Ordering Books for Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

No order minimum; you can order just one copy if that's all you need! :-) Order your class set of books for Orphan Train now, and take advantage of our bulk order discounts!

Bulk Order Discounts: Order 5 or more books (same title) and save 15%. Order Online: Order online with MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover, or PayPal. Order By Mail: Send your order with a school/district check. No personal checks accepted.

About the Book Orphan Train

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline is a historical fiction novel that intertwines the lives of two women from different eras, revealing their shared experiences of loss, resilience, and redemption.

The story follows Molly Ayer, a 17-year-old Penobscot Indian girl in foster care, and Vivian Daly, a 91-year-old wealthy retiree. Molly, who is struggling with her own troubled past, is assigned community service hours and ends up helping Vivian clean out her attic. As they work together, Vivian shares her life story, which begins in 1929 when she was a young Irish immigrant named Niamh Power. After a tragic fire, Niamh is sent on an “orphan train” to the Midwest, where she faces numerous hardships and name changes before finally finding a stable home.

The novel alternates between Molly’s modern-day experiences and Vivian’s past, highlighting the parallels between their lives. Both characters grapple with themes of identity, belonging, and the search for family. Through their growing friendship, they help each other heal and find closure.

This poignant narrative sheds light on the historical orphan train movement, which relocated over 200,000 orphaned children from Eastern cities to the Midwest between 1854 and 1929. It’s a touching exploration of the human spirit’s capacity to endure and find hope amidst adversity.

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It takes a long time to gather all the data for our new book page format with more useful descriptions, themes, and activity ideas. Meanwhile, this page is active so you can order books; it just isn't quite as informative or graphically appealing as the new page will be. Thanks for understanding! :-)

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