Oprah announces olive, again by elizabeth strout, as the latest selection for oprahs 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. The book is available now on apple books in both e book and audiobook formats. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that the. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping molly ayer out of juvie and worse. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and. Book discussions 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 across the country. Poll book tally orphan train by christina baker kline rounded up to 4 stars karin. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Poll book tally orphan train by christina baker kline rounded up to 4 stars. Christina answers top 10 book club questions youtube. Notwithstanding all of the deceit, deception and general outandout fraud one will find in the girl on the train, each and every word in this engrossing debut thriller by paula hawkins has the ring of truth to it.
This study guide consists of approximately 42 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of orphan train. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. 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. 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. Jan 31, 2014 nyt best selling author christina baker kline answers the top ten questions book clubs ask about orphan train. Orphan train book discussion collection by grand forks public library. There is the theme of foster care, adoption, family history, unexpected relationships, inhumane acts of violence and of course the train that took children from large cities to be adopted by families in the midwest to be more like indentured servants then a part of a new family.
I fail to see how the book s theme alone lends itself in any way to being a poorly written beach read. 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. Two of us had heard of orphan trains before reading this book. Not only is it entertaining and educational, it is also an excellent discussion book. On the surface, vivians and mollys lives couldnt be more different. Orphan train book ya books books to read foster mom foster care irish immigrants book trailers reading challenge historical fiction. These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. Orphan train wrecked my heart and made me glad to be literate. 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. 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. Check out the video of this event to enjoy a discussion on hooplas fall 2018 book club spotlight title. A lot of the women in this group liked the book along with our.
Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Since orphan train was my book club choice for the year, i had to provide the discussion questions. Discussion questions for orphan train by christina baker kline. We didnt talk about all of them, but we did hit on most of the main ones. In mondays book club 101 post, we talked about how a fabulous book club discussion starts with the right book and it takes more than a great book to make a great book club novel to gather this list of 40 book club favorites, i polled you on the mmd facebook page, asked you on twitter, and combed through your suggestions here. 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. For information on or tickets to the luncheon, see or call 585 2325110. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. Those of us who have used public transit will identify and, to some degree, sympathize with the book s very troubled protagonist. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes.
Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three most common questions that clubs have asked. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water. The girl on the train book club discussion questions. I have put together a list of 10 book club discussion questions that will work for any book, and still encourage lively and. 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 is a best book club book for discussion, the novel of a woman with a hidden past as an orphan train rider and a teenage girl seeking answers about her life. These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. 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 reading guidebook.
Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. Molly ayer has been in foster care since she was eight years. It was believed that he traveled on an orphan train from new york to jamestown, north dakota with his four siblings when he was ten years old. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
I found orphan train to be 100% accurate in its exploration of how orphans were treated yesterday and today. One is a seventeen years old living in foster care. 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. The year is 2011 and molly is in trouble with the law. Luckily, there were some provided in the back of the book which i have listed below. She found out that they kept his name, and he was married with a family. Mount prospect public library book discussion questions. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading guidebook club. I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Orphan train book club ideas part 2 delicious reads.
Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Molly ayer is living with ralph and dina in their home in spruce harbor, maine. A lovely novel about the search for family that also happens to illuminate a fascinating and forgotten chapter of american history.
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. We didnt get a lot responses last month, so this month will determine whether or not we continue the book club. The orphan s tale, by pam jenoff pam jenoffs new novel follows two women who sign on with a german traveling circus and. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Orphan train post meeting discussion the augusta book.
She spends summers with extended family in an even older house on mount desert island in maine. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions thoughtco. Read an exclusive excerpt from elizabeth strouts olive, again. It made me feel like being in jail, prison, would be about the same as being an orphan. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. I became interested in the story of the orphan trains because my husbands grandfather, frank robertson, was rumored to have been a train rider. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. Some authors artfully employ alternating voices such as in orphan train or in the five points of. Orphan train girl by christina baker kline reading guidebook. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in book club books, book. 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. Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. Some authors artfully employ alternating voices such as in orphan train or in the.
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. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. 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. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor.
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. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina baker kline. So, please respond, ladies heres some general questions to get the discussion going. Book club books, the book, book clubs, orphan train book, reading lists. Find resources for your book club, whether it meets in your living room or across cyberspace.
Feel free to respond to one, two, or all of them as well as share your overall thoughts. Adapted and condensed for a young audience, orphan train girl includes an authors note and archival photos from the orphan train era. Molly, half indian, has stolen a library book and is. Orphan train by christina baker kline reading group guides. 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. Americanah, book club discussion questions, book group, discussion guide, home, homegoing. Nyt best selling author christina baker kline answers the top ten questions book clubs ask about orphan train. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. 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. 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 orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss.
She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. 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. 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. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more. Those of us who have used public transit will identify and, to some degree, sympathize with the books very troubled protagonist. 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. If you enjoy historical fiction, check out this quick, easy read. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. This is the book ive most been looking forward to reading this summer, so im ready to jump in with both feet. Today, we welcome christina to the blog to discuss her experience with book clubs and the three. Rich in detail and epic in scope, orphan train by christina baker kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship.
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