Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Last summer I vacationed in Maine. I'd never been to Maine because it's never on the way to anywhere else. One look around and I fell in love with the place. Maine is a treasure with sweeping ocean vistas from high atop the mountains. Plus it has lobster and lots of it.
On a local news show, I saw an interview with Christina Baker Kline. I thought this book sounded interesting but I never saw it for sale while in Maine. Recently Orphan Train showed up as an Amazon deal. I remembered it from the summer and immediately bought it.
The story starts in 2011 with Molly who is a teenager in the Maine foster system who has been tossed around for as long as she can remember. When caught stealing a book from the library, she appears to be headed to juvie. Molly's given community service as punishment for her crime, but it's her last and final chance. And she knows it.
Vivian is an wealthy, old widow with an attic full of memories, some good, some bad. The attic needs cleaning out and Molly lands the job for her community service. The treasures of the attic tell the story of Vivian's life after having been sent to Minnesota on an orphan train. While looking through each box, Molly and Vivian learn just how much they have in common.
Ms. Kline has done vast research for this story. The places and people come to life on the page. I have to say I enjoyed reading this novel as much as I liked learning about this little known slice of American history. Whether you like Maine or Minnesota, the Great Depression or World War II, or simply want to read a good piece of historical fiction, Orphan Train deserves a place on your book shelf.
Last summer I vacationed in Maine. I'd never been to Maine because it's never on the way to anywhere else. One look around and I fell in love with the place. Maine is a treasure with sweeping ocean vistas from high atop the mountains. Plus it has lobster and lots of it.
On a local news show, I saw an interview with Christina Baker Kline. I thought this book sounded interesting but I never saw it for sale while in Maine. Recently Orphan Train showed up as an Amazon deal. I remembered it from the summer and immediately bought it.
The story starts in 2011 with Molly who is a teenager in the Maine foster system who has been tossed around for as long as she can remember. When caught stealing a book from the library, she appears to be headed to juvie. Molly's given community service as punishment for her crime, but it's her last and final chance. And she knows it.Vivian is an wealthy, old widow with an attic full of memories, some good, some bad. The attic needs cleaning out and Molly lands the job for her community service. The treasures of the attic tell the story of Vivian's life after having been sent to Minnesota on an orphan train. While looking through each box, Molly and Vivian learn just how much they have in common.
Ms. Kline has done vast research for this story. The places and people come to life on the page. I have to say I enjoyed reading this novel as much as I liked learning about this little known slice of American history. Whether you like Maine or Minnesota, the Great Depression or World War II, or simply want to read a good piece of historical fiction, Orphan Train deserves a place on your book shelf.
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