Orphan Train

A Novel

By: Christina Baker Kline

Narrated by: Jessica Almasy, Suzanne Toren

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

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)

Reads like a biography

Nice read, however seems slow at times. Not enough high points. If you have the time worth listening to. If you don't choose another book.

Really good

I really like this book; however, several f bombs that were soo not needed. Great story

Wonderful

love this author. spanning so many years with two different stories and managing to make both flow so well is a rare talent. too often the stories are so disjointed but Christina Baker Kline weaves them like a master. I loved this story. made me mad, happy and cry several times. highly recommended

Just a beautiful story.

Loved the story so much. From the depths of despair to the joy of trumpet.

One of the best books I've ever experienced.

I loved this book. They story of an orphan in 1929 and a foster teen in 2011 who, through circumstance, become friends. So many great moments and they are all woven into a wonderful, compelling and heartwarming story. I highly recommend.

Great Story and Even Better Storyteller!

Where does Orphan Train rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I am still new to Audible, but Orphan Train is my favorite audiobook I've listened to thus far.

What other book might you compare Orphan Train to and why?

I read a lot of historical fiction books and there are several in this genre. I can't think of one off the top of my head that quite compares though.

What does Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The telling of this story was so great- it was easy to keep characters straight and added so much to the interpretation!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had an extreme reaction to this book- I was hoping for one thing throughout the whole story and it FINALLY happened which made me cry (of happiness) and then it was taken away which made me cry again (of heartbreak). The story was well rounded and stayed with me for several days after I finished listening.

Any additional comments?

This is such a great listen! I highly recommend it to any audible "readers."

Mesmerizing story

This story was amazing! I wish it wasn't over. Wow! The performance was phenomenal. I will listen to this story again!

a compelling novel about a true and real event

Would you consider the audio edition of Orphan Train to be better than the print version?

Orphan Train in its audio edition is every bit as riveting as the book.

What did you like best about this story?

During the 1920s and 30s orphaned and abandoned children living in northeastern urban areas were put on trains headed to the mid-west, where they were farmed-out or indentured by the New York Children's Aid Society. The individuals who took or adopted these children were not investigated for their financial or emotional competence to raise a child. Although they made certain promises to the society, no effort was made to follow-up on the children's welfare. These children were out-of-sight and thus out-of-mind. Many children found themselves in the worst circumstances, facing abuse, neglect, and incredible exploitation. The juxtaposition of Molly Ayer, a modern teenager trapped in the foster care system, with Vivian Daly, an elderly woman who rode the orphan train and suffered some of its worst abuses, keeps the reader turning the page long into the night.

What does Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Narrators Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren bring the two main characters to life. A particularly nice job is done differentiating between older Vivian and young Dorothy (Vivian). They also do an excellent job with the male voices. Sometimes the narrators read a little too fast but that aside, they did a wonderful job.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The loss Vivian experienced throughout her life staggers the imagination, and the way Vivian handles her loss runs the gambit. It would be giving too much away to reveal the moment I cried out, "Oh my God" but suffice it to say, there are more than one of those moments in the story. Fear not! Both Vivian and Molly are triumphant in the end.

Any additional comments?

Anyone interested in history and in current events--the recent surge of illegal and undocumented children over the Mexican border comes to mind--will appreciate this wonderfully written book. It reminds us that everyone has a story and some of our friends and neighbors have had life experience that would have reduced the rest of us to a quivering mass of gelatin. The story restores and reinforces belief in the indomitable human spirit.

Grate

It is a great story and it some what relates to other people's stories and it is a good info on what happened back then.

Great book

I have had this in my library for a long time. I almost deleted it once. SOOOO GLAD I did not. This is a wonderful story and the reader was excellent!!