This is the book ive most been looking forward to reading this summer, so im ready to jump in with both feet. As a recipient of one book resources, the free library requires that you devote one class period to. Orphan train by christina baker kane light between oceans by m. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss. The first concerns a frustrated, angry teen who has been bounced around the foster care system from one uncaring home to another, unloved and generally unwanted. 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. Orphan train by christina baker kline 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. Read orphan train absolutely for free at readanybook. You can also try to connect with authors on social media they may give you some great discussion ideas or even offer to skype with your book club. The brave journey of an orphan train rider ann zemke 0977969908 9780977969906 they named me marjorie. Reading group guidesbook club discussion guides for young adults books. Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion.
In orphan train, christina baker kline seamlessly knits together the past and present of two women, one young and one old. 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. If you like orphan train book discussion, you might love these ideas. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. From 1854 to 1929 an estimated 250,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children were placed throughout the united states and canada during the orphan train movement. Orphan train post meeting discussion the augusta book. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday, april 11, 2014 orphan train book discussion. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer, and editor.
Cathy marie buchanan, nyt bestselling author of the day the falls stood still and the painted girls i loved this book. In the prologue vivian mentions that her true love died when she was 23, but she doesnt mention the other big secret in the book. If you want to go beyond the standard reading guide, a great place to find conversation starters is by searching for interviews with the books author. One is a woman who was an orphan train rider and the other a teenage girl. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. Its been ten years since then, but kathryn still feels the conspicuous void in her lifeand the nagging, guilty sense that she has failed her friend. Orphan train post meeting discussion the augusta book club. 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. Luckily, there were some provided in the back of the book which i have listed below. Not only is it entertaining and educational, it is also an excellent discussion book. So keep reading to get the most out of your next book club discussion. Orphan train 3 palette cleanser 1 parenting 2 people of the book 3 perspective 2 place 2. Orphan train by christina baker kline tells the story of molly and vivian, two people who seem very different, but discover that they have similar stories.
Molly, half indian, has stolen a library book and is. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. For example, when my book club read orphan train by christina baker kline i found this interview with the author, and it sparked some great conversation. Christina baker kline goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. It made me feel like being in jail, prison, would be about the same as being an orphan. Mount prospect public library book discussion questions. 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. I found orphan train to be 100% accurate in its exploration of how orphans were treated yesterday and today. This book focuses as eloquently as anything hemingway ever wrote on the horrors of being an orphan, both today and 100 years ago. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina baker kline. The orphans tale by pam jenoff reading guidebook club.
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 and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence. Join the discussion on the third book in our summer reading book club, orphan train, by christina baker kline.
The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. Another great pairing of historical fiction and realistic fiction within a great story. Summary of orphan train by christina baker kline discussion. Before the discussion began we were told to pick a picture from the. For example, when my book club read orphan train by christina baker kline i found this interview with the author, and it. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. Im not sure that i have ever heard of orphan trains that took 200,000 children from the coast to the midwest to. I also feel that, though the story is fiction, the subjectmatter explored, is not. Some authors artfully employ alternating voices such as in orphan train or in the five points of view. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Stedman the invention of wings by sue monk kidd b e quiet by lisa scottoline the rosie project by graeme c. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything orperhaps most importantlyourselves. In women of the dawn, a nonfiction book about the lives of four wabanaki indians excerpted in the epigraph, bunny mcbride writes.
Adapted and condensed for a young audience, orphan train girl includes an authors note and archival photos from the orphan train era. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Book club books, the book, book clubs, orphan train book, reading lists. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or.
Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three. 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. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. 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. 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. Simsion girl on the train by paula hawkins the circle by dave eggers the good nurse by charles graeber all the light we cannot see the far end of happy. Interview with christina baker kline at the center for fiction. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss.
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. 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. Home orphan train discussion guide libguides at ramapo. In portaging from one river to another, wabanakis had. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. We didnt talk about all of them, but we did hit on most of the main ones. The characters are extremely interesting and certainly will generate some discussion. Rich in detail and epic in scope, orphan train by christina baker kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship. Molly ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years. Orphan train is a best book club book for discussion, the novel of a woman with a hidden past as an orphantrain rider and a teenage girl seeking answers about her life. Orphan train thanks for joining us as we start the our final book of the summer reading book club, orphan train by christina baker kline. A young irish immigrant orphaned in new york city, vivian was put on a train to the midwest with hundreds of other children. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Apr 11, 20 on the night of her high school graduation in 1986, kathryn campbells best friend, jennifer, vanished without a trace.
Kline has written six other novels orphan train, orphan train girl, the way life should be, sweet water, bird in hand, and desire lines and written or edited five works of nonfiction. Aug 18, 2018 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 and that of a teenager in the modernday foster care system. Christina baker kline photo via visit the authors web site. This shouldnt come as a surprise to you, but i think orphan train would make a fantastic book club selection. We didnt get a lot responses last month, so this month will determine whether or not we continue the book club. In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines, and sweet water. Two of us had heard of orphan trains before reading this book. If you enjoy historical fiction, check out this quick, easy read. As such, book clubs that read this book have the opportunity. Orphan train book club ideas part 2 delicious reads. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions thoughtco. Orphan train discussion guide home search this guide search. Nov 14, 2018 book discussion of the bestselling novel orphan train by christina baker kline free and open to the public this discussion is in advance and support of the authors appearance as keynote speaker at children awaiting parents heart gallery luncheon, tuesday, november 27.
Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. Their story is interesting, especially the orphan train rider. As she helps vivian sort through her possessions and memories, molly learns that they arent as different as they seem to be. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly ayer out of juvie and worse. Almost everything that happened in orphan train actually happened to someone in real life including, for example, the story of the boy who was christina baker kline. Orphan train will hold you in its grip as their fascinating tales unfold. 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. Book club questions for the orphan train by christina baker. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. Molly discovers that she has the power to help vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life answers that will ultimately free them both. Orphan train is a fascinating story of friendship between women from two generations.
When the orphan train movement began, it was estimated that 30,000 abandoned children were living on. During this time, the socalled orphan trains regularly ran from the cities along the east coast going to the farmlands of. 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. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Palmer adult book group easton area public library.
For information on or tickets to the luncheon, see or call 585 2325110. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Sep 05, 2016 for example, when my book club read orphan train by christina baker kline i found this interview with the author, and it sparked some great conversation there are spoilers in there. I fail to see how the book s theme alone lends itself in any way to being a poorly written beach read. Since orphan train was my book club choice for the year, i had to provide the discussion questions. Orphan train book book club questions public speaking language arts grammar book lovers my books author writing. On the surface, vivians and mollys lives couldnt be more different. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Interview with christina baker kline at the center for fiction part one. Kline also commissioned and edited two widely praised collections. Apr 11, 2014 online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday, april 11, 2014 orphan train book discussion guide. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes.
Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook club. She spends summers with extended family in an even older house on mount desert island in maine. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday, april 11, 2014 orphan train book discussion guide. Apr 02, 20 vivians journey west was aboard an orphan train, a bit of misguided 1900sera social engineering moving homeless, destitute city children, mostly immigrants, into midwest families. 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. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina baker kline old house in montclair, new jersey, with her husband, david kline, and three boys, hayden, will, and eli. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. Oct 20, 2014 i love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Three questions every book club asks christina christina. When a divorce sends kathryn reeling back to the maine town where she grew up, the young journalist finds herself facetoface. The nightingale discussion guide january 1 2016 3 may 1.
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