Orphan Train
By Christina Baker Kline
Registration begins Feb. 6
Join the book discussion Thursday, March 5, 4 p.m., about the Orphan Train, a 2013 historical novel from Christina Baker Kline about two women: one about to age out of the foster care system, the other 90 years old and carrying both a tremendous secret and a story of a life formed by a part of American history almost entirely forgotten: the Orphan Trains.
Molly Ayer has one last chance, and she knows it. Close to being kicked out of her foster home -- just months from turning 18 and “aging out” of the system -- Molly should be grateful that her boyfriend found her a community service project: helping an old lady clean out her home. Molly can’t help but think that the 50 hours will be tedious, but at least they’ll keep her out of juvie, and right now that’s all she cares about.
Ninety-one-year-old Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine for decades. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are keys to a turbulent past. Molly is about to discover -- as she and Vivian unpack her possessions, and memories -- that Vivian’s story is a piece of America’s tumultuous history now largely forgotten: the tale of a young Irish immigrant, orphaned in New York City and put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other orphaned children whose destiny would be determined by luck and chance. As Molly digs deeper, she finds surprising parallels in her own experience as a Penobscot Indian and Vivian’s story -- and Molly realizes that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life.
Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendships, and of the secrets we carry with us that keep us from finding out who we are.
Christina Baker Kline was born in England and raised in Maine. She was a writer in residence at Fordham University from 2007-2011. She is a recent recipient of a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Fellowship and several research fellowships to Ireland and Minnesota. She lives outside New York City and spends as much time as possible in northern Minnesota and the coast of Maine.
WAITLIST: If an event has sold out, be sure add your name to the waitlist by registering for the event.
One registration can be purchased per LLL user account.
EVENT DATE/TIME: Thursday, Mar. 5, 4-5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: LLL Center
COST: Free Event
MAXIMUM: 24