The washington post also has a comprehensive article on the orphan trains. Jul 16, 2014 orphan train is the assigned summer reading for the 300 firstyear students at edgewood college in madison, wis. It has a good balance between a teenager in modern day maine and an elderly woman who is a. As she helps vivian sort through her possessions and memories, molly learns that she and vivian arent as different as. Vivian and molly might have a huge age gap between them, vivian is 91, molly is 17 but both these sweet and sensitive ladies share a similar childhood. Christina baker kline is an american novelist, essayist, and editor. Orphan train is the assigned summer reading for the 300 firstyear students at edgewood college in madison, wis.
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. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. This book illustrates that effect by looking at the fates of orphan train riders in aggregate, and by telling the stories of particular children. Before boarding the orphan train, kids were given a bath and fancy new clothing. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything orperhaps most importantlyourselves. Orphan train girl by christina baker kline, paperback. Heres one irish dish thats referenced in the orphan train.
Beyond the orphan train series, volumes 14 by arleta richardson. Some of the food ideas are from the book like the terrys famous chowder but most of this book took place during the great depression so food was scarce and there was no way i was. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. Molly, quietly introspective, is performing community service, assigned surprisingly for trying to steal a battered paperback from the public library.
Orphan train is a fascinating story of friendship between women from two generations. 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. Oct 20, 2014 i love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Available in a special hardcover edition, christina baker klines smash bestseller that is a lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of american history ann packer. That could be challenging on a train journeyespecially a trip that could last a week or longer.
This study guide consists of approximately 42 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of orphan train. The national orphan train complex has compiled a number of stories of the children who rode the trains to be placed in foster care. Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster. Collect all four volumes of the beyond the orphan train series. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. She is smart, strict, and authoritative, but wishes the children well and does her best to take care of their needs on the train. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions.
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. In the following 75 years, over 250,000 children would be transported from east coast cities to communities in every one of the 48 contiguous states. One of our favorite authors of historical fiction, christina baker kline, sat down with fellow author sarah miller to talk about millers new novel, caroline. 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. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship. Orphan train riders, from the riders on the orphan train multimedia performance at union depot in st. More than 200,000 homeless children were sent west on the trains. 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. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. 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. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. Many of our readers know christinas most recent novels orphan train and a piece of the world and the inspiration for millers book laura ingalls wilders little house books.
Book club selection for august 2014 by christina baker kline historical fiction20273 pages publishers comments goodreads. I chose this book for the sixty and me community because. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. Dec, 2016 since the publication of her smash international bestseller orphan train, christina baker kline has met with countless readers and book clubs and is often asked the same question about a key decision one of her protagonists makes in orphan train. 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. I had no idea that this happened with orphans in america. 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. Author bio birth1964 raisedin maine and tennessee, usa, and the uk educationb. The orphan train goodreads meet your next favorite book.
She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. 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 book club ideas part 1 have you read this incredible story about our history in america. Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. 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.
Not only is it entertaining and educational, it is also an excellent discussion book. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. A lot of the women in this group liked the book along with our strong male contingency of one but not as much as i did. She served as writer in residence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. Christina baker kline penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. Book club questions for the orphan train by christina baker. This book captured my attention from the first page and i had a hard time putting it down to do things like go to work and sleep. You want books that are thoughtprovoking and intelligent but still approachable.
But in interviews, and on her blog, kline says one of the major themes she wanted to tackle. If you enjoy historical fiction, check out this quick, easy read. Christina answers the top ten questions book clubs ask. Seventeen years old at the time the novel is set, narration. Obviously the foster care system of the 1900s and that of today will come up. I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Orphan train is a best book club book for discussion, the novel of a woman with a hidden past as an orphantrain rider and a teenage girl seeking answers about her life. Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. 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. He is sent to sit next to her because he and the boys he was sitting with were causing trouble on the train. We didnt talk about all of them, but we did hit on most of the main ones.
See more ideas about orphan train, orphan and history. Orphan train characters from litcharts the creators of. There is the theme of foster care, adoption, family history, unexpected relationships, inhumane acts of violence and of course the train that took children from large cities to be adopted by families in the midwest to be more like indentured servants then a part of a new family. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan and train. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of juvie and worse. Vivian, who immigrated to the united states from ireland as a young girl, was originally named niamh. Choosing a book for your book club to read can be challenging. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Orphan train by christina baker kline i remember at the age of 10 or so reading a novel about the late19th and early 20thcentury orphan trains, which took children and babies from east coast slums and brought them to the midwest, where they were given an opportunity for a potentially prosperous new life in the fresh rural air. Since orphan train was my book club choice for the year, i had to provide the discussion questions. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of. 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. 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. Rich in detail and epic in scope, orphan train by christina baker kline 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. 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 fates would be determined by pure luck.
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. Orphan train book club kit douglas county libraries. That first night on the train, he removed his suit jacket and laid it out neatly. Orphan train recipes for book clubs tosas allcity read. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence. Orphan train by christina baker kline completely tugged at my heartstrings. Luckily, there were some provided in the back of the book which i have listed below. As such, book clubs that read this book have the opportunity. At this time, vivian is still known as niamh, she is hopeful that the life awaiting her in minnesota will be a good life. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. May 17, 2015 since orphan train was my book club choice for the year, i had to provide the discussion questions.
Scatcherd is the matron of the orphan train during vivianniamh, dutchy and carmine s ride. Vivian daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of maine, but in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. Orphan train tackles some pretty heavy themes, such as finding family and figuring out your identity. 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.
Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Take a trip back in time to the early 20th century in america, where ethan cooper and his orphaned siblings are on a mission to find a family. Christina has longed to write a scene in which she clarifies vivians motivations. Apr 10, 2014 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. 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. John jackson, who at five years old walked off after a marching band and never found his way home again. New york central train, 1929 union station, chicago, 1929 spruce harbor, maine, 2011 spruce harbor, maine, 2011 the milwaukee train, 1929. 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. Orphan train on surprise trip up the bestseller list.
Seventeenyearold molly ayer knows that a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is. In orphan train, christina baker kline seamlessly knits together the past and present of two women, one young and one old. When her entire family is killed in a fire in 1929, nineyearold niamh is turned over to a childrens charity and put on an orphan train, sent to minnesota in the hopes of finding a new home. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. The treatment these children received by the loving families that took them in is another hot talking point, as is the flawed practice that transports the orphans to the mid west.