Orphan train by christina baker kline book club discussion. June when orphan arrived at the train station in winona, minn. The second narrative of molly, a teen foster child, is marred by the way the author, christina baker kline, portrays her oppressive foster mom. Christina baker kline, bestselling author of orphan train. 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 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.
We hope you find the book and this dish equally delicious. For example, both molly and vivian have literally moved many times, taking all of their belongings with them. We thought it fitting to provide this for the she reads book clubs that will meet throughout the month to discuss the novel. I love when i find a winner with my book club and this is definitely a winner. Bundling books and friends, two of my favorite things book. Uprooted from new yorkand oftentimes immigrantssome children went on to live lives loved and cared for in their new midwestern homes. Orphan train historical background christina baker kline.
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. The national orphan train complex in concordia, ks is a museum and research center dedicated to the orphan train movement, the various institutions that participated, and the children and agents who rode the trains. The 10 titles book clubs are buzzing about in 2017. A nonfiction book like just mercy doesnt readily lend itself to menu ideas for a gathering, since food isnt often discussed in the text. Christina baker kline, bestselling author of orphan train writes about book clubs, more. Did you like the book immediately or did it take you some time to become committed. Its an historical novel about this relationship between this 17yearold molly ayer, contemporaneously, and contemporaneously, this 91yearold vivian daly who was up through and experienced the orphan train in many ways. How does your novel of the orphan train differ from other books on the subject. The last orphan train came to sulphur springs, texas in the trains stopped in preselected towns where people interested in taking a child would assemble. 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. Orphan train recipes for book clubs tosas allcity read. Between 1854 and 1929, socalled orphan trains transported more than 200,000 orphaned, abandoned, and homeless children many of them firstgeneration irish catholic. Kline reminds us that we never really lose anyone or anything orperhaps most importantlyourselves. Is there anything unique about this book such as writing style, structure, or subject matter.
What was it that was most compelling to you about the idea of an orphan train. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in orphan train, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Book clubs will love this book because it has lots of discussion worthy topics. 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. 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.
Lesson plans and resources for orphan train free library of. John jackson, who at five years old walked off after a marching band and never found his way home again. Orphan train was a mix of favorite childhood books of mine such as anne of green gables, heidi, and understood betsy, and ms. Book club kit discussion guide orphan train by christina. Bundling books and friends, two of my favorite things. 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 tackles some pretty heavy themes, such as finding family and figuring out your identity. When vivian goes to live with the byrnes fanny offers her food and advises, you got to. Add butter and cut in using onoff turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Dutchy has a very particular idea about the orphan train and what will happen to the kids on it.
It appeals to book clubs because theres a lot to digest and discuss. Orphan train is a fascinating story of friendship between women from two generations. Through this band of charming young womenand their stage mother, of coursejuliette fay delivers. Jul 16, 2014 orphan train is the assigned summer reading for the 300 firstyear students at edgewood college in madison, wis. Picking a complete makeahead menu for the night is a must, especially if you have a few more pages to read before the book club starts. The secret keeper by kate morton another month gone by and it was once again time to congregate for some hugs, laughter, food, and insightful discussion about our chosen book. Orphan train girl tells the story of a young foster girl who forms an unlikely bond with a ninetyoneyearold woman, who had been an orphan train rider as a young girl. In addition to orphan train 2011 and a piece of the world 2017, her novels include bird in hand.
Any, or all, of these recipes would be suitable for the book club that focuses on dessert. Some of the food ideas are from the book like the terrys famous chowder but most of this book took place during the great depression so food. Orphan train is a specifically american story of mobility and rootlessness, highlighting a littleknown but historically significant moment in our countrys past. Questions every book club asks, the story behind the writing of orphan train, and more. Mix flour, salt and powdered sugar in a food processor. Some of the food ideas are from the book like the terrys famous chowder but most of this book took place during the great depression so food was scarce and there was no way i was. Their story is interesting, especially the orphan train rider. 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. A novel christina baker kline, 20 harpercollins 278 pp. I had a plan for the novel, but as we all know, the bestlaid plans while i was researching the orphan trains i jotted down ideas that particularly.
Orphan train by christina baker kline, paperback barnes. Whether your book club is a few close friends or a larger group, hosting a book club party still takes some amount of planning. 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. She was deposited with the byrnes, who wanted only child labor in a dressmaking enterprise. Miss larsen smiles, handing me a slice of currant bread. Serve high tea and transport your book group to prewwii england and the large country estate of the tallis family.
New book club party food families ideas party club friends 35 ideas for 2019. Jan 05, 2015 when i was trying to find new books to make my list for this year, i came across a bunch of awesome ideas for readers. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Read the best ways of running a book club and start one of your own today. 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. Orphan train themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Reading group guide questions provided by the publisher. This book illustrates that effect by looking at the fates of orphan train riders in aggregate, and by telling the stories of particular children. The orphan train has several threads for book clubs to discuss. Scroll on to find genius ideas thatll make sure your book club party is a story for the ages. Niamh pronounced neev was an irish immigrant girl sent on an orphan train from new york city to minnesota in the late 1920s. Adapted and condensed for a young audience, it includes an authors note and. 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.
But in interviews, and on her blog, kline says one of the major themes she wanted to tackle. The main narrative about vivian, an orphan train rider, was excellent. Gail martin is joined by cohost rebecca kubacki to discuss the fates of the children looking for a new home in orphan train by christina. Filled with energetic prose and colorful charactersyou wont soon forget the turner girls. Find exciting ideas from book clubs all over the country what theyre reading, what theyre eating, and how theyre blending the two as well as recipes from some of your favorite authors and book giveaways. When vivian goes to live with the byrnes fanny offers her food and advises, you. As a midwesterner, i was really interested in this book after hearing it featured on npr.
Jul 29, 2015 the book, the orphan train, by christina baker kline is a wellknown bestselling novel, right. Author bio birth1964 raisedin maine and tennessee, usa, and the uk educationb. They started their journey in new york and were given away in train stations across the country. I had no idea that this happened with orphans in america.
Everything from how to host book club to book swap and a way to organize your reading with a challenge. Map of united states showing number of orphan train riders in book club books, book. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 book club books. An entire menu of irish dishes also would be suitable for a book club discussing orphan train. The orphan train by christina baker kline questions. This is a group for people who love to read and enjoy sharing ideas and opinions about books over dinner. Welcome to a meeting place for publishers, authors, and book clubs to connect. Jun 12, 2019 the orphan train movement transported orphaned and homeless children from crowded eastern cities of the united states to foster homes located in rural areas of the midwest. Christina baker kline, orphan train orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. 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.
Book movement get the top 100 book recommendations from. When i was trying to find new books to make my list for this year, i came across a bunch of awesome ideas for readers. 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. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 delicious reads. Orphan train on surprise trip up the bestseller list. She served as writerinresidence at fordham university from 2007 to 2011 and.
These book discussion questions are highly detailed and will ruin plot points if you have not read the book. So pleased to see the nightingale still rocking the book club lists. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Its dorothys birthday, shes living with the miserable, dysfunctional grote family and her teacher the only person who seems to care about her surprises her with a birthday treat. Riders on the orphan train is an historical novel about a littleknown piece of american history. See more ideas about book club books, book club parties and orphan train. Another great pairing of historical fiction and realistic fiction within a great story. Today we have a recipe inspired by this months book club selection, orphan train, and created by chef ingrid of edible tapestry. Orphan train is a book set in both the present day and the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.
For fans of orphan train and water for elephants, a compelling historical novel from one of the best authors of womens fiction library journal. Set against the turbulent backdrop of american vaudeville, four sisters embark on an unexpected adventureand a lastditch effort to. 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. Orphan train by christina baker kline is a book that has many themes. We learned about the pilgrimage of thousands of children who rode the socalled orphan train from 1854 to 1929 in christina baker klines informative, and heart wrenching, book orphan train. Dont let the food get in the way of the allimportant ending. The forest hills book group forest hills, ny meetup. Food in ireland 1900s was one wheatmeal, hung beef, tongue. Portaging in this novel, the theme of portaging takes on both literal and symbolic meanings. The currant bread and rhubarb tart both would qualify as irish desserts. Joann was our hostess and she did an excellent job of providing a table laden with nibbles perfect for english tea time. Lesson plans and resources for orphan train table of contents 1. Orphan train, christina baker kline, delicious reads, orphan train food ideas. 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.
There is also plenty of family drama, and it touches on the issue of mental illness. Apr 16, 20 christina baker kline, bestselling author of orphan train writes about book clubs, more christina baker kline isnt just a great writer, shes also the funniest, warmest, and most generous writer on the planet. Cook ahead and be ready long before the members arrive. Orphan trains not only offers us a trip to the past but provides historical context crucial to understanding and evaluating presentday attitudes and policies about poverty, families, and children. Orphan train themes from litcharts the creators of. Book club party ideas mom ideas for 2019 shoniques mature book club fueling your running i love the bookmark idea. Here are a few top book club selections and coordinating menus that are sure to add a new depth of flavor to your discussions. Between 1854 and 1929, over 250,000 orphans and surrendered children were placed out across the country. These questions about the novel can help foster discussion in your group. 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. Christina baker kline is a novelist, nonfiction writer and editor. Christina baker kline has released a young readers version of orphan train. As such, book clubs that read this book have the opportunity. Book club questions for the orphan train by christina baker.
Therefore in nine years she hasmoved all of her things twelve times. Belonging and connection molly ayer and vivian daly, two women born in different places and eras and who were orphaned as young children, both struggle to find a sense of home and belonging. The struggles of the main character are also noteworthy as she struggles to survive and find her true north. A great glass of wine and a good book have gone together almost as long as there have been. Orphan train book club ideas part 1 have you read this incredible story about our history in america. Bird in hand, the way life should be, desire lines and sweet water.
You might consider serving a menu based on what anthony ray hinton ate when he was released from death row. See more ideas about orphan train, orphan train book and orphan. Orphan train book club ideas part 2 delicious reads. Loved this book and would recommend it to ya as well as adults. Book club parties are a good way to get friends together and have great discussion over appetizers, drinks, or brunch. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
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