Have you ever read a book that you felt would be only mildly interesting, only to find that you could not put it down, since it was that good? Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline is the most recent book that did that for me.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer, a Penobscot Indian, has been in and out of foster care for most of her youth. After stealing a battered copy of a book from the library, she is court-ordered to do community service in an effort to keep her out of juvenile hall. Her service involves helping 91-year-old Vivian Daly clean out her attic.
As Molly helps Vivian go through her possessions, Vivian, an Irish immigrant, tells her stories of her youth, which she spent on the Orphan Train across the U.S. Some of the families that Vivian stayed were, at best, uncaring, others, worse, before Vivian finally arrived with a caring family.
It doesn't take long for Molly to realize that she and Vivian are more alike than not and the two form an unexpected friendship.
While Orphan Train does have a few rough spots - most particularly dealing with an atrocious family Vivian stays with for a short while - this is a book well worth the read. For anyone looking for a basically good read, Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train is what you're looking for.
