Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children. There is the theme of foster care, adoption, family history, unexpected relationships, inhumane acts of violence and of course the train that took children from large cities to be adopted by families in the midwest to be more like. Orphan train wrecked my heart and made me glad to be literate. Paperback original orphan train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from christina baker kline, author of bird in hand and the way life should be. The orphan train by christina baker kline discussion questions the orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. Vivians journey west was aboard an orphan train, a bit of misguided 1900sera social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into midwest families.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Like orphan train, doerrs novel is a work of historical fiction, portrays the experiences of orphans, has a twoplot structure, and retraces the lives of modernday characters by telling their stories from the beginning. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan and train. Find out in this lesson, which will go over a summary of orphan train by christina baker kline and discuss one of. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked her about the novel. Orphan train will hold you in its grip as their fascinating tales unfold. Since orphan train was my book club choice for the year, i had to provide the discussion questions.
Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. On the night of her high school graduation in 1986, kathryn campbells best friend, jennifer, vanished without a trace. Well, i guess if you want to be technical, this is the week. Christina answers top 10 book club questions youtube. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions thoughtco. Riders on the orphan train kindle edition by moore. Our discussion of christina baker klines orphan train begins today and will continue through friday.
Riders on the orphan train kindle edition by moore, alison. Orphan train book unexpected relationships book club food book club parties books to read my books train food library books the incredibles. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. Orphan train, is about the unlikely connection between a 17yearold penobscot indian, molly, and the 91yearold widow, vivian, she helps with a community service project. For example, when my book club read orphan train by christina baker kline i found this interview with the author, and it sparked some great conversation there are spoilers in there. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the country. Orphan train by christina baker kline i remember at the age of 10 or so reading a novel about the late19th and early 20thcentury orphan trains, which took children and babies from east coast slums and brought them to the midwest, where they were given an opportunity for a potentially prosperous new life in the fresh rural air.
Wrap utensils in napkins for easy pickup to save time in line at the buffet. Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. Posted on march 30, 2016 by julia tomiak 10 comments. Two of us had heard of orphan trains before reading this book.
Vivian traveled from nyc to minnesota as a young girl on one of the infamous orphan trains that was used to get orphans out of the cities into the country where they might have a better opportunity to find families and to be able to make a good life. Buy a cheap copy of orphan train book by christina baker kline. The faster serving goes, the more time for the star of the nightthe book. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The orphan train by christina baker kline moves back and forth between two stories that of a young orphan girl in the early twentieth century and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading riders on the orphan train.
One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Orphan train is also similar to klines other works, a piece of the world 2017 and the way life should be 2007. Choosing a book for your book club to read can be challenging. Orphan train by christina baker kline first published. Join the discussion on the third book in our summer reading book club, orphan train, by christina baker kline. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor.
Orphan train study guide from litcharts the creators of. From 1854 to 1929 an estimated 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed throughout the united states and canada during the orphan train movement. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of juvie and worse. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. We didnt talk about all of them, but we did hit on most of the main ones. Hemingford, minnesota, 19301931 in christina baker klines orphan train.
Its been ten years since then, but kathryn still feels the conspicuous void in her lifeand the nagging, guilty sense that she has failed her friend. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 have you read this incredible story about our history in america. Do you think this book will come to the big screen. My heart went out to all the children on the orphan train. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 delicious reads. You can also try to connect with authors on social media they may give you some great discussion ideas or even offer to skype with your book club.
Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. Using orphan train in the classroom books in common. Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. As an adult, winefred lorraine williams learned that she was placed in a new york city orphanage soon after her birth in. We didnt get a lot responses last month, so this month will determine whether or not we continue the book club. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. I remember at the age of 10 or so reading a novel about the late19th and early 20thcentury orphan trains, which took children and babies. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss. The orphan train was a phenomenal story that affected me deeply. Lit lovers discussion questions video interview with christina baker kline history of orphan trains from the childrens aid society huffington post interview with christina baker kline. How similar can the stories of two orphans, born years apart, be.
The orphan train movement was a supervised welfare program that transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located largely in rural areas of the midwest. When a divorce sends kathryn reeling back to the maine town where she grew up, the young journalist. Some of the food ideas are from the book like the terrys famous chowder but most of this book took place during the great depression so food was scarce and there was no way i was. It also has a few words i had to look up, including pusillanimous. Christina baker klines novel, orphan train, is popular with classrooms and communities because of the multiple themes for discussion. I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. If eating dinner during the book discussion is a part of the meeting, make room at the table or pull out. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Everyone is welcome to join the somerville council on aging book club. The term orphan train refers to a time in american history from 18541929. To serve dinner, set up a buffet in the kitchen and let the girls serve themselves.
Nyt best selling author christina baker kline answers the top ten questions book clubs ask about orphan train. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. She found out that they kept his name, and he was married with a family. A 15minute video with questions about her process and choices for writing the book. A lot of the women in this group liked the book along with our. I had no idea that this happened with orphans in america. Orphan train book series 3 books all formats kindle edition from book 1. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina baker kline. In the prologue vivian mentions that her true love died when she was 23, but she doesnt mention the other big secret in the book. Home orphan train discussion guide libguides at ramapo. Orphan train is a young adult historical fiction novel about the relationship between seventeen yearold molly ayer and ninetyone yearold vivian daly who, as the result of spending time together and sharing their experiences, form a bond, learn from each other, and change in significant ways. This 38page guide for orphan train by christina baker kline includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 parts, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked. On the surface, vivians and mollys lives couldnt be more different.
My book club is reading orphan train this month, and its a great novel for discussion. I will most definitely be recommending this wonderful masterpiece to all wholl listen. Mount prospect public library book discussion questions. When the orphan train movement began, it was estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on the streets of new york city. Find orphan train lesson plans and teaching resources.
Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller list for the past 15 weeks, becoming a favorite of book clubs across the. Read orphan train absolutely for free at readanybook. There was also a movie made in 1979 called the orphan train. Christina baker kline writes exquisitely about two unlikely friends. As always, there is no cost to join and no longterm commitment. Poll book tally orphan train by christina baker kline rounded up to 4 stars karin. Luckily, there were some provided in the back of the book which i have listed below. While they get to know each other, their parallel stories. The orphans tale by pam jenoff reading guidebook club.
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