Orphan Train History

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.

Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes. Some were adopted by loving families; others were not as fortunate. In recent years, some of the riders have begun to share their stories. Andrea Warren alternates chapters about the history of the orphan trains with the story of Lee Nailling, who in 1926 rode an orphan train to Texas.

"The Orphan Trains were needed at the time they happened. They were not the best answer, but they were the first attempts at finding a practical system. Many children that would have died, lived to have children and grandchildren. It has been calculated that over two million descendants have come from these children. The trains gave the children a fighting chance to grow up." - D. Bruce Ayler

What if everything you thought you knew about history was wrong—or worse, deliberately rewritten? The Lost Civilization of Tartaria explores the mysteries of a forgotten empire that once spanned the globe. From buried architecture and impossible feats of engineering to orphan trains and suspiciously timed “natural disasters,” this book uncovers the patterns pointing to a massive global reset—and the systematic erasure of an advanced civilization from our collective memory. Through compelling evidence and provocative questions, you'll journey into the world of Tartaria, where star ...

Two orphaned girls become found family amidst the horrors of WWII in a gripping and heart-wrenching tale of friendship, loss and survival against the odds which sweeps the listener across wartime Europe to Budapest from the mountains of Scotland.

Molly Ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years old. Most of the time, Molly knows it's her attitude that's the problem, but after being shipped from one family to another, she's had her fair share of adults treating her like an inconvenience. So when Molly's forced to help an elderly woman clean out her attic for community service, Molly is wary. Just another adult to treat her like a troublemaker.

With a saddle bag full of stolen gold and dreams of a new beginning, Jeremiah rides across the untamed plains of Oklahoma. His destination is Treasure Coast, a fabled paradise in Mexico that he discovered in the pages of an old book. Fueled by hope and accompanied by his fiancée and a trusted friend, Jeremiah is determined to turn the fantasy into reality. But the Des Gang, once his allies, are relentless in their pursuit, eager to reclaim what Jeremiah took from them—and they won't stop until blood is spilled. Can he outrun his enemies, or will they reclaim what’s theirs in blood? ...

Bella Jones and Kathleen Collins are as close as sisters and that's how they want things to stay. But fate intervenes. Kathleen's brothers have disappeared; they traveled from New York on the Orphan Train and nobody has heard from them since. She can't shed her gut feeling something awful has happened to them. She goes looking for them, but is she prepared for what she will find?

Bridget Collins is in dire straits - she needs to get out of New York, fast. With two young siblings under her wing, her options are limited. Her priest sends her as an outplacement agent on the orphan trains that run from New York to out west. With almost 40 orphans under her care, she's relieved that fellow and more experienced outplacement agent Carl Watson is there to guide her. But Carl is dealing with his own trauma and finds it difficult to handle the pain the orphans are dealing with.

Walter John was abandoned as a baby at St. Peter’s Orphanage in San Juan, NM, unaware of his origins. His only clue was a series of cryptic sketches sent to him over the years, culminating in a final drawing with the words “Find us” scrawled at the bottom. Determined to uncover the truth behind his identity, he embarks on a daring quest with his best friend, Max. As they follow the trail of sketches they encounter unexpected allies and dangerous foes, including traveller Stephanie Parker and a mysterious man, who claims to know the secrets of Walter’s past. Will the truth liberate ...

Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life and his most precious secret are put in jeopardy.

When a Texas tornado hits Jake Jones’ ranch, he loses everything. Orphaned and stripped of his home, wealth and social status, he has no other choice but to take matters into his own hands. With only a couple of ranch hands and a thousand cattle left, he must lead them to the nearest market. With all his money now gone, Jake cannot take the train car, but has to do it the hard, old-fashioned way… Preparing for the most grueling cattle drive of his life, will he rise to meet the challenge? Annie Rose Parker has lost her husband in the storm. An Irish immigrant, she is neither here nor ...

Kenny Clark knows Santa is magical and only he can find his family. Kathleen Collins fights poverty and desperation every day in her bid to find new homes for the orphans of New York. But what about her happily ever after?

Book 7 in the Orphan Train series takes listeners on a journey to Ireland, where Lily and Charlie find themselves on an adventure. Meanwhile, back at the Sanctuary in New York, Kathleen is left in charge and is facing a host of problems. With the new factory opening soon, the Chivers children searching for a permanent home, and a couple of stray orphans in need of her care, Kathleen feels like she's in over her head. As she tries to navigate these challenges, she finds herself wishing Lily would come home soon. Charlie surprised Lily with tickets for the Titanic's maiden voyage.

Kathleen Green longs for a child of her own. Her work with the orphan trains only serve to heighten her need. When tragedy strikes, will she get the child she always wanted? Will the cost be worth it?

Colten Francis is a man on the run with his former comrades hot on his trail. Seeking safety, he joins a wagon train headed through a mountain pass into Wyoming. As a passive man unsuited to the soldier's life, Colten yearns for peace, but trouble seems to follow him wherever he goes. Sometimes though peace is not an option... Agatha, traveling with her young son Jacob, is also fleeing from a dark past. She holds a secret that could bring the notorious Dupont Gang down upon them all. When Colten joins the wagon train, their paths cross, and Agatha is faced with a new challenge. Will she be ...

Two New York girls, Maria Mezza and Alice Doe, wake up one November morning in 1906. Their lives are about to change forever. Maria is heading to her first job in a shirtwaist factory wishing she was heading to the country side. Alice is leaving New York to find a new family in Illinois country side. Three years later, the paths of the two girls will converge once more. Gone is the innocence of youth yet both girls are desperately hoping their lives will improve. Maria is caught up in the Shirtwaist Strike while Alice is on the run for her life.`

Corbin has spent years at his brother Isaac's side, hunting down criminals and delivering justice. But when the Darden family is kidnapped by a ruthless outlaw, Corbin faces his toughest challenge yet. Determined to rescue them, he must track down the notorious Duke Wallace, whose deadly reputation precedes him. Can he succeed where others have failed, or will this mission be his last? Isaac, grizzled and world-weary, is always one step behind Corbin, guiding him through each fight. Yet Isaac's heart has become entangled with Catherine Darden, a woman far younger than himself. His growing ...

It's 1911, and Lily's plans for her factory are not progressing as fast as she would like. Maria, her sister Rosa, and friend Leonie are still working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Maria and Conrad have agreed it's pointless finding new jobs when they will soon be joining Lily's factory. Rosa can think of nothing but her upcoming marriage, and Leonie worries how she is going to look after her four siblings when their mother falls very ill.

John Ryan, a soldier without a home, clings to loyalty and a locket—the only link to his unknown past. When an ambush leaves his militia shattered and his friend wounded, John defies duty and becomes a deserter. With the law on his heels, he escapes to Vanguard, a frontier town where trails end and secrets lie waiting… John’s search for peace takes a turn when he meets May, a Native woman sold into slavery. After freeing her, he learns she carries dangerous secrets, and their bond is tested by shadows from her past and his relentless pursuers. As winter approaches and threats close in...