Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who, as the result of spending time together and sharing their experiences, form a bond, learn from each other, and change in significant ways. John jackson, who at five years old walked off after a marching band and never found his way home again. Vivian, who immigrated to the united states from ireland as a young girl, was originally named niamh. I found that approximately 145 orphan train riders are still alive in the united states. Riders on he orphan train nacogdoches the riders on the orphan train program will arrive at the nacogdoches railroad depot on thursday, june novelist and humanities scholar, alison moor orphan train children as you can imagine, the experiences these children had ranged from horrible to wonderful.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading orphan train riders dannys new life historical chapter book. Children on the orphan trains came from the street gangs and orphan asylums of the city. Authors website authors facebook authors twitter official page for orphan train official book trailer the story behind the writing of orphan train. Delete from selected list scholastic books for kids. One boys true story from a pastor at the church i attend when he referenced it during his sermon on grace.
Kline also commissioned and edited two widely praised collections. This list is a small portion of riders that rode the orphan train to the midwest. Thoughtful, poignant, sobering summary from publisher. Orphan train short answer test answer key christina baker kline this set of lesson plans consists of approximately 6 pages of tests, essay. How did most train riders ultimately feel about having been put on a train. She can give you the information you seek about the orphan trains, when and where they ran.
And perhaps one of them will get to answer the question who am i, really. Alison moore and phil lancaster present riders on the orphan train, a live documentary presentation. What are some statistics concerning the orphan train riders. Orphan train is a fascinating story of friendship between women from two generations. When her entire family is killed in a fire in 1929, nineyearold niamh is turned over to a childrens charity and put on an orphan train, sent to minnesota in the hopes of. In recent years, some of the riders have begun to share their stories. Orphan train is a great book club discussion book and we recommend it to everyone. Many train riders ended up with their names changed more than once, and many went into multiple homes.
Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Some children, such as james brady, who became governor of alaska, found loving homes, while others, such as charley miller, who shot two boys on a train in wyoming, saw no end to their misery. Riders on the orphan train and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. But dont worry, christina baker kline wraps it all up neatly at the end so you wont go into a tailspin. How did most train riders ultimately feel about having been put on a. Additional copies will be also available at other libraries, as well as at local book stores. In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines, and sweet water.
Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and surrendered children were placed out across the country. Written testimonials from riders who were sent in the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s. They started their journey in new york and were given away in train stations across the country. These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook. Riders on the orphan train is an historical novel about a littleknown piece of american history. The orphan train movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the midwest. Christina answers top 10 book club questions youtube. Christina answers the top ten questions book clubs ask. Did the research for this book give you a bleak perspective of human nature. Christina answers top 10 book club questions duration. Find specific textual evidence to support your answer. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes.
A treasure trove of information and links relating to orphan train from which many of the other links on. These questions can be used as a guide for annotating the text, journal responses, or discussion. The orphan trains operated between 1853 and 1929, relocating about 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, or homeless children. The orphan train movement transported around needy, neglected, and orphaned children from new york to other regions of the united states and canada from 1854 to inspired by the roughly orphaned.
The question and answer sections of our study guides are a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss literature. Sixteenyearold noa has been cast out in disgrace after becoming pregnant by a nazi soldier and being forced to give up her baby. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders. The orphan train community note includes chapterbychapter. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss.
How close are the events you describe in the novel to real life. Many years after the last orphan train ran, a museum in concordia, kansas was built to remember the thousands of young riders. Orphan train riders dannys new life historical chapter. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. After my book club chose orphan train for our next meetup, i picked up my copy and.
The book is also scheduled to be read and discussed by the 3cs book club. Was it common for train riders to keep their experiences secret. 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. The orphans tale by pam jenoff reading guidebook club. Orphan train meets the standard for range of reading and level of text. The main narrative about vivian, an orphan train rider, was excellent.
Lesson plans and resources for orphan train free library of. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Andrea warren alternates chapters about the history of the orphan trains with the story of lee nailling, who in 1926 rode an orphan. In this moving story of one orphaned boy, author andrea warren describes the role of charles loring brace and the childrens aid society in establishing orphan trains. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday, april 11, 2014. The orphans tale by pam jenoff book club discussion. Some had been abandoned by their families, were runaways, or had been removed from abusive homes. Riders on the orphan train is an historical novel about the journey of two children from very different backgrounds who find themselves on the same train heading west in 1918. This book is equal parts heartwrenching and heartwarming. She lives above a small rail station, which she cleans in order to.
Find orphan train lesson plans and teaching resources. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked her about the novel. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. Christina answers the top ten questions book clubs ask about orphan train spoilers. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a historical fiction story that tells about the. The orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care. There is the theme of foster care, adoption, family history, unexpected relationships, inhumane acts of violence and of course the train that took children from large cities to be adopted by families in the midwest to be more like indentured servants then a part of a new family. During the orphan train trip, children were accompanied by a placing agent. This book illustrates that effect by looking at the fates of orphan train riders in aggregate, and by telling the stories of particular children.
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