The Orphan Train

Steve Brigman has written a terrific novel. It is written in the first person as one of the last surviving children of the Orphan Trains tells his life story to his granddaughter. These trains were used to settle children from big eastern cities to rural towns around the beginning of the twentieth century. At stops along the way in the westward journey the children were displayed to prospective adopting parents, and the number of orphan passengers declined after each stop.
The principal character on the novel, James Crawford, was adopted in western Missouri by a couple who raised cattle on a small spread. His new mother treated him as the child she had yearned for but his new father regarded him more as help for the ranch and worked him hard. The story has many poignant turns as he moves from childhood to adolescence to manhood and finally to old age. Both of his parents have met untimely deaths by the time he reaches young adulthood. His despondency causes him to neglect the ranch, but finally he comes around and begins to build it up again with the help of a dedicated foreman and a black family.
His prosperity gains him respect in the small rural town, but his close ties to the black family repeatedly cause trouble for him in an era of firm racial segregation. After false starts in finding a life partner he marries a woman who is a perfect match. The story now becomes their story as their marriage progresses through happy joint adventures punctuated by unexpected tragedy. Like real life, there are good times and bad times--only more so, as required in a good novel. The good times bring on great wealth as well as happiness and the bad times are truly tragic Through it all, you can’t help but form an attachment for the man and his extended family.
The author writes convincingly about the region and the time. I would be surprised if he has not experienced farm or ranch life and has not done his share of bird and big game hunting. The novel is well written and you will enjoy it.

I would have liked to see more character development, but it was a good read overall. I felt like the story plot was predictable and the character not vivid enough in general. The only sense of the lead character I got was that he was tall and gangling and the lead female was tall with red hair. It was just ok, I expected a more historical accounting with richer back stories.

The Orphan Train is an endearing story of a young boy’s life. Though he grows up an orphan, he maintains an optimistic vision of his future. Through the book, we learn his adult life is riddled with some tragedies, but there are wonderful surprised and great moments to treasure throughout the story. I adored all of the characters and quickly became invested in finding out his whole story. The book moves quickly and keeps your interest until the jaw-dropping end.

Thoughtful and engaging, the story is one that has roots in issues that we all face in life. Through a very well paced progression, we grow closer to the characters as they encounter and conquer their challenges. I found myself noticing and relating to the primary characters in their different ways, finding aspects that fit me and my friends & family comfortably, like familiar well worn clothes. It was not long before I was invested personally in the story, cheering for our protagonist and his friends and family, saddened by his losses, rooting for his side in the tough times. We are given difficult problems to face in this story and the issues are those still in the forefront for many Americans a century later. Clearly, the author brings his heart to the table in this book.

I really appreciate any author who can paint a picture in words of each character, their personality, appearance and movtivations! In this case, not only are the characters depicted clearly and carefully, but likewise the locale and events.
I really enjoyed the story and found myself unable to put the book down!!
Awesome and touching!
Debbie Pelton

Great historical fiction! Characters are wonderfully portrayed in an almost forgotten time in American history. The writer depicts reality in his description of the political and social climate of the times.