Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Amazon Description:
Orphan Train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from Christina Baker Kline, author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be.
Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse...
As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.
Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.
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.

My Review:
I liked Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, but not as much as I was expecting to. The characters were relatable and the relationships were somewhat believable. I felt the pain of both Vivian and Molly as I was reading.

Yes, the storyline is predictable, but it was a heartwarming tale of two people of different generations going through life as orphans. I liked the way Vivian and Molly connected.

There wan definitely something lacking in this book. While the writing was beautiful, I really wanted more of Molly's childhood. Also, I kept waiting for a current conflict, but it never came. All the conflict was in the past by years or decades depending on the person. Molly had some current "stumbles" but nothing I could consider a real conflict.

I rate Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline 3 stars. It was a good read, but nothing I would read again. I would recommend it for young adults looking for an interesting piece of historical fiction.