Reading Level: 5.7Lexile: 890L
Genre: Historical Fiction
Between 1854 and 1929, so-called 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. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?
As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.
I enjoyed this book so much that I am purchasing the young adult version for the middle school library. Although I liked the ending, I wanted it to continue. I found myself caring so much for Molly and Vivian I wanted to continue to follow them through their life's journey.
I enjoyed this book so much that I am purchasing the young adult version for the middle school library. Although I liked the ending, I wanted it to continue. I found myself caring so much for Molly and Vivian I wanted to continue to follow them through their life's journey.
