Orphan Train caught my eye because I have a character in one of my stories who rides the Orphan Train at an early age. So of course, I needed to read this book (research, right? Not an impulse buy).
Christina Baker Kline’s story jumps back and forth, from the 2010s to the 1920s with two POV characters. One is a teenaged girl (Molly) who is helping an older woman (Vivian) with her possessions. The things Molly discovers in the attic allow Vivian to tell her story. And if you haven’t guessed, Vivian rode the Orphan Train. We see her growing from a young girl to a young married woman who makes a shocking choice.
I love Kline’s voice. She gets right into the story without a lot of background at the first. During one portion of the story, I felt very uncomfortable with what was happening to the character, which was perfect because the character would have been uncomfortable at that point. Prior to this “uncomfortable situation,” I thought the book could have been marketed to younger readers (Kline previously authored a version for younger readers), but that elevated it to adult reading. (Sorry, no spoilers.)
I’m not certain I related well to Molly, the modern teenager. She’s not the easiest person to love – in fact, her having to do community service is why she’s at Vivian’s. I found myself wanting to jump forward to read more about Vivian’s tale, although I could appreciate Kline’s intention of showing two orphan girls in varying situations. And Molly’s actions impact the ending on Vivian’s story.
The ending (again, no spoilers) was sweet enough. I would have loved the fairy-tale ending of finding the person they looked for, but perhaps that would have made it seem a little too perfect.
You may appreciate more than one POV. I personally like just one, although having one set in modern times might entice readers who do not usually read historical fiction to give it a try.
Kline’s website is: https://christinabakerkline.com
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline has a 2013 copyright and is published by William Morrow, An imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. I purchased the paperback copy.
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