The Orphan Trains

by Annette R. Fry

A chronicle of a little-known event in American history describes how, from 1854 to 1929, the Children's Aid Society sent orphaned city children West to free them from crime and poverty, showing how these children lived in their new surroundings.

Genres: History

96 pages, Library Binding

First published May 31, 1994

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Young Adult book that is very informative about the Orphan Trains. I really enjoyed this book, as my grandmother came west from New York City, to Sterling, Nebraska along with her younger sister on the Orphan Train, around 1908. This book is only 96 pages, and has some wonderful pictures. It most emphasizes the positive aspects of the children being taken west to a better life, than being homeless in New York City, or being placed in an asylum. My grandmother had said that she was mainly a servant for an older couple, and this book didn't really talk about anything negative, other than when some placings didn't work out, the child either ran away, or was placed with a different family.

[Dori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

[Roberta]

Good introductory children’s book on the topic, lent to me by a 4th grader doing a play based on this real historical event.