Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. Book discussion, cannery row, characters, discussion guide, discussion topics, nobel prize, steinbeck. I also feel that, though the story is fiction, the subjectmatter explored, is not. We announce the book selection on the first monday of the month and discuss on the last monday of the month at. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Adapted and condensed for a young audience, orphan train girl includes an authors note and archival photos from the orphan train era. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. 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. If you enjoy historical fiction, check out this quick, easy read.
Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading group guides. Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. 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. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. Orphan train 3 palette cleanser 1 parenting 2 people of the book 3 perspective 2 place 2. Orphan train post meeting discussion the augusta book. Molly ayer is living with ralph and dina in their home in spruce harbor, maine. In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. Want to see these questions in action, and join a fun monthly online book club no awkward silences, promise.
These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. The orphans tale by pam jenoff book club discussion. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. Poll book tally orphan train by christina baker kline rounded up to 4 stars. 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. 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. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. Through reading the book and completing any of the suggested activities, students can achieve any.
Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss, friday. Luckily, there were some provided in the back of the book which i have listed below. Molly ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years old. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss. Vivian daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of maine, but in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups lives, interests and personal experiences to books you discuss. 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. May 23, 2014 map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in 18531910.
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. Feel free to respond to one, two, or all of them as well as share your overall thoughts. 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. Orphan train girl by christina baker kline reading guide. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions thoughtco. In orphan train, vivian dalys firstperson, pasttense account of her experience on the orphan train and her journey from irishcatholic immigrant to protestant midwesterner alternates with the presentday, presenttense, thirdpersonlimited story of vivians life on the maine coast. 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. Book club books book nerd orphan train book orphan quotes the wild geese happy stories united states map history projects old west. Interview with christina baker kline at the center for fiction part one. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly ayer out of juvie and worse. May 23, 2014 information about orphan trains and the book, orphan train by christina baker kline. 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. Reminiscent of elizabeth strouts amy and isabel, this orphan train carries us along until the stories of these two women become one. Everything is horrible and wonderful author stephanie wittels wachs met hoopla book club readers at the pearland library of the brazoria county library system, located in texas.
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. Find out in this lesson, which will go over a summary of orphan train by christina baker kline and discuss one of the major themes. If you liked orphan train, you might enjoy the following books. 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. Seventeenyearold molly ayer knows that a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is. I may be biased, but moms book nook is the best online moms book club youll find. We meet in a private facebook group and chat about a new book every month. I found orphan train to be 100% accurate in its exploration of how orphans were treated yesterday and today.
Historical romance marianne and drews friendship and romance bring a delectable sizzle and emotional intimacy to this historically informative, beautifully layered, and spiritually inspirational tale about loving someone enough to let them go. I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. We didnt get a lot responses last month, so this month will determine whether or not we continue the book club. Orphan train tells the intertwined stories of two orphans born nearly a century apart.
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. Not only is it entertaining and educational, it is also an excellent discussion book. Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook. Two of us had heard of orphan trains before reading this book. The year is 2011 and molly is in trouble with the law. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. In the prologue vivian mentions that her true love died when she was. Orphan train book discussion guide book discussions.
Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders. This book focuses as eloquently as anything hemingway ever wrote on the horrors of being an orphan, both today and 100 years ago. Author bio birth1964 raisedin maine and tennessee, usa, and the uk educationb. We didnt talk about all of them, but we did hit on most of the main ones. So, please respond, ladies heres some general questions to get the discussion going. This is the book ive most been looking forward to reading this summer, so im ready to jump in with both feet. Carmine, whom she had to take care of while on the orphan train. On the surface, vivians and mollys lives couldnt be more different. One is a seventeen years old living in foster care.
Online resources and questions for your book club to connect your groups. Since orphan train was my book club choice for the year, i had to provide the discussion questions. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Orphan train discussion guide home search this guide search. Book discussion, book group, books to read, discussion questions. 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. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan train book and orphan. Check out the video of this event to enjoy a discussion on hooplas fall 2018 book club spotlight title.
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