ORPHAN TRAIN RIDER One Boy's True Story

Laura Hicks narrates this glimpse into a little-known detail of American history: the "orphan trains" that carried orphaned or abandoned children from their homes in the East to new families in the West between 1854 and 1930. Hicks's narration is clear and well paced, characteristics that are appropriate for a historical work. She provides down-home Western accents for some of the people portrayed in the book, and her vocal variation helps to keep the listener's interest. This is classified as a children's book, but some of the themes touched upon--such as family loss, abandonment, and abuse--may be too harsh for younger children. S.E.G. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2013]