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Orphan Train  By  cover art

Orphan Train

By: Christina Baker Kline
Narrated by: Jessica Almasy, Suzanne Toren
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Publisher's summary

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. A community-service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse....

As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance. Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life - answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train 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.

©2013 Christina Baker Kline (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The narrator of Orphan Train, Jessica Almasy, does an incredible read. Listening to Almasy’s rendition of this book - so vivid and emotional - was as much fun as getting swept away by an Oscar-winning movie.” (Parents.com)
"Absorbing...a heartfelt page-turner about two women finding a sense of home.... Kline lets us live the characters’ experiences vividly through their skin.... The growth from instinct to conscious understanding to partnership between the two is the foundation for a moving tale." ( Publishers Weekly)
“Kline's vibrant, sophisticated language comes alive with the sparkling talents of narrators Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren. Their finely paced, enthusiastic portrayals of the charming main characters quickly capture the listener.” ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Orphan Train

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Thoroughly Enjoyed Every Word

Wonderfully written and performed. Going to recommend my teenage daughter listen to it. Teared up several times.

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Great Story

This audio book was wonderful in so many ways with amazing characters and incredible twists and turns to the story! A must listen!!

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Excellently written and relevant to many of the misguided and overlooked treatment that some endured.

Our only hope is that many more found loving homes but we know that many did not.

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Lovely story

I very much enjoyed this book. It’s my kind of book of course so I was taken away by the story and thought it was well written and performed.

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Left wanting more…

Great historical fiction! Some reviewers say the voice of the reader is terrible, and I would agree in the beginning, but it ended up being perfect once you got used to it!

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Engaging

I loved the history. I also love the connection of the two main characters to one another.

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Very good book

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The events that took place were well described and I wish it didn’t end.

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pleasant weekend

Truly enjoyed the story. I have a relative that was a train rider. sidiling the current orphans with the past gave the story closeness and the insights of the personal struggles of belonging. loved it!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Decent Story. Wrong Voice

It’s great to learn that those orphan trains existed. But the hyper excited kids voice of the narrator was just terrible.Infact I found it inappropriate to the solemnity of the story

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well done

This is one of the best orphan train books I've read or heard. Narrator was excellent. Story outline was good. Really worth listening to. Fantastic ending.

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