Rodzina [Paperback]

Karen Cushman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

In 1881, 12-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski wishes she didn’t have to board the orphan train in Chicago. But she has no home, no family, and no choice. Rodzina doesn’t believe the orphans are on their way out West to be adopted by good families. She’s sure they will become slaves to strangers. Anyway, who would ever adopt a large, tough, stubborn girl of Polish origin? As the train heads west, all Rodzina has is a small suitcase and her family memories from the past. Will Rodzina ever step off the train to find the family that deep in her heart she’s searching for?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Rodzina Clara Jadwiga Anastazya Brodski tells the story of her journey across the United States on an orphan train in 1881 in this audio version of Karen Cushman's novel (Clarion, 2003). A strong-willed, not very attractive Polish girl from Chicago, Rodzina is convinced that she is unlovable and would only be adopted to be used as a slave. More than 20 orphans, along with the harsh Mr. Szprot and the strict Miss Doctor, make up the cast of characters. Narrator Becky Ann Baker's voice reflects the emotions and maturity level of each character. Despite the unfortunate situation that the orphans have found themselves in, the book has many funny and lighthearted moments, such as playing baseball on the train and having dinner with "circus" folk. Listeners see new cities in untamed parts of the West through the eyes of the children. Rodzina sees Indians riding on the platform between trains, meets mail-order brides, and reads the variety of notices posted at train stations along the way. The children on the orphan train worry about their fate, but Rodzina does her best to comfort them with Polish folktales and stories about her family. After the most appealing children have been adopted and Rodzina has made her escape from a few undesirable placements, we see her as the capable girl that she is. The narrator gives a slightly different voice to each character. Her pronunciation of the Polish words in the text is extremely helpful. Cushman gives us a valuable insight into American history, especially from a woman's perspective, and adds an extensive final note and list of resources for further information about orphan trains and orphans throughout world history. An introduction read by Cushman is particularly poignant as she tells about her own Polish family. An excellent choice for public and school libraries.
Casey Rondini, Westerly Public Library, RI
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 5-9. As in Cushman's Newbery winner, The Midwife's Apprentice (1995), the hero of this lively historical novel is a mean orphan, desperate for home, and her adult mentor is both as tough and as needy as the orphan child. Here the setting is the U.S. in 1881 on the orphan train going west from Chicago to California; but the story of the wild, lonely pauper kids is like something out of Dickens, especially when they remember their desperate lives in the streets and orphanages of the city they left behind. Twelve-year-old Rodzina's first-person account of the uproar on the journey makes the dramatic history immediate. She's terrified of being given away as a slave to strangers. Indeed, as the train stops at various frontier towns along the way, she sees kids brutally exploited for their labor, and she herself escapes a nightmare forced "marriage." But she also sees successful mail-order couples, and some kids do find homes with loving families. A natural for American history or social studies classes, this is especially interesting as a women's history title, with Rodzina portrayed as an unromantic protagonist, big, angry, and tough. The boss of the orphan train is a woman doctor, cold and distant, and as lonely as Rodzina. Yes, it's clear that these two strong women will get together by the end; how that happens makes a great story. Cushman talks about the history in a lengthy final note, and she includes a bibliography of other orphan train books. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (January 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044041993X
• ISBN-13: 978-0440419938
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #947,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Cushman was born in Chicago, Illinois and lives now on Vashon Island west of Seattle, Washington. She received an M.A. in human behavior and one in museum studies. Ms. Cushman has had a lifelong interest in history. She says, "I grew tired of hearing about kings, princes, generals, presidents. I wanted to know what ordinary life was like for ordinary young people in other times." Research into medieval English history and culture led to the writing of her first two novels, the Newbery Honor book CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY and the Newbery Medal-winner THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. She is also the author of MATILDA BONE, THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE, RODZINA, and most recently ALCHEMY AND MEGGY SWANN.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cushman Does It Again, April 21, 2003

By 

B. Montgomery "teacher-reader" (Carlsbad, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rodzina (Hardcover)

A gaggle of orphans leaves Chicago, bound west toward slavery or worse--at least that's the prevailing opinion among the children. Rodzina, a twelve year old Polish immigrant who lost her family to fire and illness, narrates this journey with humor, candor, sadness, and humanity. As the miles click away, we learn something of the time and places through which we are taken. In the tradition of Lucy Whipple, Catherine Called Birdy, and Matilda Bone, Rodzina is another example of a strong girl making sense of her desperate situation. This book is perfect for children in grades four through nine, and for fans of children's literature no matter what age. Karen Cushman is a gifted storyteller.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Cushman novel, August 23, 2004

By 

Camille "at the BookMoot!" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rodzina (Hardcover)

This is a sweetheart of a story. I enjoyed every page of this book. Rodzina is with a group of orphans that is being sent out West on the Orphan Train. Rodzina is grumpy and grouchy. She is also frightened and lonely. Unlike the other orphans in the group, she came from a happy home and had loving parents. She is drawn to Miss Doctor who is in charge of the girls on the train even though she seems uncaring and cold. Rodzina does have a gift for organization and caring for younger children. Some of my favorite parts of the story are where she tells stories to the lother children. She is a wonderful storyteller. The children's desire for a family is touching and heart breaking at the same time. Rodzina is looking for a home and you cheer for her as she reaches for it. I am a fan of Katherine Cushman, this is my very favorite book of hers so far.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rich and powerful tale of self-discovery., July 7, 2004

By 

A Customer (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rodzina (Hardcover)

Rodzina has seen the face of tragedy several times over, and now it seems as if hope has turned its back on this homely immigrant from Poland.

Rodzina and many other orphaned children of all ages are being shipped out of Chicago on a train. They are going west to find new homes and establish new lives. At the time, the powers-that-be believed that working on farms as laborers would be good for these city orphans. Rodzina and many of the other orphans consider this change in circumstances to be a sentence to a life of slavery, and needless to say, Rodzina would rather live in an orphanage or even on the streets than face an existence in a strange place where she has to work in the fields from sun up to sun down day after day. Bitter, sharp and angry, Rodzina isolates herself from everyone else on the train as it clatters west. At each town where the train stops, a few more orphans find homes until Rodzina is the only one left, alone and unwanted.

Carefully researched, RODZINA tells us of a time when orphans were not to be trusted and were often treated little better than slaves or beasts of burden. It was not uncommon for orphans to have their teeth and limbs examined by prospective 'parents' at the time of 'adoption' to determine their worthiness as potential farmhands. In the back of the book, the reader will find a detailed history of the Orphan Train and other similar efforts to 'rehabilitate' orphaned and unwanted children.

Karen Cushman has received great acclaim for her historical novels, as she was awarded a Newbery Honor for CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY and the Newbery Medal for THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. With skill and finesse, Cushman weaves a rich and powerful tale of self-discovery and, ultimately, hope.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber