Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting and Ronal Himler, ill. New York:  Clarion Books, 1996.  ISBN 0-395-71325-0.

The touching story of a group of New York orphans riding the train across country in search of families.  One orphan’s quest to find her real mother leads her home.

Media:  Watercolor and gouache on Arches 140lb. hot-press watercolor paper

Q5/P4

5-8^th

Curricular Connection:  Level 5-8^th.  Language Arts, Social Studies, History.

D. Balestreri added to PB 7/25/09

Train to somewhere by Eve Bunting and Ronald Himler, ill. New York: Clarion Books, 2000.

ISBN: 978-0618040315

Annotation: Young Marianne has lost her mother, and dreams of finding her as she rides the orphan train west. But a surprise she never expected waits for her at the end of the line.

Age Range: 5-6 grades

Media used by illustrator: watercolor and gouache

Personal Rating: 4Q/4P

Notes about Themes: The main themes of this book are the fear of leaving the familiar and the hopes that come with starting a new life. The main character, Marianne, is a strong-willed girl whose mother abandons her out of necessity. The thematic elements of self-reliance and courage run throughout the book.

ateater/07-21-09

Bunting, E. (1996). Train to Somewhere. Illustrated by Ronald Himler. New York:  Clarion Books.

Artwork:  Realistic watercolor and gouache

ISBN-13: 978-0-618-04031-5

Orphan trains in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s delivered children from orphanages in the East to new families in towns along westward rail lines.  One young girl dreams of reuniting with her mother, but instead is the last orphan on the train when it reaches the last stop and, in a poignant moment, she encounters a new set of parents that are surprised with her as she is with them.

Curricular connection:  Orphan Train/Grade 11/ CA HSS 11.2

Subjects: Orphan Train; American history; Acceptance; Families

Theme: Sometimes wishes don’t come true, but being accepting and open may lead to an even better ending. 

Category: Historical Fiction

Age Level Recommendation: Upper Elementary (and up)

Rating: 3Q/3P

AAS 5-4-08