From the Bookshelf of 2017 Reading Challenge…

Orphan Train

Christina Baker Kline

Start date: May 8, 2016

Finish date: May 24, 2016

Discussion: North America

Why we're reading this: This was an enjoyable and fast read. Really interesting introduction to a complicated and little known pi…more
[close] This was an enjoyable and fast read. Really interesting introduction to a complicated and little known piece of American history. The book allowed me to learn a little about the orphan trains of the late 19th and early 20th century. I know desire to read more about them. I wouldn't say that this was a particularly deep insight kind of book. It would be good for young readers or those who are just entering historic fiction as a genre.

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North America

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The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
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What Members Thought

May 01, 2015 Michelle rated it really liked it

Good book. I had the audio version. Sad reminder of the days of the orphan trains. Yet, I wish there had been more development of the good Foster home for the little boy. Fact is there are bad people out there, but not all. Easy read/listen

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Mar 22, 2015 James Johnson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: popsugar-2015

My first notion was that this was going to be a book for teenagers because the story opens with a 17-year old goth girl in foster care in modern-day Maine. But my fears were soon put aside as I was sucked into a harrowing tale of orphans and the atrocities they faced. The story had me fully committed and I was very much taken with a fictional Irish girl who immigrated to New York City in the 20s.

This isn't the normal type of fiction that I read but I'm so glad I did. I have to thank a particular ...more

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Jul 28, 2014 Kasiek rated it it was amazing

http://kasiek-mysli.blogspot.com/2014... ...more

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Dec 23, 2015 Mary Ellen Ormond rated it it was amazing

A brilliant work of art woven together from two lives.

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Mar 23, 2016 Adriana rated it it was amazing

2016 Reading Challenge A History Book (fiction or non-fiction)

This books is both heartbreaking and inspiring. The story of an 8 year old given away to be an indentured servant against the story of a modern teenager in the foster care system find their lives to be eerily similar.

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