5.0 out of 5 stars
BRIDIE'S DAUGHTER by Robert Noonan [Sharlet Liebel Reviewed], January 15, 2010
This review is from: Bridie's Daughter: The Second Story in the Orphan Train Trilogy (Paperback)
The suspenseful and entertaining Bridie's Daughter is Robert Noonan's second book in the series, the Orphan Train Trilogy. Readers will recognize characters introduced in his first book called Wildflowers who create mysterious connections to new events with intriguing new adults and children. Their past circumstances return to haunt readers as they recognize signals of previous dangerous encounters. However, even without such knowledge, the author prepares an explanation with background. This book is explosive and a must-read at Amazon booksellers and others.
Bridie's Daughter: The Second Story in the Orphan Train Trilogy
Noonan's stories are reminiscent of American Literature by John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath - 1939, and Edith Wharton The House of Mirth - 2002. The Orphan Train Trilogy was inspired by an amazing saga of 200,000 orphaned American children during the years 1854 to 1929. Robert Noonan's historical novels touch a mere portion of these lives.
Children of all ages awaken with anticipation in the early hours as the day arrives when they will board the Orphan Train. The orphans hope the journey from New York City to Western states leads to their adoption.
At six-thirty on June 8, 1899, following breakfast, the boys and girls dress and pack their meager belongings at the dormitory. They are well mannered and supportive of one another. A young girl worries lest she not find loving parents while a child of ten comforts and reassures the three year old. There are few teenagers but Catherine Hayes and Brian Hampton are among the 20 boys and 17 girls from the orphanage.
During the train ride, Brian and Catherine become friends with Monica and Jason. Brian and Jason have each lived on the streets of New York and discuss details of their personal survival there. Catherine and Monica share their attraction toward the young boys and other personal data. Early on, readers champion the hopes of these beloved children.
Adoptive parents, too, have agendas for needing or wanting children in their households. Tender hearted parents of their small town where Catherine and Brian are adopted form family alliances. The losses of a child's parents are features of their adaptations to adoptive parents throughout the unfolding stories that play heavily on people's hearts in these tales. They tenderize even the most resolute reader.
Significant historical American Indian lore adds charm and links to future relational incidents because of a visit to the County Fair. One child chances to meet with a former friend at The Fair and the result is that several children become friends. Friendships and travel become the new adventure of their lives as bonds deepen. Children and adoptive parents become increasingly attached and share chaperon functions as train travel increases from one or another town.
Secrets of the past, child and adult courtships, involved confidences, and provocative encounters due to secret communications, all tend to complicate lives. Chaotic conflicts are artfully weaved by storyteller Robert Noonan so as to cause anxiety to his captive audiences.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Bridie's Daughter: The Second Story in the Orphan Train Trilogy, September 3, 2009
This review is from: Bridie's Daughter: The Second Story in the Orphan Train Trilogy (Paperback)
Review of Bridie's Daughter
Mr. Noonan continues his story in this second book about Bridie who adopts one of the Orphan Train riders. This story continues the magic, love and mysteries that surround the characters in this book. Mr. Noonan has a way of presenting the story that will keep you reading, excited to see what will happen next ands not wanting to put the book down until you have finished.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595436293/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Teenage Orphans: Fears, Joys, and Sorrows, March 13, 2008
This review is from: Bridie's Daughter: The Second Story in the Orphan Train Trilogy (Paperback)
Bridie's Daughter: In the midst of this charming coming of age story which begins in 1898, Bridie McDonald's future daughter Catherine becomes fast friends with Brian and Monica. All three are fifteen-years-old and wards at the Society for Children's Orphanage in New York City. As fate would have it, the three are sent west on an Orphan Train together and are adopted into three homes in Newberry, Illinois. While Catherine and Brian are chosen to live in loving and affluent homes, Monica's fears of an unhealthy adoption are realized. All three have difficulties being accepted into the community until they meet Pina, a twelve-year-old girl adopted from an orphan train the previous year. Pina brings hope to the former orphans and their parents, and that hope sets Bridie McDonald into motion to plan for the children's acceptance into society. In a surprising reunion, Pina and Hillary, from Wildflowers, are reunited after being separated for over a year. As the group expands, their joys and sorrows increase setting up a variety of possibilities for a third novel.
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