Orphan Train Girl

Reviewed by: Kris Zuidema - retired school librarian, Standish, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 16, 2017

Review

This is an adapted version of the bestselling adult book "Orphan Train" for young readers. The chapters alternate between Molly's present day story as a middle school age foster child and Vivian's 1929-1930 account of being a young Irish immigrant on an orphan train and settling in the Midwest. Molly is assigned a community project because she is accused of stealing a book from a public library in the fictional town of Spruce Harbor, Maine. Vivian is now an elderly woman who needs help cleaning her attic. Molly must complete twenty hours of community work helping Vivian. Together the two of them sort through Vivian's memories. In the end Molly chooses to tell Vivian's story as a school assignment. She uncovers information about Vivian's baby sister and an infant that Vivian took care of briefly on the orphan train. This well written novel is engaging and filled with historical information. Black and white photos are included in addition to a short history of the orphan trains. I highly recommend this novel which successfully blends historical information and realistic fiction.

Overall Book Score: excellent