Monday, August 19, 2013

Orphan Train

Orphan Train
by Christina Baker Kline


Genre: Historical Fiction

SynopsisOrphan 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 by Christina Baker Kline 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.

Review: This was such a fast, easy, interesting read. I really enjoyed reading about the two main characters but I was more interested in the life of Vivian and what happened to her on the orphan train and after.  The story jumps in time from present day to the 1920s chapter to chapter and i wanted to hurry up the present day parts.  The stories of what happened to these orphans was so sad but unfortunately true (this is a work of fiction but it is based on true happenings).  Luckily there is more to the story than that so it's not an incredibly sad and tragic book.  I really like how Vivian is able to be a friend to Molly and give her some positivity in her life. I do wish that I could have seen more development in Molly's character. I also didn't like how the ending didn't get wrapped up neatly but overall I really liked this book.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

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