Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train has captivated readers for years now, so HarperCollins is very excited to bring a new edition out into the world, one specifically written for young readers. Check out the special message from the author below, and make sure you check out Orphan Train Girl today!
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Dear Readers,
Little did I imagine, when my novel Orphan Train was published in 2013, that I would still be talking about it four years later at bookstores, libraries, community centers, on college campuses, and in high schools around the country. For a number of reasons, this book—which highlights a significant moment in American history that has been hidden in plain sight—seems to have struck a nerve.
Wherever I go, I meet mothers and fathers who are reading Orphan Train alongside their teenagers. Often they tell me they wish their younger children could read it too. School administrators who've assigned Orphan Train for school- and district-wide reads have struggled to find a companion text for their upper-elementary and middle schools. As such, I began to contemplate writing a younger version of the book that parents and caregivers could read with their children, teachers and librarians could share with their students, and school districts and communities could present as part of their "One Book" reads of Orphan Train.
In the young readers edition I shifted the emphasis to Molly's perspective and changed her age from 17 to 12, but the central plot arc—the friendship between Vivian and Molly—is still the backbone of the story. It was important to me to retain the tone and feel of Orphan Train. The books are designed to be read alone or side-by-side.
So, it is with great pleasure that I present Orphan Train Girl. I'm delighted that a younger audience will have the experience of reading Vivian's and Molly's stories, and the remarkable ways they intertwine—and that they'll learn about this important but little-known piece of American history.
Warm regards,
Christina Baker Kline