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)

Better Than I Could've Hoped For

This book was a book club book and I have to admit I groaned when I saw the cover and read the synopsis. But I must admit it was nothing like I thought it would be. Whisked away bantering between current times and past times, we compare two "orphans" with similar lifetime experiences learning that perhaps the sweet isn't as sweet without the bitter, and fate is a tricky road to wander.

Fabulous Story, Engaging Narration

What did you love best about Orphan Train?

I loved the story and the way the two main characters lives intertwined.

Any additional comments?

This was an excellent book with superb narration.

Beautiful!

I loved this story and it is narrated beautifully, the performance was amazing. She even changed her accents and voices through out the book

This book has everything

What made the experience of listening to Orphan Train the most enjoyable?

The author is a gifted storyteller. I simply could not stop listening--great writing, realistic stories, all characters are rich.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Orphan Train?

The connection among the orphans and all the instances where their lives intersect.

What about Jessica Almasy and Suzanne Toren ’s performance did you like?

Their ability to modulate their voices according to the feeling they were portraying.

If you could take any character from Orphan Train out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I have taken Molly out to dinner many times. I am a Guardian Ad Litem. The author did an incredible job describing both her and Vivian.

So beautiful

It's hard to articulate, as tears stream down my face, how much I loved this book. It was sad, uplifting, hopeful, and at times, utterly heartbreaking. I find myself thinking about it long after I am done.

💜

Shockingly beautiful

Amazing story of love and the power of a broken and mended heart. Maybe we need to be broken to appreciate and try to mend.

Beautiful, moving story

I absolutely enjoyed this book. The characters were so vivid and alive. Quick read and good for a book club.

best narrator performance I've heard yet!

tremendous narration performance across characters and accents; and a touching, we'll written story. I highly recommend!

Good tale with minor cliches.

I really loved the meat of this plot. The stories of both characters were well told and emotional. the history was vivid and well researched. The main, only, flaw that detracted was the cliche secondary characters of Molly's foster parents. I found that irksome. Otherwise, lovely.

Outstanding subject matter

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

This is about an interesting period in American history. There was a real effort to deal with orphans and as the book demonstrates we as a society, have made little progress. I found the story interesting but unrealistic. The 90 year old woman only described the part of her life relevant for the book. The foster child was not well developed. I thought the read was ok.