Customer Reviews

Beyond The Orphan Train

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great story for readeres of all ages! When Oliver and his younger brother are sent on an orphan train in 1906 to live with farmers in Kansas, they promise to stick together and never be separated again. When that promise proves to be out of their control, Oliver takes matters into his own hands and hops a freight train headed out of town in a hopeful search for 12 year old Edward. Oliver's TRUE coming of age adventures are captured in this heart warming - sometimes heart wrenching companion story to FLY LITTLE BIRD, FLY! This is a must read for anyone interested in this period of America's history when the Children's Aid Society sent more than 100,000 children west in search of homes - the forerunner of today's foster care system. The book includes many photos of Oliver, his family, Kansas towns at the turn of the century, The Children's Village Orphanage in NY, and more.

Oliver Nordmark is fifteen years old when he decides to jump on a moving train and "ride the rails" through Kansas, looking for work and a better life. Beyond the Orphan Train picks up the story of Oliver's life where Fly Little Bird, Fly leaves off. Oliver is an orphan, a former rider of the "orphan trains" which transported children from overcrowded orphanages in the east to Midwestern towns where they were generally taken on as farm laborers. Yes, small children - used for labor.

At fifteen, Oliver realizes that after seven years of free labor for Farmer McCammon, he has nothing he can call his own. He makes a snap decision to strike out on his own, hoping to earn money which he plans to use to locate his younger brother Edward, whom he hasn't seen in half a dozen years. Oliver is haunted by a promise he made to Edward when they were children together on the orphan train -- that he would not allow them to be separated - a promise that he had been unable to keep.

Beyond the Orphan Train is the true story of the author's grandfather's life, and it was a sad and difficult life for certain. Sometimes it seems as if Oliver and his brother must have been terribly unlucky to have so much unwarranted misfortune in their lives. And yet, through it all, Oliver maintains his dignity, his determination, and his sense of humor. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" is his philosophy. Sadly, Edward does not develop the same positive moral character as his brother, which the reader will come to find out before the end of the book.

A wonderful depiction of American life in the early days of the twentieth century, Beyond the Orphan Train will be sure to educate and entertain readers of all ages. Oliver Nordmark represents the all-around American youth - optimistic, keen to learn, and willing to make his way in the world through hard work and resourcefulness.

The Orphan Trains that brought thousands of young children from the east side of the United States to live with farming families in the growing west split many families in the 1800-1900s. One such set of siblings, Oliver and Edward Nordmark, rode the train to Kansas in 1906. Separated from his younger brother for several years, the now 15-year-old Oliver has left his adoptive family to make his way in the world and locate the lost Edward.

Riding the rails, he finds himself near the Colorado-Kansas border, and lands steady ranch work with three different brothers. Oliver learns how to harvest and even build houses made from sod before securing enough money to begin his search. Will he and Edward ever be together again, as he promised?

This inspiring story is made all the more incredible by the fact that it is based on the real life events of the author's grandfather. Photos of Oliver and the places he lived bring the tale to life in ways that will surely pique the interest of any who never thought history could be interesting.

Although the introduction claims that it is not necessary to have read the first volume (Fly Little Bird, Fly! ) to enjoy this story, I wish that I had read it, since this book picks up where the last one left off. I hope to review Fly Little Bird, Fly! sometime in the near future.

Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

Although Donna Nordmark Aviles wrote this book for children, it can easily appeal to readers of all ages. In fact, after reading it myself, I put it on the bookshelf for my 11th grade students to read. I have gotten positive feedback from those students who have read it. Before I read this book, I had no knowledge of the orphan trains in the US. The adventures of Oliver while in foster care at this period in time show a remarkable spirit of a youth to survive. A truly interesting and enjoyable read.

Judy S. Walter, author

Outstanding mg novel. Easy read. Very enjoyable. Written like a historical fiction even though it is based on the author's relative's lives. Gives great insight to an under exposed period in our history.