Orphan Train

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline recounts the stories of two extraordinary women: Vivian, a 91 year-old wealthy retiree, and 17 year-old Molly, a troubled orphan living in foster-care. On the surface, these women would seem to have nothing in common; however, as they get to know each other’s stories, they come to understand the many ways in which they share life experiences and emotional truths. They become unlikely, but true, friends.

Operating primarily as a historical novel, Orphan Train is grounded in the record of the trains that carried over 200,000 orphans from Eastern cities to new lives in the Midwest during the late-19th and early-20th centuries. Vivian’s life experience as an Irish immigrant and orphan train rider forms one track of the novel. Molly’s modern-day experience as a Penobscot Indian teenager stuck in the foster-care system forms the other, while the history and culture of the Penobscot Indians also figures prominently in the novel.

The chapters move between the two storylines: Molly’s modern-day life and her developing relationship with Vivian, and Vivian’s past. Molly arrives to help Vivian reorganize and clean out her attic as part of community service hours she must perform to stay out of juvenile detention. While they work, Vivian reminisces over the items that they find.