialization a new family out west with good living conditions and values and to increase the number of farm workers. Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who, as the result of spending time together and sharing their experiences, form a bond, learn from each other, and change in significant ways. Which then led me to reflect on my love for this genre and style of book in particular, and why the orphan train was such a wonderful read for me. See the complete orphan train adventures series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. This book is especially perfect for motherdaughter reading groups. Orphan train tackles some pretty heavy themes, such as finding family and figuring out your identity.
With jill eikenberry, kevin dobson, linda manz, graham fletchercook. Movements such as the great migration lead to huge populations in newly industrialized cities. May 02, 2017 in a young readers version of klines orphan train 20, sixthgrader molly, a foster child on the coast of maine, helps an elderly woman, vivian, sort through boxes of keepsakes in her attic. Orphan train themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Between 1854 and 1929, as many as 400,000 urban children were taken from the streets and tenements of new york city to new homes in rural america on what became known as the orphan. The orphan train society of america was founded in 1986 and still hosts reunions. 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. Other drug references are mentioned, including someone joking about shutting down a meth lab. Literary terms orphan train climax molly and dina get in a fight and she is forced to. Learn orphan train with free interactive flashcards. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. Belonging and connection molly ayer and vivian daly, two women born in different places and eras and who were orphaned as young children, both struggle to find a sense of home and belonging. This book is especially perfect for motherdaughter. Apr 02, 20 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.
Molly reports that the thibodeaus are her twelfth foster family. In spite of the fact that this novel is a fiction, it covers a rather serious. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Orphan train summary orphan train by christina baker kline summary and. In this novel, the theme of portaging takes on both literal and symbolic meanings. To get you started, weve put together a list of 20 surefire conversation starters, ranging from the best contemporary literature to historical fiction, memoirs, and history. In 1854, there were living on the streets of new york city over 10,000 abandoned orphaned children. This is a fictionalized account, based on actual events. In addition, there was a great increase in immigration, especially from families of eastern and southern european descent.
Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. Sixty thousand is the number of copies christina baker kline thought her newest book, orphan train, might sell in her wildest dreams. More than 200,000 homeless children were sent west on the trains. 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. Portaging in this novel, the theme of portaging takes on both literal and symbolic meanings. Therefore in nine years she hasmoved all of her things twelve times. Claddagh cross vivian treasures a pewter claddagh cross given to her by her grandmother shortly before the family immigrated to the united states when she was 7 years old. Choosing a book for your book club to read can be challenging. Find out in this lesson, which will go over a summary of orphan train by christina baker kline and discuss one of the major themes. When her father died, her mother went into an emotional tailspin resulting in molly entering foster care.
There have been other books about the orphan trains. 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. This in turn introduces one of the novels central thematic contentions, that not. It was then i also realized it was going to be a book very much like on canaans side, by sebastian barry, of which i truly and absolutely enjoyed. Paperback original orphan train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from christina baker kline, author of bird in hand and. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything orperhaps most importantlyourselves. You want books that are thoughtprovoking and intelligent but still approachable. For vivian, the cross reminds her of family and home.
The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children. The orphan trains operated between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed. But in interviews, and on her blog, kline says one of the major themes she wanted to tackle. Therefore in nine years she hasmoved all of her things. Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who. Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. Between 1854 and 1929, an estimated 150,000250,000 children were relocated from the overcrowded streets of eastern cities like new york and boston to smaller cities, towns and rural communities throughout the midwest and southern united states. In a young readers version of klines orphan train 20, sixthgrader molly, a foster child on the coast of maine, helps an elderly woman, vivian, sort through boxes of keepsakes in her attic molly, quietly introspective, is performing community service, assigned surprisingly for trying to steal a battered paperback from the public library. Orphan train by christina baker kline teen book ratings and. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in orphan train, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Ann packerbetween 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the. These children traveled on what became popularly called orphan trains.
For book clubs 1929 train itinerary international editions the added scene. The orphan train adventures book series by joan lowery nixon includes books a family apart, caught in the act, in the face of danger, and several more. Eventually the train made its first stop in chicago. Orphan train by christina baker kline content rating and. 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 country. The kids lined up to be inspected by the prospective parents. Orphan train on surprise trip up the bestseller list. Vivian also treasures the meaning of the symbols on the claddagh. 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. During the late 19th century, at the beginning of the 20th century, orphans were shipped from major east coast cities to the midwest. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Molly ayer and vivian daly, two women born in different places and eras and who were orphaned as young children, both struggle to find a sense of home and belonging.
In orphan train, christina baker kline seamlessly knits together the past and present of two women, one young and one old. For example, both molly and vivian have literally moved many times, taking all of their belongings with them. The orphan train movement essay 639 words bartleby. Emotions the ending of the book was a happy ending, because vivian ends up meeting her daughter and granddaughter that she had always thought of.
With orphan train, author finds bestsellerdom fifth time. Molly, quietly introspective, is performing community service, assigned surprisingly for trying to steal a battered paperback from the public. With an active marketplace of over 175 million items, use the alibris advanced search page to find any item you are looking for through the advanced search, you can find items by searching specific terms such as title, artist, song title, genre, etc or you can narrow. 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. At the peak of the orphan train movement, 3,0004,000 children a year were traveling west. Read orphan train absolutely for free at readanybook.
A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of americas history. The train riders story needed to be fresh and immediate and direct, almost cinematic. The national orphan train complex opened in 2007 in concordia, kansas and is dedicated to preserving the history. Because of the loss and betrayal they have suffered. Out of this desperate situation was born the orphan train. Jul 16, 2014 author says the novel appeals to readers looking for a book they can talk about.
For book clubs 1929 train itinerary international editions. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. 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 care. The conceit is that the train rider is telling her story to the central character of the thirdperson narrative. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked her about the novel. She was given a baby, carmine, to care for on the train and eventually made a friend, dutchy, a tough boy, always getting into trouble. Belonging and connection molly ayer and vivian daly, two women born in different places and eras and who were orphaned as young children, both. The novel is riddled with traumatic events and losses that are beyond molly and vivians. The aim of the shipping programs was to find them novel families and opportunities on the east streets. Orphan train community note includes chapterbychapter summary. She tried to steal a book from the spruce harbor public library, an act which. Harpercollins softcover, 20 this book guide has moved to my new blog, relevant reads.
A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of juvie and worse. Through reading the book and completing any of the suggested activities, students can achieve any. I dont think there were any loose ends in the story because the author made the ending so it didnt have the reader guessing what. Apr 11, 2014 online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday, april 11, 2014 orphan train book discussion guide. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. Between the years of 1853 and 1929, an estimated 250,000 orphans were relocated from major east coast cities such as new york city, to new homes throughout the united states and canada. Molly ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years old. I was determined that it not seem romanticized or sepiatoned. The stations filled with people though, as the kids file past, this town like the next one but, each hopes that its the last. Orphan train riders, from the riders on the orphan train multimedia performance at union depot in st.
Molly steals a library book and is sent to juvenile detention. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. The orphan trains acomin to the next town on the line. Choose from 212 different sets of orphan train flashcards on quizlet.