Orphan Train: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Courage and Resilience - Meredith Webber

orphan train: The Review

by Meredith Webber

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	338 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	68 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Orphan Train, by Meredith Webber, is a gripping and evocative novel that follows the lives of seven orphans sent from New York City to the Midwest in the late 1800s.

The story begins in 1854, as seven-year-old Vivian Daly is sent to the Children's Aid Society in New York City. Her parents are both dead, and she has no other family to care for her. At the Children's Aid Society, Vivian is put on an orphan train bound for the Midwest. She is one of thousands of children who were sent on these trains each year, in an effort to find them new homes in the West.

Vivian's journey on the orphan train is long and arduous. She is crammed into a crowded car with other children, and she has to endure the taunts of the other passengers. But Vivian is a strong and resilient child, and she is determined to find a new home where she can be loved.

Vivian's journey eventually takes her to a small town in Iowa, where she is adopted by a kind-hearted farmer and his wife. Vivian is happy in her new home, and she quickly becomes a part of the family. But her past is never far from her mind, and she often wonders what happened to the other children who were on the orphan train with her.

Orphan Train is a moving and unforgettable story about the courage and resilience of children. It is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Meredith Webber

Meredith Webber is the author of several novels, including Orphan Train, The Scent of Rain and Lightning, and The Last of the Mohicans. She has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Webber's novels are known for their lyrical prose and unforgettable characters. She is a master of historical fiction, and her novels bring the past to life in a vivid and compelling way.

Historical Context

The orphan train movement was a large-scale effort to find homes for orphaned and abandoned children in the United States. The movement began in 1854, and over the next 75 years, more than 200,000 children were sent on orphan trains to the Midwest and West.

The orphan train movement was a response to the large number of orphans and abandoned children in the United States. In the mid-1800s, there were an estimated 100,000 homeless children in New York City alone. These children were often living on the streets, and they were vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

The orphan train movement was an attempt to give these children a better life. The children were sent to the Midwest and West, where they were placed in homes with families who were willing to adopt them. Many of these families were farmers, and the children were expected to work on the farm in exchange for their keep.

The orphan train movement was a success in many ways. It gave thousands of children a chance to find a loving home. However, the movement was also controversial. Some critics argued that the children were being exploited, and that they were not given a fair chance to succeed.

Themes

Orphan Train explores a number of themes, including:

• The power of resilience: Vivian and the other orphans on the train face many challenges, but they never give up hope. They are determined to find a new home and a better life, and they eventually succeed.
• The importance of family: Vivian finds a new family in Iowa, and she learns the true meaning of love and belonging. She also learns that family is not always about blood, but about the people who care for you and support you.
• The impact of the past: Vivian's past is always with her, and it shapes who she is. She learns to embrace her past, and she uses her experiences to help others.

Orphan Train is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a story about the courage and resilience of children, and it is a reminder of the importance of family and love.

orphan train: The Review

by Meredith Webber

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	338 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	68 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE