Orphan Train Rider: One Boy's True Story

The amazing story of the Orphan Trains is usually a lost portion of American History. I've read several books about the Orphan Trains and found this man's story to be excellent. I have loaned it to several friends that were clueless about this endeavor, and they were shocked that this has remained something of a 'shameful' secret for so long. I highly recommend this book.

GOOD JUST TOO SHORT. I WANTED MOR STORIES ABOUT THE SIBLINGS. EACH HAD A DIFFICULT ROAD. I WAS ENLIGHTENED ABOUT CHILDREN AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FAMILY HAS TOO MANY CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO BECOME OUTCAST. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE UGLY AND DEFORMED.

Interesting subject but not presented well.
Also I was extremely disappointed in discovering this was not a "full size" book, but a mere 80 page story. I was shocked when I reached the last page, expecting the story to develop further. I even reviewed the book thinking I must have missed several chapters somehow.
It was my error for not checking how long the book was before I ordered, but I definitely feel short changed.

Loved this book! Bought it for my granddaughters, but couldn't resist reading it myself. Good for young readers, especially in this day & age. It's quite humbling. Much heart/felt admiration for the boy taking care of his baby brother all those yrs., thru such adverse conditions. Was a bit teary-eyed when I saw the pic of the all reunited.

This is such a moving story! The author masterfully blends very emotional and historical information. I was hooked from the start and read the book at one sitting; that is, a slow 1.5 hours, not counting some of the sidebars. This is definitely movie material and I’m surprised it hasn’t been picked up in the 20 years since its publication. I’ve known individuals who had grown up in either an orphanage or a welfare home—both settings being unfortunate places for them—and the shared memories brought a negative shaking of their heads.

I read to children and from time to time I find a book too emotional for me to handle, and this is one of them. When this happens I ask a colleague who has better control of his/her emotions to share the book. Fortunately, many of the short chapters end as cliff hangers, which allows you to continue it the next day—or even a week later.

My title says this is a sad time, but that refers to the experiences the children had before they were placed in a home--and sometimes those placings did not work out, continuing the unfortunate sadness. All in all, the orphan trains were a positive solution for unwanted children.

A short chapter book suitable for grades 3.2 through 6 to adult.

Having only just learned about Charles Brace and the `Orphan Trains' this book, although short, portrays one (thankfully) happy ending for this set of brothers who were sent off on the train in the 1920's. The photos even more than the prose is what is so terribly heart-wrenching.

Since over 200,000 children were put on those trains between 1854 and 1930 I truly wish we had more documentation and stories from them. It is shocking that this is such a little known fact of American history and not taught in schools. I had never even heard of an `Orphan Train' until a book called "The Midnight Train Home" by Erika Tamar which I read only a few months ago.

Charles Brace certainly had the best interest of these children in mind and created a system that, in theory, should have worked. It is unfortunate to know that many of the children were ill treated and have never had a chance to speak out about it.

Kudos to Ms. Andrea Warren for bringing us at least this one story with a happy ending. Lord only knows how many more there are out there that did not end so happily.

In years past, as today, there have always been children who find themselves needing a home outside of their birth families. In earlier times, families often took in orphaned, or needy children, then immigration and poor jobs and wages, made this all but impossible. This book tells the story of one man's solution to this problem. A pastor decided that there was a better solution than housing kids in orphanages. Thus the Orphan Trains were started from the Children's Aid Society.

Orphan Trains took inner city kids cross country to give families in the Midwest and south an opportunity to choose kids from the trains to become a part of their family. Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 children were placed into families by this method. This book tells one man's journey from his mother's death to his final placement into a good home. Lee Nailing tells his story from abandonment by his father, splitting up of his siblings, to becoming the "son" of a wonderful family. He eventually got in touch with a couple of his surviving siblings too. Parts of other children's experiences were interspersed within this story. Some poor experiences, but mostly good ones.

Children from these trains generally grew up to be good productive citizens, including one governor, a leader in Alaska, leaders in other children's aid groups, and other community leaders. Very interesting book, good for adults and for teaching children about this part of history. Pictures included.

During the early 1800s, the rise of industrialization and the breakdown of traditional multi-generation family units contributed to an increase in the number of homeless children in the United States. Whether given up by parents who could no longer take care of them or left alone by the death of both parents, these children were often placed in orphanages or left to roam the streets.

In this moving story of one orphaned boy, Warren describes the role of Charles Loring Brace and the Children's Aid Society in establishing orphan trains. From the 1850's through the 1920's, over 200,000 children boarded these trains searching for families to take care of them.

First person accounts describe the often ambivalent feelings of the children as they made their way to other parts of the country. Many did not understand what was happening, others knew that their journey would end their chances of being reunited with parents who had left them.

Although orphan trains were established with the best of intentions, these accounts describe how the children felt shamed while being paraded in front of strangers and their anguish when separated from biological siblings. While some of these children found loving homes, others were mistreated by the families who adopted them.

This book provides a heart-wrenching glimpse into an often forgotten part of our history. Includes black and white photographs. The recommended reading level is ages 8-10, but this book would also be appropriate for older students and adults.

Wow, what an interesting book about the period of history of the orphan trains during 1854-1930 in America. This is during my dad's lifetime so maybe that's why I feel it wasn't all that long ago that this was happening. Lee Nailling shares his experience about being an orphan train rider. He tells how his father gave up on raising his kids when his wife died and split them up. Lee and one of his brothers were placed in an orphanage. This was before welfare and when jobs were scarce. Sometimes people who just couldn't manage to take care of their children would put them in an orphanage. A minister, Charles Brace, started the Children's Aid Society to help homeless kids. He thought there would be couples out west who would be willing to take in children and raise them as their own so "orphan trains" were started. These trains would choose healthy children from the orphanages in the east and transport them to towns in the west, Midwest and south to find families for them. Most got placed in loving families this way. Some never found a good family and were abused, but it is reported they had an 87% success rate! Lee was one of the lucky ones who did end up with a nice couple who grew to love in spite of the bitterness he had at first from being separated from his family. It seems "orphan trains" was the forerunner of our adoption system we have today, but much simpler.

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.

Adopted children can often feel like outsiders, even though they have found families who love them like their own. They may be teased about being adopted, they may be angry at their circumstances.

This book is an excellent treatment for all those problems, for it discusses the issue of adoption openly, and shows children that they are not alone.

In 63 photo-filled pages in 11 chapters, this book tells the historical story of more than 200,000 children who "rode 'orphan trains' in this country between 1854 and 1930. Their ranks included North Dakota governor Andrew Burke (1870-1873), a territory governor, a Supreme Court justice, sheriffs, mayors, college professors, clergymen, school superintendents, bankers, lawyers, postmasters, teachers, engineers and at least 7,000 soldiers and sailors. In other words, adopted children can grow up to be just as successful and productive as everyone else--often times, more so. There's no stigma or deficiency.

The book also covers the story of 'train riders' from the personal perspective of Lee Clement Nailling, who was taken in by an elderly childless couple, whom he came to call parents.

Aside from telling the history of the orphan train riders and the Children's Aid Society that devised the project, this book is comforting to adopted children.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

I found this book by accident in our local library and found it an immensely interesting and engaging read. It gives insight into the lives of orphans who took the "orphan trains" in the US between 1859-1929. About 200,000 children deemed "orphans" [even though many still had one or both parents still living] were sent to new homes in the country. The book focuses on the life of one little boy, 9-year-old Lee whose father, unable to cope with his seven children after their mother's death, gave some of his children to the Children's Aid Society in NY whilst sending the older ones out into the world to care for themselves. Lee finds himself in an orphanage where he feels alone and angry at being separated from his siblings and father. Eventually Lee is picked to ride the orphan train, and after several false starts, finds himself being placed in the care of benevolent and caring Ben and Ollie Nailling, with whom he finds a true home.

It is a heartwrenching read about a little known period in history [at least one I was unaware of] and it is significant because this was probably one of the largest migration of children in history. It also portrays the lives of unwanted, abandoned, and homeless children who were supposed to get a second chance at life through the orphan trains - many did find good homes, and made something of their lives, but others were not as fortunate, finding themselves physically and sexually abused instead [though the book does not dwell in any depth on this aspect, choosing to focus on Lee's journey and eventual happy ending].

This is educational, and is suitable for children aged 9 and older. It can be used in the classroom for discussion, and also read aloud. I hope to read it to my preschooler someday and have a discussion with her about it. Now that I've read this book, my curiosity is piqued and I plan on reading as much as possible about the Orphan Train Riders.

I received thank you notes from my granddaughters after gifting them the Orphan Train Rider. They asked me for more books similar to it. They liked reading about real kids experiences from the past, even though it was about boys. I was pleased to know that through Warren's story the girls had some understanding, and compassion for the hardships others endured.

Andrea Warren is a gifted writer. She makes historical events come alive through artful story telling. Her book is entertaining, and educational. It is a great way for young adults to learn aspects of our nation's history.

During a dinner party I read parts of the book to adult friends who grew up on farms in the Midwest. They were enthralled by the Orphan Train Rider too. Warren makes learning interesting for readers of all ages.

Very ,very nice! This book should be read by every family .It will surely lessen the divorce rate and juvenile delinquents! I'm an immigrant here in the States , I wasn't abandoned but my parents just wanted me to have a better life so I stayed. Every day up to now after a couple of years I still get homesick.But I found me a loving husband and great in-laws and this book just made me realize to treasure. my family more. Just a SUPERB BOOK!

I love reading about historical aspects of America's history. It is hard to believe that the orphan trains were a reality but this book is proof. I like the primary source information that was shared.

It kept my interest. It is awful how the children were handled just because something happened to parents or they couldn't take care of them..............actually better than what happened to them in the hands of other people (total strangers). I really enjoyed it.

The author has a way of presenting historical information in a very accessible format. I really enjoyed this read and could recommend the book to a wide age range from intermediate students to adults.

This is a great book for blended families, adoptive families, and foster families, because it deals with the real-life child struggles of wantedness, sibling separation, and adjustments to the new family.

It's also a great book for kids who like trains, because it takes your child back to a time when people didn't travel, and when the train could take you to a whole new life.

Lee Nailling, the main chaacter of the book, describes his tragic circumstances in a non-depressing way, and in the end there is hope, not bitterness.

Great book.

Wonderful. inspiring, remarkable stories. How could generations not know about "The Orphan Train?"
Our senior book club embraced these stories to their hearts. Young people need to hear these stories about struggles and finding their identities. Personification of Christianity that strangers welcomed these children into their homes and loved them as their own.