Orphan Train Girl by Christina Baker Kline is a fascinating and engaging historical fiction book.
My Overview
Orphan Train Girl is such a special book to me. The writing and storytelling style make this story engaging and memorable. I’ve read this book a couple of times over the years. Each time I’ve read this book, I’m captivated by the characters’ lives and journeys.
This book is a great way to learn about the “orphan trains” and what life was like for the children being transported. It’s historical fiction written in a relatable way for the middle graders of today. The story is told from the POV of Molly (present day sixth grader) and Vivian (orphan from 1929).
Alternating between past and present, this story is captivating from beginning to end. Both Molly’s and Vivian’s stories tell of the hardships some children have unfortunately encountered and continue to encounter. It’s a reminder that times may be different, but the hardships are still very similar.
If you’ve read The Secret Garden and Anne of Green Gables (my favorite book!) you’ll enjoy the references made in this story to various characters and incidents from those books.
My Recommendation
I highly recommend this book. It’s an engaging and education story for readers of any age. I especially recommend it for middle school readers. For younger readers, it would make a great story for a read-aloud.
