Lucy's Wish

Orphan Train Children #1

by Joan Lowery Nixon

Ten-year-old Lucy Griggs's mother has just died, leaving Lucy orphaned and living on the streets of 1866 New York City. Then Lucy hears about the Children's Aid Society, a group that sends orphans out West to new homes. Lucy knows she'll never replace her mum, but maybe now she'll find a family--and even a little sister--to love.But the family that takes her in is far from ideal. Mr. Snapes seems kind, but Mrs. Snapes is a bitter, angry woman. And Emma isn't the sister Lucy has dreamed of. Emma is a girl who people call "simple." Can Lucy learn to love this less-than-perfect family?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Author of more than one hundred books, Joan Lowery Nixon is the only writer to have won four Edgar Allan Poe Awards for Juvenile Mysteries (and been nominated several other times) from the Mystery Writers of America. Creating contemporary teenage characters who have both a personal problem and a mystery to solve, Nixon captured the attention of legions of teenage readers since the publication of her first YA novel more than twenty years ago. In addition to mystery/suspense novels, she wrote nonfiction and fiction for children and middle graders, as well as several short stories. Nixon was the first person to write novels for teens about the orphan trains of the nineteenth century. She followed those with historical novels about Ellis Island and, more recently for younger readers, Colonial Williamsburg. Joan Lowery Nixon died on June 28, 2003—a great loss for all of us.

Reviews

[Lawana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about a time period that we don't hear too much about. Since I do a lot of reading with Third Graders, I wanted to preread some of the books in the Orphan Train Children series and I am enjoying them.

[Anna Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this to the girls, they loved it. It is a great historical fiction for kids.

[Shanae Teuscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story that reminded me and my children (ages 6 and 8) what a blessing it is to have a family and to feel we belong somewhere. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. We loved that she learned to take time to care for people who were different than her (mentally slower and/or possibly handicapped in some ways) although others around her did not. Through her tender heart she finds belonging and her wishes come true, although not quite in the way she had originally hoped.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read with interesting information about the orphan train at the beginning and end. The story felt more emotional than strong in events. I really liked how Lucy felt sadness after her actions with Emma's cousins and how she did something about her regret.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So glad there were caring people to bring comfort into the lives of sad, lonely children. (The Children's Aid Society of New York City, and loving families to take them into their homes.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia read this and gave it 4 stars

[Lexy]

I thot of the book that she who writes the story must tell the story about the girl who has a doll
and I think she loves dolls and she came to my house and we are going to school and we are cool to day and to be the first ones be like the cool Kids to be cool to.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the Orphan Train Children series. There were several books in this series and though works of fiction were truly telling profiles of what happened to approximately 200,000 children that rode on these trains. Between 1853 and 1929 children from the East Coast were put trains to be "placed out" with families across the middle west and west. Most of them were orphans and living on the streets or living in tenements in horrible unsanitary conditions.

About half of the children were adopted by loving families and the other half were used for labor on the farms. This was the beginning of the Foster Care system in America and for most kids it was much better than what they came from and for others a living nightmare!

[Andrea P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This awesome chapter book,the genre is historical fiction.It's about this girl that is name Lucy that not had a mom bacause she died and dad too.So one friend said about a Orphan Train Children that is about a train the takes children to new families so Lucy gets someone that her mom is bad but his dad is good.Her dream was that she had a sister that would love her it did come true.I have schema whet this when my mom nided to take me whet other people because she was going somewhere.I have a question that why did his died.I remember about the book of Aggie's Home.I recommend this book to people that like books about the Orphan Train Children.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy's mother has dies and Lucy is trying to survive on the streets of New York in 1866. She hears about the Children's Aid Society and joins it to try to find a family that will love her. The family that takes "adopts" Lucy has a daughter who is mildly retarded. Thankfully, Lucy's mother had taught her to accept people as they are before she died. Lucy develops a friendship Emma even though Emma's own mother can't understand Emma. This is a good story.

[Niki Searson · Rating 3 out of 5]

We really enjoyed reading this simple story based on a piece of history we were not familiar with. Reading this snippet shot of the particular era has sparked us to read up more of our history. Our children should all be reading these types of stories that prompt you to be more grateful for our current lives and thankful for our history.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Lucy loses her mother, she turns to the Children's Aid Society in NYC who then send her on one of the many orphan trains. On an easier level with a happy outcome but still fairly realistic about the plight of city orphans.

[♫Lexi♫ · Rating 3 out of 5]

lucy's cute

[Katie]

Remembered reading this series as a kid and wanted to reread.

[Sandra Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great kids book. i like to read the kuds books at times. very entertaining.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I plan to read the series too!!!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short , sweet and simple, grades 3-6?

[Beth Kaminske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy and Emma

Too short! Little kids like to read and learn about the past, just as much as adults do. This story needed a lot more information.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like learning about the orphan train