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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

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    17,570
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    7,221
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Story
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loved this!!!!

loved the Irish accent. loved the bond Molly and Vivian had and how, after all their trials as orphans, they were such a great blessing to each other at the end.

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Orphan Train

Have you ever finished a book and felt a sense of loss because you were finished. The Orphan Train is that kind of book! You will be so caught up in the characters and and their lives that you just don’t want to quit listening!

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Incredible story!

First off the voices were great. I had heard of the orphan trains but really only the stories about the kids who had a rough time of it, such as the Dutchy story. The way the story weaves Vivian’s and Molly’s lives together was expected but was done in a such a wonderful way. So glad I listened to this!

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A beautiful story

The narrator did an outstanding job expressing each character's personality. A joy to listen to!

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I never heard of The Orphan Trains

Apparently there really were orphan trains. This book was well written and narrated nicely. It made want to look into the history of the orphan trains now.

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Four stars.

Awesome story, well written, well narrated. Just not sure why the "F" word was necessary. I like great stories with out all the sex and language. This one almost fit.

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Excellent Read

A must read, would give it 6 stars if I could. Well worth your time and money. The Audible narration is top notch, too.

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Wonderful storytelling.

Spellbinding story. I felt immediate empathy with the heroine. I plan to follow this author. Well worth a listen.

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LOVE!!!

Couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved this book!! Anyone could relate to the heart break and I would recommend it to anyone. Such an invaluable life lesson told through this story. Will definitely be listening to it again.

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Just Okay!

What did you love best about Orphan Train?

I liked that the characters were well developed.

What did you like best about this story?

The connection between Molly and Vivian (Dorothy)

What aspect of Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren ’s performance would you have changed?

None

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

The train ride, when the kids had to stand on the stage and be 'selected' and most of all, when Dorothy had to flee to the school in the night, walking the distance in the cold. All very moving

Any additional comments?

With all the reviews I had read before I listened to this book, I expected it to be more intense and captivating

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