Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story

I read this to a 6th grade reading class and a year later they still talk about it and refer to it in discussion. The entire concept was so strange to them and the fact that it had really happened blew them away. I chose this because in the 7th grade they read a novel about the Orphan Train experience

I try to find books for reading with my children. In this case, to read with my daughter who will enter the fourth grade. This book was on her summer reading list, and I'm glad we read it. This is a true story of a boy orphaned by the death of his mother and his father's ceding him and his siblings to the Children's Aid Society in New York State. This was a time in America that preceded government child welfare agencies for abused/neglected children. Instead, children were institutionalized in large orphanages (often called asylums) and eventually many were placed on trains to find homes with town people who would meet the trains at various stops. The book uses the story of a young boy with two of his younger brothers sent on an orphan train and eventually being picked by families in Texas. Lee was the oldest and took the longest to find a good family. The book gives information about the orphan train children in general and the reasons for their coming about. The author gives credit to the Children's Aid Society that was prominent in organizing these trains and notes that many of these children grew to become accomplished members in society. The book, however, also shows that not all these children were so lucky and they faced continued abuse at the hands of their adopted parents, and ridicule by school mates. As a person who has worked extensively in the child welfare system, I found the book to be very relevant and a better way of explaining to my daughter the reason for my work. [...] This book would be excellent for children in foster care even though they are not exactly in the same position as orphan train riders. They still could easily empathize with the children in this story. There is also an honest, hopeful comment by the adult Lee of perseverance and determination to overcome the circumstances in life even from those who never did find an accepting family. Unfortunately, this too is relevant for many youths in the current foster care system.

This book would be an excellent follow-up to the movie "Orphan Train". It brings out the reality of the movement between 1854 and 1930 of 200,000 abandoned children to find homes in the West.Chapters alternate between historical information on the movement and personal details and memories of orphans like Lee Nailling and his brothers.The most touching moment for me was when Lee, who had every reason to be bitter and hate the world, finally found a home. Fully intending to run away again before morning, he fell asleep and was awakened by a call to breakfast. As a part of "grace" said before the meal by his mother-to-be, the boy heard, "Father, thank you for sending our new son to us, for the privilege of allowing us to raise him."Lee commented, "I'm sure my jaw dropped in amazement. Somebody was actually thankful I was there!"There are also many excellent photographs.

In 1924, seven-year-old Alton Lou Clement's mother died in childbirth. His father, unable to take care of his seven children, sent the oldest three out into the world, gave the baby to a friend of the family, and gave the other three (including Alton) to an orphanage. Before he knew it, Alton and his brothers were bundled onto a train and sent towards Texas. The train they were riding was called an "orphan train." The orphan trains, running from 1854 to 1930, would carry young orphans from overcrowded Eastern orphanages out to (hopefully) loving families in the Midwest and West. This is the story of Alton Lou Clement (later Lee Clement Nailling), and the orphan trains.The story of the orphan trains is one not known by many people. (I only first heard about it when reading Changes For Samantha by Valerie Tripp.) This wonderful book simultaneously tells the heart-wrenching stories of Lee Nailling, the conditions that orphans lived under, and the orphan trains that ran for nearly a century. Thankfully, the story of Lee Nailling and his brothers has a happy ending, and also contains Lee's uplifting thoughts. This is a wonderful book.

This is the story of one boy's journey after being placed in an orphange in New York City. It is a historical look at of one of the orphan trains, and contains black and white photos. I had never heard, (nor do I remember learning), about this part of American history. A very good book and I glady recommend it to students from the 5th grade through the 8th grade, or those interested in American history. It will also be a good book for the teachers to review with the class.