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I would give this book a 4/5 star rating. The only reason I don't give this a 5 is because it sort of has a slow start and there are a few boring parts. I thought the overall storyline was really good. It had a lot of good messages to it, such as learning to accept yourself and never give up, no matter how hard times get. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a mystery, because Vivian's story goes in spurts between the now(2011, Molly) and her past, so you never really know what is going to happen next. Also, anyone who likes romance would like this because of the relationship between Dutchy and Vivian, or even Molly and her boyfriend, Jack.

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The overall idea of the novel, was that no matter who you are, there is someone in the world that has something in common with you.
- Molly would've never guessed that she would have something in common with an old lady (Vivian). Since they both shared the fact of being orphans they had a connection that not many people can have.
- From the first time Niamh met Dutchy, she knew she had a connection with him that she'd never had with anyone else before. After reconnecting with him, she knows their chemistry was real.

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- One of the main conflicts is person vs. self; Molly is supposed to be helping Vivian clean out her attic for the community service hours, but Vivian is having trouble letting go of her past so she isn't letting Molly throw anything out. This conflict is resolved by, instead of "throwing thing out," Molly better organizes the attic. This way, when Vivian passes away, it's easier to tell where things belong and how to dispose/get rid of them.
- Another conflict is person vs. society; Throughout the adoption homes, Niamh is not respected because of her ethnicity. She has to prove herself to be given any chance. Molly, being goth, is the social outcast at her school and in her foster home. This conflict is not really resolved by either of them, but instead they learn to accept themselves rather than changing just to fit in.

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There were two different settings in this book. Throughout the book, Molly is going through growing up and not having any parents and Vivian tells Molly her story about her childhood and her journey to find a new family after her own family was killed in a fire. Molly, a teenager, tells her story during the year of 2011 and Vivian, an elderly woman, tells Molly about her childhood story which all happened from 1929-1939. Molly and Vivian both currently live in Spruce Harbor, Maine. When Vivian was talking about her orphan train experience, it took place in New York City and many different parts of Minnesota, where all the important stuff happened to her.

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Vivian Daly: Vivian was born in Ireland and immigrated to New York with her family. She was put into the Children's Aid Society after her family died in a fire. Her birth name was Niamh Power but was changed to Dorothy by the first family that took her in after getting off the Orphan Train in Minnesota. She was passed around many homes until she found her permanent home with the Nielsen's who changed her name to Vivian. Vivian understands what Molly is going through in foster care, being pushed around from home to home.
Molly Ayer: Molly is 17 years old and living with her 12th foster family. Ralph and Dina, the latest foster parents, are at odds as to how to handle Molly. She is sent to 50 hours of community service after stealing a book from the library. Her community service is to help Vivian Daly clean out her attic, and while cleaning, Molly starts to realize that their lives are very similar. After Molly is turned out by Dina, Vivian takes her in and together the two of them work to put back the missing pieces of Vivian's life.

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Molly Ayer is living with Ralph and Dina in their home in Spruce Harbor, Maine. She tried to steal a book from the Spruce Harbor Public Library, but got caught and her punishment was fifty hours of community service. Her boyfriend, Jack, talked his mother into asking the woman she worked for, (ninety-one year old Vivian) if Molly could help clean out her attic. Vivian is told Molly needs to receive the community service hours because of a school project she has to complete. After meeting Vivian, Molly is allowed to complete her hours working in the attic.
As part of a school project, Molly asks Vivian to share her life's story. Vivian's story begins in New York City in 1929. Her birth name was Niamh Power, but was later changed by a couple who took her in. After Vivian's parents and siblings died from a house fire, she was taken in by the German couple who lived across the hall from their apartment. The couple had decided the best thing for Niamh would be to take her to the Children's Aid Society. A few weeks later she and some of the other children were put on a train to take them to Minnesota in search of new homes. The train was called the Orphan Train. It was the last chance for these children to find a family to live with. On the train Niamh met Dutchy, a teenage boy who was living on the streets until he was taken to the Children's Aid Society. Dutchy and Niamh made a pact to always stay in touch before he was taken in by a farm family, and Niamh taken in my the Byrnes. The Byrnes family owned a sewing business, renamed her Dorothy, and treated her like a servant. After the stock market crash of 1929, they could no longer afford to keep her and she was returned to the Children's Aid Society. The next family she was put with was the Grote family. They were very poor and the mother would not lift a hand to help with her five children. Instead, nine year old Dorothy was expected to care for the house and children. One night, the father attempted to rape Dorothy, but instead of his wife being angry at him, she threw Dorothy out into the cold winter night. Dorothy's teacher Miss Larsen took her in until another family could be found for her.
Eventually, the Nielsen family took Dorothy in and asked if she liked the name Vivian, which was the name of their daughter who had died. Although she didn't love them like a normal family would love each other, this was the best family she had after becoming an orphan. Vivian helped the Nielsen's store thrive. One night while Vivian was out with her friends in the city, a man approached her and asked if she was Niamh. She knew that this man was Dutchy. They were surprised to see each other and eventually got married. Dutchy was killed during World War II and Vivian gave up their daughter after he was killed. She was visited by Dutchy's friend from the war, Jim Daly, and they eventually married. They ran the store together and made it a success. On a vacation to Maine they see and purchase the house she is currently living in—the one Molly is helping clean out.
Jim died and now after meeting Molly and telling her the story of her life, Vivian is finally ready to try and find her daughter. Together Molly and Vivian find her daughter and arrange for her to come to Maine.

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Orphan Train
Christina Baker Kline
Historical Fiction