In women of the dawn, a nonfiction book about the lives of four wabanaki indians. The orphans tale by pam jenoff was a very moving read. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Book club selection for august 2014 by christina baker kline historical fiction20273 pages publishers comments goodreads. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan and train. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. A lot of the women in this group liked the book along with our strong male contingency of one but not as much as i did. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train christina baker klines new novel incorporates a true piece of american history. The orphan trains operated between 1854 and 1929, relocating about 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or homeless children. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care. A nonfiction book like just mercy doesnt readily lend itself to menu ideas for a gathering, since food isnt often discussed in the text.
Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in book club books, book. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan train book and orphan.
As a midwesterner, i was really interested in this book after hearing it featured on npr. Orphan train recipes for book clubs tosas allcity read. Find exciting ideas from book clubs all over the country what theyre reading, what theyre eating, and how theyre blending the two as well as recipes from some of your favorite authors and book giveaways. 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 indentured servants then a part of a new family. It is estimated, from 150,000 to 250,000 children were sent on trains all over the nation and canada during the years the train was in existence. I had no idea that this happened with orphans in america.
I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Atonement, ian mcewan serve high tea and transport your book group to prewwii england and the large country estate of the tallis family. Obviously the foster care system of the 1900s and that of today will come up. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 delicious reads. 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. Your book club could also go veggie in honor of molly. Orphan train apr leave a comment between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. 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. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 book club books. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence.
When vivian goes to live with the byrnes fanny offers her food and advises. Christina baker kline, orphan train orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. There is the theme of foster care, adoption, family history, unexpected. For book clubs 1929 train itinerary international editions. The treatment these children received by the loving families that took them in is another hot talking point, as is the flawed practice that transports the orphans to the mid west.
New book club party food families ideas party club friends 35 ideas for 2019. The orphan train twins, and their white horse dreamnook book. 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 penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. Moving between contemporary maine and depressionera minnesota, orphan train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, and unexpected friendship. In real life, orphan trains were intended to save children from the streets, but sometimes. Her vegetarian diet was only one thing about her that her foster parents, especially her impossibletoplease foster mother dina, refused to accept about her. 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. One of the books protagonists, an irish orphan, is packed onto a train and sent to the midwest. While i was researching the orphan trains i jotted down ideas that. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. Cook ahead and be ready long before the members arrive.
We hope you find the book and this dish equally delicious. Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster. Orphan train historical background from the authors website. Orphan train is a fascinating story of friendship between women from two generations. You might consider serving a menu based on what anthony ray hinton ate when he was released from death row. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the east coast to the farmlands of the midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose. Back in the mid1800s, there were not a lot of options for poor, homeless, abused, andor neglected children other than orphanages or almshouses. Orphan train by christina baker kline find this book on amazon. 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. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 have you read this incredible story about our history in america. 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.
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. 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. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train free library of. Penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of the foster care system. One week molly took over the kitchen and made her kind of food. Dont let the food get in the way of the allimportant ending. The main narrative about vivian, an orphan train rider, was excellent. Welcome to a meeting place for publishers, authors, and book clubs to connect.
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. Christina baker klines novel orphan train has ridden the new york times bestseller. Here are a few top book club selections and coordinating menus that are sure to add a new depth of flavor to your discussions. Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. Everyone in book club hopped on board for orphan train donning either train conductor, engineering or 1930s garb. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging out out of. Dinner and a book dinner and a book go one step beyond the usual wine, cheese and crackers with a menu that matches the theme of your book clubs latest selection. Rich in detail and epic in scope, orphan train by christina baker kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything orperhaps most importantlyourselves.
Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. A great glass of wine and a good book have gone together almost as long as there have been. Picking a complete makeahead menu for the night is a must, especially if you have a few more pages to read before the book club starts. The orphan train movement in america was a unique experiment in child welfare. The second narrative of molly, a teen foster child, is marred by the way the author, christina baker kline, portrays her oppressive foster mom. Author bio birth1964 raisedin maine and tennessee, usa, and the uk educationb.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. The two women astrid a jewish woman hiding and sheltered in a circus and noa a younger woman who was cast out from her home in the netherlands when she became pregnant. Christina baker klines orphan train is an unforgettable story of friendship and second chances that highlights a littleknown but historically significant movement in americas pastand it includes a special ps section for book clubs featuring insights, interviews, and more penobscot indian molly ayer is close to aging. After tragedy, young girl shipped west on orphan train. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly out of juvie and worse. To keep our theme on track, our cohosts served a typical 1930s, minnesotastyle, sunday dinner including all the fixings.
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 eating squirrel as the main dish. We thought it fitting to provide this for the she reads book clubs that will meet throughout the month to discuss the novel. Yes a little reminiscent of that powerful book the nightingale by kristin hannah, however very different in its own right. 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. In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. June when orphan arrived at the train station in winona, minn. Its dorothys birthday, shes living with the miserable, dysfunctional grote.
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