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)

Fascinating Journey for Two

Any additional comments?

This is a story of a beautiful, empathetic, elderly lady, (Vivian), and a disjointed, hostile, teen, (Molly), who were both orphaned as young girls. Because of a bad choice Molly makes she is indentured to 50 hours of community service which in turn brings her into Vivian's life. Vivian needs help cleaning and sorting out her attic and ends up sharing her early childhood memories with Molly.

Vivian was born in 1920 and when tragedy struck she was orphaned at the age of nine. She was put on a train with many other children going from town to town hoping to be adopted. Some of the adoptions were for the right reasons and others definitely were not. Vivian was adopted by a staunch couple for the main purpose of working in their seamstress shop that was run out of their home. All things changed during the crash of 1929. Not many could afford to have their close mended and the couple had to close their business. Vivian was moved onto another home and so forth........

While Molly and Vivian are going through and dating all of the boxes in the attic Vivian tells Molly her story year by year. It is a sort of cleansing for Vivian and a awakening for Molly that she is not as alone as she thought. Through this process both characters experience unsuspected growth and enlightenment. Their friendship and bond, of course, out last the attic and the 50 hours.

This book is written beautifully and I was captivated from the beginning. The detail and nuances she uses in her descriptions of times, places and people were excellent. It evoked strong emotions and I felt very connected to the characters. The narrative was done very well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would defiantly recommend it.

Two stories in one

I enjoyed the narraters voices, especially dialogs between characters and making different voices.

I love how this book is two stories in one. They both tie into each other also. You can say it's a book about Niamh. It's a touching story and you are intrigued with what will happen next to Niamh/Dorothy/Vivian. You are secretly hoping she runs away and lives happily ever after.

I cried when Molly did computer searches and her info was a few months to late. I smiled with the ending. I wish the romance with her first husband was longer, maybe another chapter where you could bask in their happiness. I would love a prequel or parallel of mazy's story, or a sequel of May's story. There's potential for Molly's continued story also if a sequel happened.

Interesting Topic

I was intrigued to learn more about the orphan trains of the early 20th century after reading The Chaperone by Laura Moriarity. The Orphan Train is compelling, though at times heart breaking, as you learn how the older children on these trains were often viewed as free labor vs new members of adopting families. The story centers around a nine year old Irish girl who is shipped from NYC to the midwest in search of a new home after her family is killed in a fire. The story felt a bit forced and certainly was not the quality of Moriarity's tale, but overall it was a good listen - 3.8.

AMAZING! WORTH EVERY SECOND!

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

Narrator was engaging from the first page and having the two made the story even better! Excellent listen!

A recommended beach read: historical fiction lite

What did you like best about this story?

The Orphan Train is a light treatment of a fascinating topic: the mass forced migration of hundreds of thousands of children without guardians (orphaned or otherwise) from NYC to the Midwest by the Children's Aid Society, a Christian mission which believed that instilling Midwestern values in NYC's vagrant children would save them from a life of evil and vice. The element I think I enjoyed most about this book is how the author created a modern-day "orphan" and juxtaposed her with a nonagenarian orphan and had the two women (re)discover family, love and joie de vivre through their interactions. The characters could have been more deeply developed, more finely drawn. But as a light beach read, this book is very satisfying.

a well told historical novel.

I found this story most enjoyable. Though it is a novel, it tells of past history, and current events through a series of well crafted flashbacks.

Great Journey

It was a wonderful story. I wish it was longer. Easy to follow and good characters.

so good!

I loved the characters. couldn't stop listening to it! the parallels between the two main characters were spot on.

History

Another fantastic story from our rich history. Very interesting , sad, happy bridging the gap from multiple generations. Loved every minute!

loved it

This is a great book, I'm so glad that I read it. The story keeps you interested from start to finish.