As she helps vivian sort through her possessions and memories, molly learns that they arent as different as they seem to be. Having read the book and rereading the prologue what does this tell you about vivians view of the people. The orphan train idea was born in new york which had about 30,000 street orphans in 1854. 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. As she helps vivian sort through her possessions and memories. At the first train stop, niamh notes that, the older boys no longer seem so rough. 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. Like orphan train, doerrs novel is a work of historical fiction, portrays the experiences of orphans, has a twoplot structure, and retraces the lives of modernday characters by telling their stories from the beginning.
These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. Pdf orphan train book by christina baker kline free. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. The orphan train twins, and their white horse dreamnook book. Orphan train by christina baker kline a 30minute summary. May 23, 2014 map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in 18531910. 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. 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. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Adapted and condensed for a young audience, orphan train girl includes an authors note and archival photos from the orphan train era. Orphan train summary from litcharts the creators of.
Cathy marie buchanan, nyt bestselling author of the day the falls stood still and the painted girls i loved this book. 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 weaves together the stories of two lost girlsthe elderly vivian who once went by the name niamh, and teenager molly, whos just about to age out of the foster care system. Orphan train is also similar to klines other works, a piece of the world 2017 and the way life should be 2007. Orphan train historical background from the authors website. As a midwesterner, i was really interested in this book after hearing it featured on npr. To the lost child in all of us, searching for home. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in. The first edition of the novel was published in april 2nd 20, and was written by christina baker kline. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Christina baker klines orphan train has collided with the circus caravan from sara gruens water for elephants, and out of that wreck has come pam jenoffs the orphans tale. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms.
Author bio birth1964 raisedin maine and tennessee, usa, and the uk educationb. But in interviews, and on her blog, kline says one of the major themes she wanted to tackle. For example, when my book club read orphan train by christina baker kline i found this interview with the author, and it sparked some great conversation there are spoilers in there. Can you relate to the plight of little lost chellamuthu. This 38page guide for orphan train by christina baker kline includes. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook club. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. It was the last chance for these children to find a family to live with. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of. 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. Sep 05, 2016 for example, when my book club read orphan train by christina baker kline i found this interview with the author, and it sparked some great conversation there are spoilers in there. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading group guides. 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.
A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly ayer out of juvie and worse. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant. 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 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. Christina baker kline penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. The year is 2011 and molly is in trouble with the law. Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 278 pages and is available in paperback format. 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 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. Jun 12, 2019 the orphan train movement transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located in rural areas of the midwest. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.
In orphan train, christina baker kline seamlessly knits together the past and present of two women, one young and one old. 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. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. Molly ayer is living with ralph and dina in their home in spruce harbor, maine. Orphan train meets the standard for range of reading and level of text. Just before dutchy goes home with a farmer in minneapolis, minnesota, he and niamh promise to find each other again someday. Vivian traveled from nyc to minnesota as a young girl on one of the infamous orphan trains that was used to get.
You can also try to connect with authors on social media they may give you some great discussion ideas or even offer to skype with your book club. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. One is a seventeen years old living in foster care. Written by julia wolf orphan train is a novel which. In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines, and sweet water. Goodreads members who liked orphan train also liked. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. On the train niamh met dutchy, a teenage boy who was living on the streets until he was taken to the childrens aid society. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions thoughtco. On the train, niamh befriends dutchy, a twelveyearold boy, and takes care of carmine, a toddler. Written by julia wolf orphan train is a novel which shows how important it is to trust in a better future, fight your fears, and just be kind and compassionate. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. Feb 21, 2017 christina baker klines orphan train has collided with the circus caravan from sara gruens water for elephants, and out of that wreck has come pam jenoffs the orphan s tale.
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. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train free library of. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Dec 16, 20 orphan train weaves together the stories of two lost girlsthe elderly vivian who once went by the name niamh, and teenager molly, whos just about to age out of the foster care system. This is a summary of the book and not the original book. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship.
Reading group guide questions provided by the publisher. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. They take niamh to the childrens aid society, and the agency sends niamh out to the midwest on an orphan train. Kline also commissioned and edited two widely praised collections of original essays on the first year of parenthood and raising young children, child of mine and room to grow. Books similar to orphan train meet your next favorite book. Orphan train study guide from litcharts the creators of. Oct 20, 2014 i love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss. It is estimated, from 150,000 to 250,000 children were sent on trains all over the nation and canada during the years the train was in existence.
As a troublesome teenager, molly hides all her insecurities under the aggressive front and pretended indifference. Orphan train tackles some pretty heavy themes, such as finding family and figuring out your identity. Orphan train will hold you in its grip as their fascinating tales unfold. 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. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. Orphan train girl by christina baker kline reading guide. Orphan train summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. 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.
On the train, niamh befriends dutchy, a twelveyearold boy, and takes care of carmine. I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. The orphan train community note includes chapterbychapter summary. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are molly ayer, vivian daly.
Orphan train has most frequently been compared to all the light we cannot see 2014 by anthony doerr, a novel that explores the pasts of a german orphan and a blind french girl in germanoccupied. Book club questions for the orphan train by christina baker. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Free download or read online orphan train pdf epub book. Orphan train girl by christina baker kline reading guidebook. This 38page guide for orphan train by christina baker kline includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 parts, as well as several more indepth. Overview of the entire book introduction to the important people in the book summary and analysis of all the chapters in the book key takeaways of the book a readers perspective. These notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community.
For book clubs 1929 train itinerary international editions. 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. A young irish immigrant orphaned in new york city, vivian was put on a train to the midwest with hundreds of other children. It is estimated, from 150,000 to 250,000 children were sent on trains all over the nation and. The second narrative of molly, a teen foster child, is marred by the way the author, christina baker kline, portrays her oppressive foster mom. 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.
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