A few days ago I posted my thoughts on Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. Last night, the Bookies Book Club met for pizza and reviewed this book as well and then followed up by seeing the author speak.
The whole Orphan Train experience has been fun. First, our Book Club won the books from a Harper Collins on line contest. Then our Library secured her to come and speak in our town, AND it just happened to be on the day our book club normally meets AND happens to be the Bookies Anniversary month (13 years!), it sounded like a fun night.
When we went to see the author of Orphan Train speak we were in for a real treat. Christina Baker Kline was a delight to listen to. She put an impressive amount of research into the book, fueled on to the topic as her husband’s grandfather was an orphan on the train.
When Christina asked the audience if anyone knew someone who had been on an orphan train, a third of the rooms hands shot up. Wow.
As you can see, Minnesota was one of the higher states as far as the count of orphans were that road the trains. It was sad to learn that only 30% of the children were orphans. Many were abandoned, and some were even taken. Christina said that you did not want your children outside after dark for fear that they be snatched and put on the trains.
The children mainly were between the ages between 2 and 14. Preferred were boys between the ages of 9 and 14 as they were handy to use on the farms and they could sleep in the barn. Babies were the next in demand and these trains of babies were called Mercy Trains. The hardest to place were girls as they could not do the physical labor that was needed and they were more underfoot as girls did not sleep in the barns but in the homes instead. Harder yet to place, Christina said, was red heads. No one wanted red headed children or children with freckles. Christina had articles where they specifically said they do not want any red headed children claiming that they were more prone to disobeying and fights.
Most of the children were not adopted by the families that took them in. Adoption meant inheritance and people did not want these children to inherit their lands. They were chosen and signed for with very little paper work – and yes, like in the book Orphan Train, some were abused.
The trains ran from 1854 – 1929. Over that time more than 100,000 children were placed in homes – many with no records of who they were or where they came from. Christina had documented conversations with some of the Orphan Train riders she had spoke with and even though the survivors are now in their later 90’s, they still say they always felt something was missing – while they may have been placed in good homes, they still felt somewhat disconnected and knew that “these were not my people.”
When Christina first started her research she was able to connect with around 60 Orphan Train Riders. Now she said there is about 25 left in the world, and it is their descendants that have picked up the torch to carry on the research and the questions yet unanswered.
The Bookies overall rated the book a strong 4 out of 5. Most of us really enjoyed the historical fiction mixed with fact. Following up with the author event was a real treat and for me, has left a need to know more. This will not be my last look into the Orphan Train. Thank you Christina Baker Kline for opening our eyes to such an important part of our history.
Do you know anyone who has ridden the orphan trains?
Book Journey 
I’ve always been fascinated with the Orphan Trains. I enjoyed reading this book,too. Did you meet Christina at BEA? She was quite gracious. I’ve read her SWEETWATER as well — very different! I would love to meet a real Orphan Train “alum”!
I did not meet her at BEA. I think I have Sweetwater on my shelf though 🙂
I have known about the orphan trains all my life. I remember the orphanage in Boise ,Idaho.
Many special trains went through. The Freedom Train, The Friendship Train, The Liberty Train I think I remember.
That is so interesting you knew about this and remember the orphanage.
Wow Betty! That is so interesting. You have to share the stories! 🙂
Somuch has happened in.My life time. Orphans did not go school.For the most part they stay at the orphanage. The trains had ended by the time I enter school but I overheard talk about them. The other trains were after World War 11. The trains I really remember were the one passing through Boise carrying the Japanese to the camps in Eastern Idaho.
I love these photos. THANKS.
I never heard of this before so I was fascinated by the book.
Her talk really added to the book experience.
I bet it really added to it. How wonderful. So interesting.
What day was she at the BEA?
I did not see her at BEA so I do not know. Wish I would have met her at the expo! 🙂
Oh…..Ok.
I wish I would have met her too.
I have this book and two more of hers on my kindle and have yet to read them. Now I am very interested in doing so. I don’t know anyone who was on the trains, but from those photos I wish I was there at the time to just give all those poor souls a big hug! Great night for you.
Right? Me too!
It was a really interesting and fun night. Thanks to all the bookies for showing up and being who you are.
It was a good time – the timing was excellent 🙂
I’ve read about this and found it so very sad. Thanks for the review and the comments too which add to the interest of this story.
It is sad. I love how she explained why she wrote it as fiction and how she tied in a modern day troubled teen in the foster care system. Brilliant really.
such a neat experience for your book club!
It was! I love it when we can do the little extras.
This sounds so interesting! Sorry I missed it!
We missed you Angie! It was not an anniversary without you 😀
If I were rich, I’d buy a private jet and join your book club. My mom remembers those Orphan Trains. Your event and the book both sound wonderful to me.
Your mom remembers! Wow! What a time in our history for sure! I want to read more about Orphan Trains now.
Awesome your mom remembers.
I would like to be in her book club too. 🙂 It seems that so much more goes on in your town, Sheila, than in Pittsburgh author wise. 🙂
We have had a great author year! 😀
Has William Kent Krueger been to your town? Isn’t he from Minnesota?
He has! We had him for Wine and Words last year and he was a huge draw and an amazing guy! He and his wife were wonderful to have!
Interesting stats and photos on the orphan trains. Thanks for passing these along.
Sure 🙂 I have talking non stop about this event the past two days 🙂
Sounds like a wonderful night out and anniversary celebration. Thanks for sharing those images. It is sad that there were so many Orphan children. I enjoyed this book.
Thanks – I really liked it too.