Overall Opinion and Thoughts about Orphan Train

Discuss the July 2016 Book of the Month, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

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Kourtney Bradley
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Re: Overall Opinion and Thoughts about Orphan Train

Post by Kourtney Bradley »

The Orphan Train was the first BOTM that I have actively particiapted in, and I am really glad I did so. I truly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone else. Definitely would give it a 4 out of 4. It is such a touching story. I had no idea that the orphan trains were real, so I am glad the author decided to include some of the historical information at the end to educate on that.

Reading about Molly was terrible, because from her standpoint in 2011, it's sad to think that there are still children that are passed around from foster home to foster home at this day in time.

Reading from Vivian's life time, I was so horrified at some of the situations that she would be placed in. And it was very hard to read that the adults in her life, the ones who placed her in these homes to give her protection, didn't even believe her when it came down to it.

Both women in the book are very strong characters. If the book didn't have the graphic scenese (sexual abuse) I would think it would be great to be included in a history class.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

klbradley wrote: Both women in the book are very strong characters. If the book didn't have the graphic scenese (sexual abuse) I would think it would be great to be included in a history class.

I would think it would be appropriate for upper high school but perhaps as an option rather than a requirement when studying that time period.
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Post by Kourtney Bradley »

CatInTheHat wrote:
klbradley wrote: Both women in the book are very strong characters. If the book didn't have the graphic scenese (sexual abuse) I would think it would be great to be included in a history class.

I would think it would be appropriate for upper high school but perhaps as an option rather than a requirement when studying that time period.

Agreed. Usually for any of my previous high school classes with a reading assignment, we were given a few options to choose from.
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Post by braver »

klbradley wrote:
CatInTheHat wrote:
klbradley wrote: Both women in the book are very strong characters. If the book didn't have the graphic scenese (sexual abuse) I would think it would be great to be included in a history class.

I would think it would be appropriate for upper high school but perhaps as an option rather than a requirement when studying that time period.

Agreed. Usually for any of my previous high school classes with a reading assignment, we were given a few options to choose from.
I don't know about you guys, but when I think of some of the books I read in high school English classes (The Color Purple, for example), I think this book was actually pretty tame.
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Post by Kourtney Bradley »

braver wrote:
klbradley wrote:
CatInTheHat wrote:

I would think it would be appropriate for upper high school but perhaps as an option rather than a requirement when studying that time period.

Agreed. Usually for any of my previous high school classes with a reading assignment, we were given a few options to choose from.
I don't know about you guys, but when I think of some of the books I read in high school English classes (The Color Purple, for example), I think this book was actually pretty tame.

You are so right. I actually read The Catcher in the Rye for my sophomore English class, and I don't remember thinking it was all that bad. But actually as of last night I started to read through it again, and I'm very surprised at the language use and how that was allowed. So I guess this one wouldn't be all that scandalous for school age now. More than anything, it would probably shine some light on how fortunate some are and how they take that for granted.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

braver wrote:
I don't know about you guys, but when I think of some of the books I read in high school English classes (The Color Purple, for example), I think this book was actually pretty tame.
Sometimes it's hard to remember that far back :D
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Post by MsMartha »

I just finished this book, and I think it was very well researched and written. I haven't decided who my favorite character is--although Molly is someone I really liked. She had an interesting combination of acting older than she was at times, and not knowing what to do in some situations. Actually I think that's pretty common--we behave and make decisions based on what we have experienced, and can get confused based on what we haven't experienced. For me, this was 4 out of 4 stars.
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Post by Jojowrites4All »

Loved, Laughed, Cried! 4 Stars.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

Jojowrites4All wrote:Loved, Laughed, Cried! 4 Stars.
This story really did bring in a variety of emotions.
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Post by Diane B »

I enjoyed reading this book and learning about orphan trains. Here in Canada we had something similar: "Home Children."

"Between 1869 and the late 1930s, over 100,000 juvenile migrants were sent to Canada from the British Isles during the child emigration movement.... families welcomed them as a source of cheap farm labour and domestic help....Although many of the children were poorly treated and abused, others experienced a better life here than if they had remained in the urban slums of England."

I really enjoyed reading the book, until Vivian met up with Dutchy again- a little too contrived - a big romantic reunion after 10 years, with only a couple days on the train tog. as kids....?? anyway. And then Vivian doing what she did - her big bombshell in the story? It just didn't seem plausible, but then it was a different time, and Vivian was probably shell-shocked....? I liked the addition of Molly, which made the book a little different from just another "rags to riches" story.
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Post by JPellegrini »

Shortly after starting this book, it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. I enjoyed meeting the characters and I thought it was beautifully written. I never once thought to myself "OK, just keep reading, maybe it will get better." It never felt like a forced read. Instead, I had a hard time putting it down.
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Post by CataclysmicKnight »

CatInTheHat wrote:I was already familiar with the actual orphan trains. I was pleased with the accuracy of the historical facts in the story. Often, those get mucked up. Both of the main characters, Vivian and Molly, felt very real to me. There were so many tear jerking moments in the story. I couldn't put it down, which is always a good sign of a good book!
WOW! I'd never even heard of the concept of an "orphan train" until I saw this was a book of the month and all of the comments here... This one was extra appreciated - that the book is accurate in its depiction of history. I love a good historical fiction book, and while it seems somewhat torn between it being fantastic and just okay, the fact that this is something I'd never even heard about definitely has me interested in the book!
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

CataclysmicKnight wrote:
CatInTheHat wrote:I was already familiar with the actual orphan trains. I was pleased with the accuracy of the historical facts in the story. Often, those get mucked up. Both of the main characters, Vivian and Molly, felt very real to me. There were so many tear jerking moments in the story. I couldn't put it down, which is always a good sign of a good book!
WOW! I'd never even heard of the concept of an "orphan train" until I saw this was a book of the month and all of the comments here... This one was extra appreciated - that the book is accurate in its depiction of history. I love a good historical fiction book, and while it seems somewhat torn between it being fantastic and just okay, the fact that this is something I'd never even heard about definitely has me interested in the book!
Have you read "Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence" by Doris Pilkington? It's about aboriginal girls who are sort of orphans and their stories. I found a lot of connections with it and the orphan train stories.
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Post by CataclysmicKnight »

CatInTheHat wrote:
CataclysmicKnight wrote:
CatInTheHat wrote:I was already familiar with the actual orphan trains. I was pleased with the accuracy of the historical facts in the story. Often, those get mucked up. Both of the main characters, Vivian and Molly, felt very real to me. There were so many tear jerking moments in the story. I couldn't put it down, which is always a good sign of a good book!
WOW! I'd never even heard of the concept of an "orphan train" until I saw this was a book of the month and all of the comments here... This one was extra appreciated - that the book is accurate in its depiction of history. I love a good historical fiction book, and while it seems somewhat torn between it being fantastic and just okay, the fact that this is something I'd never even heard about definitely has me interested in the book!
Have you read "Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence" by Doris Pilkington? It's about aboriginal girls who are sort of orphans and their stories. I found a lot of connections with it and the orphan train stories.
I sure haven't, but now I'm going to have to look into those as well! I was thinking of going to a library in the next couple of days (especially one that's a Pokestop!) and it'll be cool to go in with a few books to look for! :tiphat:
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Post by Taylor Razzani »

I didn't think I wouls get as invested in this book as I did! It was very interesting learning about the orphan train and I think the author did a great job expressing Niamh's fear and uncertainty throughout the whole book. I was rooting for her to reunite with Dutchy throughout the whole book, but when they did I felt their relationship came on a little too hard and fast...but I still was happy they had found one another. I would definitely recommend this book, it has a decent balance of heart break and hope.
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