Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. “Troubled foster teen Molly, a Penobscot Indian, takes on a 'community service' job of helping 91-year-old widow Vivian Daly clean out her attic. While she initially thinks she and this wealthy widow have nothing in common, the treasures locked away in the attic tell the story of Vivian’s life, from Ireland to New York to the orphan train, a fictional story in this case, but an actual train that carried orphans from East to West for 75 years. A ride on the orphan train was a crapshoot as to whether a child would end up with a good family or as an indentured servant. Vivan was abused by two different families before finding a decent life, one that ultimately was marred by great loss. Molly and Vivian come to be friends and to help support each other, and this is one of those rare books that truly feels like it ends too soon.”
