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grandmashenanigans's review against another edition
4.0
Such a sweet, sweet book! Ended before I was ready, though.
mfbaaby's review against another edition
4.0
“So I am learning to pretend, to smile and nod, to display empathy I do not feel. I am learning to pass, to look like everyone else, even though I feel broken inside.”
This book was heartbreaking, remarkable and everything I was hoping for going into this book. I never heard or knew about the orphan trains until I read this book and it breaks my heart what these children had to endure. They went through and seen things children shouldn’t experience and even after finding a new family they were dealt with a terrible situation. There were moments where my heart was breaking for these two young women and another moment where I was disgusted. There’s a huge trigger warning in this book that I haven’t seen it mentioned. The trigger warning is sexual assault so if you’ve experienced or feel a way with that I’d skip that part all together since it’s only a small apart within the book.
Orphan Train follows two women, one named Vivian throughout the 20th century and the other Molly through the 21 century. They meet in the 21 century while Molly has to help give Vivian a hand with her home. They’re two remarkable individuals who’re so different yet so alike and they come together in this book.
One thing I loved was the character Vivian, I felt more of a connection towards her rather than Molly. Vivian was kind and strong with everything she had been handed throughout her life. She dealt with so much yet she was a compassionate women who wanted to give others a helping hand.
I loved the writing style and the complexity of the writing. It was easy to follow and I loved the way the author wrote the relationships between the two characters and their experiences.
Overall, I loved this book and I really loved learning about the history of orphan trains as well.
This book was heartbreaking, remarkable and everything I was hoping for going into this book. I never heard or knew about the orphan trains until I read this book and it breaks my heart what these children had to endure. They went through and seen things children shouldn’t experience and even after finding a new family they were dealt with a terrible situation. There were moments where my heart was breaking for these two young women and another moment where I was disgusted. There’s a huge trigger warning in this book that I haven’t seen it mentioned. The trigger warning is sexual assault so if you’ve experienced or feel a way with that I’d skip that part all together since it’s only a small apart within the book.
Orphan Train follows two women, one named Vivian throughout the 20th century and the other Molly through the 21 century. They meet in the 21 century while Molly has to help give Vivian a hand with her home. They’re two remarkable individuals who’re so different yet so alike and they come together in this book.
One thing I loved was the character Vivian, I felt more of a connection towards her rather than Molly. Vivian was kind and strong with everything she had been handed throughout her life. She dealt with so much yet she was a compassionate women who wanted to give others a helping hand.
I loved the writing style and the complexity of the writing. It was easy to follow and I loved the way the author wrote the relationships between the two characters and their experiences.
Overall, I loved this book and I really loved learning about the history of orphan trains as well.
jenmangler's review against another edition
4.0
I could not put this book down. I loved both Niamh (I can't call her Vivian, I just can't) and Molly, and I so desperately wanted for them both to have a happy ending. When reading the flashbacks I didn't want them to end - I wanted to know more! - but I felt the same way about the present-day story. The ending was a bit too rushed and pat for my liking, but that's my only real complaint.
rr_author's review against another edition
2.0
This book has such a beautiful cover, I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. Man, like future book cover goals for me big time!
This book is about a girl (Molly) who is in a foster home, and is in trouble for 'stealing' Jane Austen out of the library. She was kind of an emo, or gothic girl you could say, tattoo, black hair with a white stripe, etc. She decides to work for an elderly lady named Vivian, by helping clean out her attic. Then it follows the life story of the elderly lady when she was young too.
I really liked the Vivian's story, it was really fascinating. She was a really colourful and fun character, even though she had quite a few sad times in her life. I did find it a bit inappropriate in one spot, in which I had to skip over it, so not sure if it is good for YA. She was fun as an old lady too. :)
I didn't like Molly's side of the story, as it had a few swear words, and just wasn't as interesting. I think it does portray what foster homes can be like quite well, as I know a few people who have been in the system.
Overall I rate this 2/5 stars, and I don't think I would recommend it. That's just my opinion though, and others love it as I can see. :)
This book is about a girl (Molly) who is in a foster home, and is in trouble for 'stealing' Jane Austen out of the library. She was kind of an emo, or gothic girl you could say, tattoo, black hair with a white stripe, etc. She decides to work for an elderly lady named Vivian, by helping clean out her attic. Then it follows the life story of the elderly lady when she was young too.
I really liked the Vivian's story, it was really fascinating. She was a really colourful and fun character, even though she had quite a few sad times in her life. I did find it a bit inappropriate in one spot, in which I had to skip over it, so not sure if it is good for YA. She was fun as an old lady too. :)
I didn't like Molly's side of the story, as it had a few swear words, and just wasn't as interesting. I think it does portray what foster homes can be like quite well, as I know a few people who have been in the system.
Overall I rate this 2/5 stars, and I don't think I would recommend it. That's just my opinion though, and others love it as I can see. :)
hirvimaki's review against another edition
4.0
I approached this (book club) book with an assumption that it would be wholly depressing and un-enjoyable. I was happily mistaken. Yes, the theme - orphaned children - is depressing and it does depict some wholly unwholesome situations, but the tone is more hopeful than bleak and it is an interesting tale (two tales interwoven) about the present-day foster care system and it's precursor, and specifically the Orphan Trains. I was so fascinated by the idea of Orphan Trains that I took the time to look into the system, how it was founded and how it led into our modern-day foster care system.
bookherd's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Niamh Power was born in Ireland, immigrated with her parents to New York as a young girl in the 1920's, and then lost her parents and the rest of her family in a fire when she was 9. The Children's Aid Society took her in and then shipped her and other orphaned children out to the Midwest to be "adopted." In Niamh's case, and others', adoption meant being brought to someone's farm, home, or place of business to work.
Niamh's story is told alongside Molly's, a 17 year old modern day foster child who is having conflict with her foster mother. When Molly steals a copy of Jane Eyre from her high school library, she has to do community service. The mother of her boyfriend arranges for her to help the elderly lady she works for clean out her attic, and Molly and the elderly lady strike up a bit of a friendship.
The two stories illustrate the vulnerability of foster children, and how, although the surrounding culture has changed, many things about being a foster child have not. Although this is not specifically marketed as a YA book, it is empathetic about the issues that young adults face, especially in a foster family. It might be a good choice for a teen.
Niamh's story is told alongside Molly's, a 17 year old modern day foster child who is having conflict with her foster mother. When Molly steals a copy of Jane Eyre from her high school library, she has to do community service. The mother of her boyfriend arranges for her to help the elderly lady she works for clean out her attic, and Molly and the elderly lady strike up a bit of a friendship.
The two stories illustrate the vulnerability of foster children, and how, although the surrounding culture has changed, many things about being a foster child have not. Although this is not specifically marketed as a YA book, it is empathetic about the issues that young adults face, especially in a foster family. It might be a good choice for a teen.
shubbard116's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed how the author interwove the two stories of Molly and Vivian. Fast read and found Vivian’s story powerful.
whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
3.0
I want to give this a higher rating quite badly. It was sweet and at times poignant, but it suffered pacing issues and occasional pandering to thrill-seeking. It could have been better.