Review of “Orphan Train,” by Christina Baker Kline, 2013. New York: William Morrow.
Fostering, adopting, impacting, mistreating, and loving children
What were the orphan trains? They were a way to take homeless, abandoned orphans from New York City (and other eastern areas) west to the plains states (mostly) and place them with families looking for children. These train missions operated between about 1850 and 1900. For more information, please go to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_Train
In many cases, the children were welcomed into the homes and treated well… and like natural children related to the parents. In many other cases, the children were used for labor, not cared for well… and things did not go well.
This novel is based on a young Irish girl, with bright red hair that it “was hard to hide,” and who loses most of her family. She travels west and lives in a few different homes--having mainly terrible experiences except for her last one.
Vivian (not her real or original name, and she has other in different families) is made to take on different skills and personalities as she is fostered by various parents…
Fostering? It is at the same time a hopeful situation—potentially--and also a terrible, disgusting, demeaning, frightening, and shocking one.
I have to say, the author did an incredible job of describing the young girl’s surroundings and feelings and dialogue and daily work. Right down to the details of the girl’s clothing, the author describes so thoroughly the reader feel as if they were right in the room with the characters. An incredible job!
This book divides action between that past (when Vivian rode an orphan train and lived with various families—some poor and some just plain mean) and the present-day trials of Molly, a goth teenager living with yet another foster family. The parallels in experience and potential loss of self is
Loss of self is an issue felt by a great deal of homeless persons—either when they are falling off the grid and down through the cracks of the world and into an outdoor life—or afterwards, once they are sitting on the curb and wondering what the hell has happened to them.
Vivian obviously has experiences losing self in many ways during the early years of her life as she bounces around to different families. Molly is currently in danger of losing more self to the foster parents who are having trouble tolerating her personality and beliers.
The book shows us the beautiful connection with the flawed and beleaguered Vivian who was one of the orphan train survivors and now dealing with the fallout and memories and Molly as she completes community service hours she had to take on to make up for stealing a book from the local library.
Molly helps Vivian sort through an attic full of fallout and memories.
Some reviewers have called Vivian a “savior” because of the role she plays in getting Molly the chance to show as a “good kid” instead of the “goth problem” she seems to be from a distance. The friendship is wonderful, I think, and I love the connection possible across generations.
Many, many reviewers talk about a huge weakness in this book being the very one-dimensional foster mother in control of Molly… how the author is against Christians, and has an agenda. I see what those reviewers are saying, but not only do I not agree with their assessment, I remind them that this is a moving and well-written novel with several different strong connections to history obvious…
I recommend this book for the serious reader of American history and for book club members who are interested in social justice. I do not currently run a book club or similar group or class. However, when I do, I would be honored to discuss this book with members.
Teachers of writing, advocates for the homeless and damned, and people who love American history will all enjoy the book.
You don’t have to be in a book club to appreciate the important messages and the great writing here. Whoever reads it, they will see that unbelievable description of a world a big train ride away.
A book club, just one more thing I need to do before it’s all over.